Who is Luiza and why is everyone saying that she is in Canada?
I’m not great with names. When I’m being introduced to someone new, I’m usually thinking about whether to shake hands or do the kissing thing or a million other things are rushing around in my head. I never think of committing their name to memory until it’s too late. This weakness is only compounded by the fact that many of the names used here in Brazil seem quite similar to me. Fabio, Fabia, Flavio, Flavia, Fabricio, Fernando, Fernanda, Anna Maria, Anna Luiza, Maria Luiza – you see my point?
But the name that seems to come up more than any other is Luiza. We went to a graduation party a little way out of town on Saturday night and out of the 10 people in the minibus, 3 of them were called Luiza. I don’t want this to sound like I’m knocking the name – as a matter of fact I like it and before I get into trouble I would like to state categorically that I like everyone I know with this delightful name.
But in the last week or so, something weird has been going on. It seems like everyone has been talking about Luiza. But they never seem to mention her surname. And the only thing they’ve been saying about Luiza is that she is in Canada. Huh?
Gerardo Rabello - the man responsible for all this Luiza talk. I believe that the picture next to him is of Luiza, que está no Canadá...
Gerardo is a journalist based in the state of Paraíba. Apparently he is also involved in promoting various events and festivities and is well known enough to have found his way onto an advertisement for an apartment complex:
They key line is delivered 18 seconds in: “Reuni toda a minha família, menos a Luíza, que está no Canadá.”
I started hearing people mentioning this long before I saw the commercial. But even after I saw the commercial I wasn’t 100% sure that I understood why this had got so big. After several Q&A sessions with my wife, I think I now get it. Basically, the guy is saying “I gathered all my family, except for Luiza, who is in Canada” and that just sounds ridiculous. Who is Luiza? Why do we care that she is in Canada? What has that got to do with the apartments you are trying to sell?
Yeah, to be honest it doesn’t strike me as being that funny, but then jokes that have to be explained often lose their magic don’t they? But this thing went fully viral – it was the top trending item on Twitter (#LuizaEstaNoCanada) in Brazil between Friday 13th and Saturday 14th and Luiza became an instant star, even though she was out of the country (she was in Canada).
17 year old Luiza Rabello, who is looking rather pleased with her new found fame. There have been predictions that she will be showing off (what one website called) her "luscious curves" once she turns 18. Kind of depressing, but you wouldn't bet against it would you?
Well Luiza is now back in Brazil and has been wallowing in her new found fame. There have been photoshoots, interviews, and a commercial of her own. She has even become a meme, the phrase “Todos, menos Luiza que está no Canadá” has been popping up in all kinds of places.
Isn’t the world weird sometimes? There have been a lot of people complaining about the amount of attention this has been getting. Arguments along the lines of “What are we coming to in Brazil when there are serious issues and yet everyone is obsessed about this Luiza?”. I understand the point, but whether you like it or not, people are frivolous and seem to like this kind of thing. It all gets a bit ‘meta’ when the story is the story. People are tweeting about the fact that the topic is trending. Personally it doesn’t really bother me – as one commenter said, “She’s a cheerful youth who never hurt anyone”. I’ll leave you with one of the many songs that has been composed in her honour.
Oi Tom!
I still don’t get the joke… but is that the point?!!!
A few years back in Sydney (actually ages ago when I lived there) there was an innocuous tv ad for yellow pages phone directory. Anyway, at one point the woman says to her employee ‘not happy Jan’. Well for years it became a catch phrase and used a lot.. a lot! And I am sure the ad makers had no idea that this line would have stuck with audiences. Strange, but not as strange as the looks I still get when the urge and situation overcomes me and I say to some clueless friend or colleague here in London ‘not happy Jan’!!
My Dad is currently making an ad for his new business and will be saying ‘all my family are gathered except for Rebecca, who is in Brazil’!!! Or soon will be… so very happy Jan! Bjs, R
Hey Rebecca! I’m glad you’re a little bemused by this too. Am I told that the ‘joke’, such as it is, is that everyone is kind of ridiculing Gerardo for even mentioning Luiza and the fact that she is in Canada. My Q&A session that I mentioned in the post went back and forth for a good 5 minutes and ended with me going “So that is why everyone is going on about this?” It was very difficult to keep the disappointment out of my voice…
“Not happy Jan” it does sound kind of catchy but I can imagine the blank looks! Hey look, I just tracked down the clip.
hahahahaha!!!!! I can’t believe you found this!!!
Do you actually have a job!??? x
Shhh, my boss reads this! ;-)
Tom,
It sounds more like people are making fun of the guy in the commercial than a joke, because he mentioned the fact that his daughter was in Canada to show off, and the fact that his daughter was in Canada had nothing to do with selling apartaments.
That is my understanding from a Brazilian point of view, and I agree, it is silly and it makes no sense to me.
:)
Ray
Hi Ray, I think that is the perfect summary: “It is silly and makes no sense”! rs
HAHAHAHA i’ve heard this evvverrrryyywhere.
I didn’t get it before but I think I maybe understanding the general gist now, maybe. =/
Heh heh, people are so weird aren’t they? The fact that this went so viral makes me wonder about the future of the human race! We’re such idiots! rs ;)
I think the dumbest part of it all is that they are acting like Canada is all exotic and chic and stuff. I mean, if you like Polar bears it may be chiquerrimo but for me it’s just a little bit chilly.
Sorry Canadians, no offense. You have a beautiful (albeit frozen) country.
Human Race= No Hope
Alex have you ever been to Canada? The summers are 40 C. Forget frozen. It’s no more frozen than New York.
But polar bears and igloos are pretty awesome, you have to admit. Beavers too. They’re exotic as hell. :o))
god, I did not understand this either!! Thanks for the attempt at an explanation, now I think I kind of do…I´m kind of impressed that you dedicated a whole post to this. Between this, the Big Brother fiasco and Ai se eu te pego, Brazilian culture has been having a rough time of it lately, no?
Heh heh, no subject is to shallow or insignificant Eva! :)
Hi.
I read your post and the comments.. huahuAhua
You guys are trying to get this? oh gosh.. you are losing time.
The thing is: our sarcasm. We don’t give a fuck about luiza, there is no point to Rabelo mention that she is in Canada.. big deal. Every brazilian think: ‘and who fuckin cares and your family and daughter that is in canada, buddy? Why to mentioned in a commercial, your are proud because she is in canada?’. So we kind of exercise some teasing skills, saying something like: “Is she doing well?”,”Is she eating right?”, “Is she learning english well?”… but all with a “who cares??” implied. So the exact translation of “except Luiza, how is in Canada”, is “and fuck Luiza”.
There is no other way to explain this better then getting the brazilians government slogan.
“Brasil, um país de todos, exceto Luiza, que está no Canadá”
(Brazil, a country to all, except for Luiza, who’s in Canada)
Hey Marcio,
Ha ha! It’s ridiculous isn’t it? :D I think we got there in the end – as you say, the mention of his daughter in Canada was just completely irrelevant and looked somewhat pompous didn’t it? Ah well, it gave a lot of people a laugh for a while! I laughed at this one: “Is she eating right?” rs