{{Short description|Brazilian carnival parade}}
{{Infobox Brazilian Carnival |name = Sargento Pimenta |background color = red |text color = yellow |image = SargentoPimenta2016.jpg |image_size = 280px |foundation = 2010 |colors = Red, Yellow and Blue |symbol = [[Black pepper]] (Pimenta) |location = [[Flamengo Park]], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |website = http://www.blocodosargentopimenta.com.br }}
'''Sargento Pimenta''' is a [[Carnival block]] from [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil. Founded in 2010, it parades in the [[Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro|Flamengo]] neighborhood, in the [[South Zone (Rio de Janeiro)|southern part]] of Rio de Janeiro.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brasil |first=Cristina |date=March 3, 2025 |title=Sargento Pimenta leva multidão a Aterro do Flamengo ao som de Beatles |url=https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/cultura/noticia/2025-03/sargento-pimenta-leva-multidao-aterro-do-flamengo-ao-som-de-beatles |url-status=live |access-date=February 21, 2026 |website=[[Agência Brasil]] |language=pt-br|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723193552/https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/cultura/noticia/2025-03/sargento-pimenta-leva-multidao-aterro-do-flamengo-ao-som-de-beatles|archive-date=July 23, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bloco do Sargento Pimenta anuncia que não irá desfilar em SP em 2026 |url=https://vejasp.abril.com.br/cultura-lazer/sargento-pimenta-carnaval-sao-paulo-2026/ |access-date=February 21, 2026 |website=[[Veja (magazine)|Veja São Paulo]] |language=pt-BR|date=January 28, 2026|last=Novaes|first=Tomás|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129012212/https://vejasp.abril.com.br/cultura-lazer/sargento-pimenta-carnaval-sao-paulo-2026/|archive-date=January 29, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> The carnival band plays songs by the British rock band [[The Beatles]] in the rhythm of [[Marchinha|carnival marches]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ribeiro |first=Renato |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Sargento Pimenta mistura Beatles e ritmos brasileiros no carnaval |url=https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2023-02/sargento-pimenta-mistura-beatles-e-ritmos-brasileiros-no-carnaval |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250721020545/https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2023-02/sargento-pimenta-mistura-beatles-e-ritmos-brasileiros-no-carnaval |archive-date=July 21, 2025 |access-date=February 21, 2026 |website=[[Agência Brasil]] |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Borba |first=Allan |date=February 12, 2018 |title=Sargento Pimenta mistura Beatles com marchinhas e forró |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/carnaval/2018/sargento-pimenta-mistura-beatles-com-marchinhas-forro-22391354 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927202011/https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/carnaval/2018/sargento-pimenta-mistura-beatles-com-marchinhas-forro-22391354 |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |access-date=February 21, 2026 |website=[[O Globo]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2026 |title=Do pop dos Beatles ao solo sagrado do Cacique: confira os blocos de destaque da segunda de carnaval no Rio |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/carnaval/noticia/2026/02/16/do-pop-dos-beatles-ao-solo-sagrado-do-cacique-confira-os-destaques-da-segunda-de-carnaval-no-rio.ghtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216032240/https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/carnaval/noticia/2026/02/16/do-pop-dos-beatles-ao-solo-sagrado-do-cacique-confira-os-destaques-da-segunda-de-carnaval-no-rio.ghtml |archive-date=February 16, 2026 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[O Globo]] |language=pt-br}}</ref>
== History == In an interview with ''{{Interlanguage link|Band Folia|lt=Band Folia|pt|Band Folia}}'', a program dedicated to covering Carnival on [[TV Bandeirantes]], Donner, one of the founders of the Carnival street band, said that the group began with a conversation among friends: "We started in 2010 with a group of friends who were revelers, drunk in the street, who invented their own street band. Among several bizarre ideas, one was: let's pay tribute to [[The Beatles]]. It was a great idea."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2024 |title=Sargento Pimenta: Fundador diz que bloco surgiu entre amigos bêbados |url=https://www.band.com.br/entretenimento/carnaval/noticias/fundador-do-sargento-pimenta-diz-como-bloco-surgiu-entre-amigos-bebados-16665585 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222230606/https://www.band.com.br/entretenimento/carnaval/noticias/fundador-do-sargento-pimenta-diz-como-bloco-surgiu-entre-amigos-bebados-16665585 |archive-date=February 22, 2026 |access-date=February 21, 2026 |website=[[Rede Bandeirantes]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref>
