The Uncensored Meaning Of "São Paulo" Lyrics: Anitta & The Weeknd's Dark, Explicit Collaboration

Released on October 30, 2024, "São Paulo" by The Weeknd and Brazilian superstar Anitta is one of the most talked-about and explicit collaborations of the year, quickly becoming an essential track from The Weeknd’s upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. This song is far from a standard pop duet; it's a dark, pulsating, and sensual exploration of power, submission, and raw desire, blending The Weeknd's signature cinematic R&B with unapologetic Brazilian Funk elements.

The track’s controversial and graphic lyrics—delivered in a mix of English and Portuguese—have sparked immediate curiosity and debate, especially the shocking English translation of Anitta's verses. This deep dive uncovers the full, uncensored meaning, the cultural references, and the complete English translation of the lyrics that have redefined the boundaries of mainstream pop music today.

The Architects of Sensuality: The Weeknd & Anitta Biography

The collaboration on "São Paulo" brings together two global music powerhouses, each known for pushing creative and provocative boundaries. Their combined star power and distinct musical styles create a track that is both globally accessible and deeply rooted in Brazilian culture.

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The Weeknd (Abel Makkonen Tesfaye)

• Full Name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
• Born: February 16, 1990 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
• Career Start: Began anonymously uploading music to YouTube in 2010.
• Record Label: Co-founder of XO Records.
• Signature Style: Dark, atmospheric R&B, often exploring themes of hedonism, melancholy, and cinematic soundscapes (e.g., After Hours, Dawn FM).
• Recent Milestone: "São Paulo" is a key single leading up to his highly anticipated sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.

Anitta (Larissa de Macedo Machado)

• Full Name: Larissa de Macedo Machado
• Born: March 30, 1993 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Career Start: Rose to fame in 2013 with the single "Meiga e Abusada."
• Global Breakthrough: Achieved international recognition by performing in multiple languages (Portuguese, Spanish, English).
• Signature Style: Known for mixing pop, Latin, and Brazilian genres, especially Funk Carioca, and for her unapologetic sensuality and business acumen.
• Recent Milestone: First Brazilian artist to win an MTV VMA (Best New Artist). She is a vocal advocate for Brazilian culture and music.

Unpacking the Explicit "São Paulo" English Lyrics

The core intention of "São Paulo" is to be provocative. The song is a dialogue of submission and control, where the female character (Anitta) dictates the terms of the sexual encounter, and the male character (The Weeknd) is completely enthralled by her dominance. The track’s shock value comes from the direct, unvarnished English translation of Anitta's Portuguese verses, which are a direct nod to the explicit nature of Brazilian Funk.

The Uncensored English Translation

The song’s most quoted and controversial lines come from Anitta's intro and verses, which set the tone for the entire track. The lyrics are delivered with a raw, almost vulgar confidence, embodying a powerful, unapologetic female sexuality that is common in the Funk Carioca genre.

• Anitta’s Intro (Translated):
  "Put it in the mouth, put it on the face, put it wherever you want."
  "The young dude looked at me and wanted to f*ck my little p*ssy."

This opening immediately establishes a theme of complete sexual freedom and dominance. The "put it wherever you want" line is a direct translation of the Portuguese phrase, a common and explicit trope in Brazilian club music.

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• The Weeknd's Chorus/Verse (English):
  "Every time I try to run, you put your curse all over me."
  "I love it when you turn me on, I love it when you turn it on."
  "Nothing's gonna stop you from breaking my a** in the city of São Paulo."

The Weeknd's English verses shift the dynamic to one of obsession and submission. His character is trapped in a toxic, yet irresistible, dynamic—the "curse" being the intense, dark sensuality Anitta's character imposes. The reference to the city of São Paulo itself becomes the backdrop for this extreme, no-limits sexual fantasy, a place where all inhibitions are lost.

The Cultural Reference: The Tietê River

One of the most striking and locally significant lines in the Portuguese version, which is often translated, references a notorious landmark: the Tietê River.

• The Line (Translated):
  "Let's go to the Tietê River, it smells like bum's p*ss, the perfect scent to s*ck you off."

The Tietê River is famous in São Paulo for being heavily polluted. By referencing its foul smell and connecting it to the setting of their explicit encounter, Anitta and The Weeknd are creating a surreal, dark, and almost grotesque atmosphere. This bizarre imagery suggests that the song is about more than just sex; it's about a total descent into a primal, unglamorous, and raw experience—a spiritual or artistic "rebirth" in the grittiest part of the city.

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The Sound of Submission: Genre and Production Analysis

"São Paulo" is a masterclass in musical fusion, successfully blending two seemingly disparate worlds: The Weeknd’s dark, synth-heavy production and the high-energy, percussive nature of Brazilian Funk.

The Brazilian Funk Influence

The track is defined by its fast, pulsating rhythm and high BPM (Beats Per Minute), which are hallmarks of Brazilian Funk, also known as Funk Carioca. This genre originated in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and is known for its heavy bass, electronic beats, and often explicit, dance-oriented lyrics. Anitta’s presence ensures this cultural authenticity, giving the track a raw, dance-floor energy that is different from The Weeknd's typical R&B sound. The song’s key is C Minor, a common choice for its dark, melancholic feel, which The Weeknd is known for, but the rhythm injects an undeniable Latin-Pop flavor.

The Weeknd's Cinematic R&B

Despite the Funk elements, The Weeknd's signature sound is still the dominant force. The overall production, often described as Dawn FM dark pop, creates a cinematic, atmospheric soundscape. The Weeknd's vocals are layered and haunting, providing a dramatic contrast to Anitta's rapid-fire, assertive Portuguese delivery. This blend of dark R&B and Latin/Pop/Funk is what makes "São Paulo" sound so fresh and unique in the current music landscape, making it a standout track from the *Hurry Up Tomorrow* era.

The Deeper Meaning: Power, Control, and the City

Beyond the explicit lyrics, "São Paulo" functions as a commentary on the complexity of modern relationships, specifically the allure of giving up control.

• The Theme of Dominance and Submission: The song is a clear role-reversal narrative. Anitta takes the dominant role, using her words to command and control The Weeknd's character. His willingness to submit ("Every time I try to run, you put your curse all over me") suggests a deeper psychological need for that control to be taken away. This dynamic taps into the 'dark' side of desire that both artists frequently explore.
• São Paulo as a Character: The city itself is not just a location; it is a symbol. Unlike the glamorous, romanticized settings of many pop songs, São Paulo is presented as a place of grit, pollution (Tietê River), and unbridled, dangerous passion. It is the place where the characters can shed their public personas and engage in a raw, almost animalistic encounter. The city becomes synonymous with the loss of inhibition.
• Topical Authority and Entities: The song is a crucial piece of the puzzle for The Weeknd's album, *Hurry Up Tomorrow*, which is expected to continue his exploration of dark themes and cinematic storytelling. The decision to collaborate with Anitta, a global ambassador for Brazilian music and Funk Carioca, solidifies the track's cultural weight and its position as a major Latin Pop hit of the year. The song’s provocative nature ensures its continued discussion across platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where the explicit nature of the English translation drives massive curiosity and search volume.