And yet throughout the 1930s, Vargas continued to develop strong links with European fascist states, including Nazi Germany, where such ideas would surely have horrified those who believed in Aryan supremacy. 

 

In January 1936, there was a special edition of the radio program "Hora do Brazil", broadcast directly from Brazil to Nazi Germany. It included government-approved songs written by black musicians. 

 

"A very important part of the show was the samba music from the Samba Schools. And I always think about the Nazi German listening to that kind of very black, very African Brazilian music."

 

President Vargas made samba respectable and it was now appropriated by middle-class Brazilians. Old style sambas about malandros were still popular in the poor black parts of town but were now officially censored. The middle-class favored a more melodic sophisticated style, samba cancao and songs that praised the glory and the beauty of Brazil. 

 

Samba's broad new appeal was helped by exceptional composers, like Ary Barroso, the son of a lawyer, whose Aquarela do Brazil, Watercolor of Brazil, became almost a national anthem. 

 

Unlike carnival samba, or samba enredo, samba cancao could be sung by individuals as well as Mass bands.