Sambô

Sambô is a Brazilian band that made a career out of rearranging national and international hits into samba and pagode stylings. Formed in Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo estate) in 2003 and led by musical director Ricardo Gama, Sambô emerged as something of a novelty with its formula of playing rock and pop hits on instruments typically associated with samba, such as pandeiro and cavaquinho. Their concerts and albums are filled with infectious if curious versions of perennial radio staples, such as U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday," Eagles' "Hotel California," and a-ha's "Take on Me," mixed with its Brazilian counterparts by artists such as Ivete Sangalo and Alcione, to mention but a few.