Simone

Origin

Salvador, BA

Also known as

Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira

Years Active

1972

Genres

MPB, samba, romântico

Instruments

vocal

Biography

Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, known simply as Simone, is a prominent Brazilian singer and former basketball player. Born in Salvador, Bahia, she initially pursued a career in sports, playing basketball and even being called up to the Brazilian women's national basketball team before injuries led her to abandon the sport. Encouraged by friends and family, she transitioned to music in the early 1970s, signing with Odeon records and releasing her self-titled debut album in 1973. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Simone established herself as one of Brazil's top vocalists and record-sellers, earning massive acclaim for her emotive delivery and versatility across MPB, samba, and romantic ballads. Collaborating frequently with legendary artists like Milton Nascimento and Chico Buarque, she became known for iconic recordings such as "Começar de Novo" and "O Que Será".

During the 1980s, Simone was one of Brazil's highest-selling recording artists, filling stadiums and headlining major television specials. Her deep engagement with cultural and political themes became a hallmark of her performances, famously being the first artist to record "Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores" after the lifting of military censorship. In 1995, she shattered industry norms by releasing "25 de Dezembro", the first major Brazilian album consisting exclusively of Christmas songs, which went on to sell over a million copies. Over her decades-long career, she has accumulated numerous gold and platinum certifications, cementing her status as a vital pillar of Brazilian popular music and working alongside peers like Zélia Duncan and Ivan Lins.

In addition to her vocal prowess, Simone is celebrated for her distinctive stage presence, often performing in white attire and distributing white roses to audiences at the end of her shows. Her vast repertoire encompasses hundreds of interpretations touching on romance, social issues, and traditional Brazilian rhythms. Celebrating over fifty years in music with retrospective tours, Simone remains an enduring icon whose clear, warm timbre and powerful interpretations continue to resonate deeply within the rich landscape of Brazilian culture alongside greats like Elis Regina and Gal Costa.

Discography

• Simone (1973)
• Simone Et Roberto Ribeiro Avec João de Aquino à Bruxelles - Brasil Export 73 (1973)
• Quatro Paredes (1974)
• Festa Brasil (1974)
• Gotas D'Água (1975)
• Face A Face (1977)
• Cigarra (1978)
• Pedaços (1979)
• Simone Ao Vivo (1980)
• Amar (1981)
• Corpo e Alma (1982)
• Delirios Delicias (1983)
• Desejos (1984)
• Cristal (1985)
• Amor e Paixão (1986)
• La Distancia (1987)
• Vício (1987)
• Raio de Luz (1991)
• Sou Eu (1993)
• 25 de Dezembro (1995)
• Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira (1995)
• Alegria (Grandes Sambas na Voz de Simone) (1995)
• Dos Enamoradas (1996)
• Café com Leite (1996)
• Brasil-O Show (1997)
• Sedução (1998)
• Loca (1998)
• Brilhantes - Simone (1998)
• Fica Comigo Esta Noite (2000)
• Seda Pura (2001)
• Feminino (Ao Vivo) (2002)
• Simone Baiana da Gema (2004)
• Expo-Som 73 - Ao Vivo - Marcia, Leny Andrade, Simone e Ari Vilela (2006)
• Amigo É Casa (ao Vivo) (2008)
• Na Veia (2009)
• Em Boa Companhia (Ao Vivo) (2010)
• Á Flor da Terra (2010)
• É Melhor Ser (2013)
• Da Gente (2022)
• 50 (Ao Vivo) (2025)
• 50 (Ao Vivo) [Álbum Comentado] (2025)