The name is a reference to the album ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'', and the group's repertoire consists mainly of covers of songs by the rock band The Beatles, performed with arrangements of [[samba]], [[marchinha]], [[maracatu]], and other Brazilian rhythms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nitahara |first=Akemi |date=February 27, 2017 |title=Sargento Pimenta comemora sétimo carnaval e 50 anos de álbum icônico dos Beatles |url=https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2017-02/sargento-pimenta-comemora-setimo-carnaval-e-50-anos-de-album-iconico-dos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606071851/https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2017-02/sargento-pimenta-comemora-setimo-carnaval-e-50-anos-de-album-iconico-dos |archive-date=June 6, 2017 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[Agência Brasil]] |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Singer |first=André |author-link=André Vítor Singer |date=June 19, 2007 |title=Crítica & autocrítica em Sgt. Pepper, 40 anos - revista piauí |url=https://piaui.folha.uol.com.br/materia/critica-e-auto-critica-em-sgt-peppers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413143528/https://piaui.folha.uol.com.br/materia/critica-e-auto-critica-em-sgt-peppers/ |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[Piauí (magazine)|revista piauí - _pra quem tem um clique a mais]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref> The name "Pimenta" refers to pepper in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]].<ref name=":1" />
In its first carnival, the debut took place in the [[Botafogo]] neighborhood.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaume |first=Ana |date=February 16, 2026 |title=Bloco Sargento Pimenta faz tributo a Cássia Eller e arrasta foliões no Rio |url=https://cbn.globo.com/coberturas/carnaval/noticia/2026/02/16/bloco-sargento-pimenta-faz-tributo-a-cassia-eller-e-arrasta-folioes-no-rio.ghtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216205309/https://cbn.globo.com/coberturas/carnaval/noticia/2026/02/16/bloco-sargento-pimenta-faz-tributo-a-cassia-eller-e-arrasta-folioes-no-rio.ghtml |archive-date=February 16, 2026 |access-date=February 21, 2026 |website=[[Central Brasileira de Notícias]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ferreira |first=Mauro |author-link=Mauro Ferreira |date=December 24, 2017 |title=Bloco do Sargento Pimenta carnavaliza álbum lançado há 50 anos pelos Beatles |url=https://g1.globo.com/musica/blog/mauro-ferreira/post/bloco-do-sargento-pimenta-carnavaliza-album-lancado-ha-50-anos-pelos-beatles.ghtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251026210011/https://g1.globo.com/musica/blog/mauro-ferreira/post/bloco-do-sargento-pimenta-carnavaliza-album-lancado-ha-50-anos-pelos-beatles.ghtml |archive-date=October 26, 2025 |access-date=February 21, 2026 |website=[[G1 (website)|G1]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref> Due to the success of the first carnival block, the block left Botafogo and began to parade at [[Flamengo Park]], a traditional postcard location in [[Rio de Janeiro]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vieira |first=Isabela |date=February 8, 2016 |title=Sargento Pimenta une Beatles e ritmos brasileiros para arrastar foliões no Rio |url=https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/cultura/noticia/2016-02/beatles-ao-som-de-ritmos-brasileiros-reunem-multidao-no-aterro-do-flamengo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228102535/https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/cultura/noticia/2016-02/beatles-ao-som-de-ritmos-brasileiros-reunem-multidao-no-aterro-do-flamengo |archive-date=December 28, 2016 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[Agência Brasil]] |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 16, 2026 |title=Bloco Sargento Pimenta reúne multidão no Aterro com tributo a Cássia Eller {{!}} O Dia na Folia |url=https://odia.ig.com.br/diversao/carnaval/2026/02/7209276-bloco-sargento-pimenta-reune-multidao-no-aterro-com-tributo-a-cassia-eller.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260217143612/https://odia.ig.com.br/diversao/carnaval/2026/02/7209276-bloco-sargento-pimenta-reune-multidao-no-aterro-com-tributo-a-cassia-eller.html |archive-date=February 17, 2026 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[O Dia]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref> During the 2015 and 2016 carnivals, the street band gathered over 180,000 people at Flamengo Park.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2016 |title=Sargento Pimenta leva 180 mil foliões ao Aterro do Flamengo, no Rio |url=https://g1.globo.com/rio-de-janeiro/carnaval/2016/noticia/2016/02/sargento-pimenta-leva-180-mil-folioes-ao-aterro-do-flamengo-no-rio.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251017223045/https://g1.globo.com/rio-de-janeiro/carnaval/2016/noticia/2016/02/sargento-pimenta-leva-180-mil-folioes-ao-aterro-do-flamengo-no-rio.html |archive-date=October 17, 2025 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[G1 (website)|G1]] |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Alecrim |first=Michel |date=March 4, 2019 |title=Sargento Pimenta mistura Beatles com samba no Aterro, no Rio |url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/carnaval/2019/noticias/redacao/2019/03/04/sargento-pimenta-mistura-beatles-com-samba-no-aterro-no-rio.