If you lived in Brazil on the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s probably heard this song at TV or radio. This jingle was created in 1963 by Gaetano Zamma, member of São Paulo Bossa Nova group, with Johnny Alf, Agostinho dos Santos and Maysa. He composed about 150 songs, but Varig’s christmas jingle is his best known song. It was originally recorded by Clélia Simone. The lyrics suffer a changed from the original, the verse "Star of the Americas" was changed to "Brazilian star".

THE VERSATILE DC-3 AND C-46

After the Second World War, Brazil and the world were flooded with surplus aircraft from the war. The most famous was undoubtedly the Douglas DC-3. At VARIG it operated international flights, main domestic routes and inaugurated regional routes throughout the country, at airports with poor infrastructure. VARIG also operated a large number of Curtiss C-46. It was bigger than the DC-3 and had a "Luxury" version with fewer seats.

VARIG modified some C-46s with more powerful engines. These units were called "Super 46"

SUPER CONSTELLATION

After the first Lockheed Super G Constellation arrival, in 1955, VARIG launched several announcements exalting aircraft's qualities and the 5-star on-board service.

From the fourth unit received by VARIG, in 1957, the Super G Constellation came equipped with extra fuel tanks (wings tips), thus being able to fly further. These units were called "Super Interconinental".

CARAVELLE 1 - BRAZIL IN JET ERA

Once again a pioneer, VARIG was the first airline in Brazil to operate a jet. The company was the third company in the world to buy Caravelle, after Air France and SAS.

In 1959 VARIG inaugurated the jet era in Brazil, with the arrival of Caravelle 1.

♪“Varig. Starts in Brazil the pure jet era. Flying with the Caravelle. The Caravelle with reversing reactors is a finding of French engineering. The wings are free to cut the air. With great speed and reactors in the fuselage, the noise is too far back. The silence is absolute, there's no vibration. Varig, also the pioneer in Brazil's jet age.”♪

BOEING 707

The arrival of the first Boeing 707 in 1960 was a major milestone in VARIG's history. The Boeing 707 was synonymous of international flight throughout the 1960s and was also present on the company's routes during the 1970s and 1980s.

Soon after the arrival of Caravelle, VARIG brought the Boeing 707 jet to Brazil in 1960

♪“The Boeing jets still in front. Two hundred and fifty Boeing are serving twenty-two airlines, the best of America and Europe. Built to lead for many years, Boeing jets currently carrying over 32,000 passengers per day. The Boeing jets are the most experienced worldwide, for this reason were preferred by Varig. Nonstop and faster to New York.
Varig to North cities. Six flights per week with luxury Super Constellation. In the ultra-modern four-engine Varig’s aircraft the flight is faster and more comfortable. With the same Convair’s fare you fly to Recife, Natal, Fortaleza, Sao Luis and Belem by luxury Super Constellation with the best in-flight service and Varig’s traditional courtesy.”♪

The purchase of Real-Aerovias, in 1961, allowed the international network to expansion to Lima, Bogota, Caracas, Mexico, Los Angeles and Miami.
The first version received by VARIG was the Boeing 707-440, equipped with Rolls-Royce Conway MK-508-40 engines, the most advanced at that time. In 1966 VARIG received the first Boeing 707-320C. This version was even more advanced, equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3 engines, capable of longer flights.

"SEU CABRAL"

In 1965 VARIG assumed Panair’s routes to Europe. Initially, aircraft did not have enough range to make flights to Europe nonstop. Most flights to Europe made a stop in Lisbon. To promote its flights to Lisbon, VARIG commissioned a jingle to composer Archimedes Messina. Called "Seu Cabral" (Sr. Cabral), the song alludes the Brazil’s discover and featured the voice of the Portuguese singer Hilda Castro, who was on tour in Brazil. The jingle was released in October 1967 on radio and soon after in TV, in 1969. The song was so successful that the following year turned into a Carnival song.

URASHIMA TARO

After the launch of the Japan’s route and the success of "Seu Cabral", VARIG asked Messina another jingle to promote Rio - Tokyo flights. Based on the famous Japanese legend the "Urashima Taro" was created, sung by Rosa Miyake. Rosa recorded a version in Portuguese and one in Japanese. Initially, the jingle was released on radio in 1968, then in film and finally in a TV commercial. As "Seu Cabral", "Urashima Taro" also became a carnival song the following year. The legend of Urashima Taro tells the story of a Japanese fisherman who saved a turtle that was being abused at the beach. The next day, a large turtle approached him and told that the little turtle he saved was the daughter of Sea’s Emperor. As thanks, allowed him to climb on his back and took him for a ride in the sea. There he found the emperor and his daughter, who was now a beautiful princess. Although happy, he began to miss their homeland and asked to return. But before leave, he received an ark from the princess, with the promise to only open when he was very old. Upon arriving in city Urashima Taro found that three hundred years had passed since the day he gone. Overcome with sadness, opened the ark. His body become very old and from the sea came the voice of the princess telling him that in the ark were all his years.

   
 Urashima Taro returned to TV with Expo70 and in the 80's

Urashima Taro in Japanese

 
This was another jingle, not as famous as Urashima Taro and also recorded in Portuguese and Japanese