"Samba brings me joy and makes me happy," the 59-year-old crooner said in Portuguese, as he posed for photos in the shade of palm trees.
The entertainer in question isn't your average Rio samba star. In fact, he's a South Korean diplomat from a very different seaside metropolis on the other side of the globe. But Lim Ki-mo, Korea's Busan-born ambassador to Brazil, has sung his way to stardom since being posted to the South American country three years ago, with a series of viral performances in which he has belted out Brazilian hits.
Last month, Lim's singing career hit new heights as he took the stage at one of Rio's most illustrious samba spots, Renascença Clube, to perform with one of its top samba groups. Hundreds of samba connoisseurs danced euphorically as Seoul's man in Brasília sang tracks by the legendary composer Adoniran Barbosa and the chart-topping combo Grupo Revelação.
"The crowd went berserk," said Gabriel Cavalcante, the singer who invited ambassador Lim to perform with his group, Samba do Trabalhador.
Footage of the diplomat's impassioned presentation exploded on social media with critics giving him a unanimous thumbs up. "His performances... are filled with emotion and energy," said Rio broadsheet O Globo.
Bu hikaye The Guardian Weekly dergisinin May 03, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian Weekly dergisinin May 03, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Easter Island Monoliths Face Up To New Climate Extremes
The Ahu Tahai moai, on the east side of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is an impressive 4.5 metres high.
From Bad To Worse How Early Election Backfired On PM
Two days after Rishi Sunak stood in Downing Street to announce an early general election, only for the heavens to open, Tory MPs were still scratching their heads in disbelief.
Secrets Of The World's Most Trusting Country
In Danish society, people feel safe enough to leave their babies and bikes out on the street. How did they get to this point?
Ukraine Can Recover With Bolder Support - But Now It's On The Ropes
The mood in Ukraine is sombre these days.
Stark Warning ICJ Ruling Is Third Blow In A Week For Israel As Isolation Grows
The provisional measures issued by the international court of justice (ICJ) ordering an immediate halt to Israel's military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah represent the starkest warning yet to Israel that its offensive risks creating conditions that could be framed as potentially genocidal.
Why I Took To Cannes' Red Carpet To Call Out Sexual Violence
The 77th Cannes film festival reached its climax on Saturday when all eyes were on the Croisette, as the winners of the prestigious Palme d'Or were announced.
From mains to a sweet treat, how to serve up a thrill from the grill
If you don't have a kamado-style barbecue, what interesting things can you make on a simple grill?
Points of origin
Two takes on Covid's early days-one aimed at academics, the other a 'documentary novel' that mixes fiction and fact to powerful effect
Life after lava
Icelanders are famously hardy, but after a series of volcanic eruptions set houses alight and opened up 20-metre-deep fissures in Grindavík, the fishing town near the famous Blue Lagoon, residents are asking if they'll ever be allowed back home
How Church of England's slavery ties went to top of hierarchy
An archbishop of Canterbury in the 18th century approved payments for the purchase of enslaved people for two sugar plantations in Barbados, documents seen by the Observer have revealed.