The Police Classic That Accidentally Became a Protest Anthem
Leo Jaime’s “Solange (So Lonely)” turned The Police’s “So Lonely” into an unlikely protest song during Brazil’s military dictatorship. The track mocked censorship chief Solange Hernandes and gave voice to Jaime’s frustration after authorities blocked his earlier work.
The idea came when Jaime and fellow musician Leoni joked that “So Lonely” sounded like “Solange”. Jaime recorded the new version with backing vocals from Paula Toller and musicians from Os Paralamas do Sucesso. Its lyrics directly tell Hernandes to stop censoring him; a study cited in the article estimates that censorship under her department affected about 2,517 songs, 173 films, 42 plays and 87 soap-opera episodes.
In short
- Leo Jaime adapted “So Lonely” to criticise Brazil’s censor.
- The song became a protest against censorship.
- A study estimated 2,517 songs were censored.
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