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250317204531/https://noticias.uol.com.br/carnaval/2019/noticias/redacao/2019/03/04/sargento-pimenta-mistura-beatles-com-samba-no-aterro-no-rio.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2025 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |work=[[Universo Online]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref> In 2017, the carnival block celebrated the 50th anniversary of the release of ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenker |first=Jan |date=February 27, 2017 |title=Sargento Pimenta reúne diferentes gerações no Aterro |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/sargento-pimenta-reune-diferentes-geracoes-no-aterro-20987728 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305002451/https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/sargento-pimenta-reune-diferentes-geracoes-no-aterro-20987728 |archive-date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[O Globo]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref> To continue the celebration of its 50th anniversary, in December 2017, it released an album with reinterpretations of the album that gave rise to the band.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 21, 2022 |title=Bloco de carnaval inspirado nos Beatles lança seu primeiro disco |url=https://gq.globo.com/Cultura/Musica/noticia/2017/12/bloco-de-carnaval-inspirado-nos-beatles-lanca-seu-primeiro-disco.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130182345/https://gq.globo.com/Cultura/Musica/noticia/2017/12/bloco-de-carnaval-inspirado-nos-beatles-lanca-seu-primeiro-disco.html |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[GQ]] |language=pt-br}}</ref> Journalist and music critic [[Mauro Ferreira]] wrote in his blog on G1 that "all the songs were recreated within the Brazilian rhythmic universe, but with a concern for maintaining the original structure of the compositions."<ref name=":2" />
Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil|COVID-19 pandemic]], the group did not perform during the years 2021 and 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neder |first=Lívia |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Bloco Sargento Pimenta volta a reunir amantes dos Beatles e da folia após hiato da pandemia |url=https://extra.globo.com/noticias/carnaval/bloco-sargento-pimenta-volta-reunir-amantes-dos-beatles-da-folia-apos-hiato-da-pandemia-25663398.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425125200/https://extra.globo.com/noticias/carnaval/bloco-sargento-pimenta-volta-reunir-amantes-dos-beatles-da-folia-apos-hiato-da-pandemia-25663398.html |archive-date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[Extra (newspaper)|Extra Online]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref> During the 2025 carnival, the parade attracted over 500,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2025 |title=Sargento Pimenta recebe 500 mil pessoas em Carnaval com Beatles no Rio – Jovem Pan |url=https://jovempan.com.br/entretenimento/sargento-pimenta-recebe-500-mil-pessoas-em-carnaval-com-beatles-no-rio.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411105533/https://jovempan.com.br/entretenimento/sargento-pimenta-recebe-500-mil-pessoas-em-carnaval-com-beatles-no-rio.html |archive-date=April 11, 2025 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[Jovem Pan]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref> In addition to paying tribute to The Beatles, the band has also honored multiple Brazilian female artists such as [[Elis Regina]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Furtado |first=Otávio |date=February 27, 2025 |title=Bloco Sargento Pimento fará homenagem à Elis Regina {{!}} Otavio Furtado |url=https://vejario.abril.com.br/coluna/otavio-furtado/bloco-sargento-pimento-fara-homenagem-a-elis-regina/ |url-status=live |archive-date=February 22, 2026 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[Veja (magazine)|Veja Rio]] |language=pt-BR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222164637/https://vejario.abril.com.br/coluna/otavio-furtado/bloco-sargento-pimento-fara-homenagem-a-elis-regina/}}</ref> [[Rita Lee]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferreira |first=Mauro |author-link=Mauro Ferreira |date=February 9, 2024 |title=Rita Lee fica no céu com diamantes no desfile do Bloco do Sargento Pimenta |url=https://g1.globo.com/pop-arte/musica/blog/mauro-ferreira/post/2024/02/09/rita-lee-fica-no-ceu-com-diamantes-no-desfile-do-bloco-do-sargento-pimenta.ghtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212100039/https://g1.globo.com/pop-arte/musica/blog/mauro-ferreira/post/2024/02/09/rita-lee-fica-no-ceu-com-diamantes-no-desfile-do-bloco-do-sargento-pimenta.ghtml |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=[[G1 (website)|G1]] |language=pt-BR}}</ref> and [[Cássia Eller]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teixeira |first=Lara |date=February 6, 2026 |title=Bloco do Sargento Pimenta vai celebrar legado de Cássia Eller no Carnaval 2026 |url=https://www.tenhomaisdiscosqueamigos.com/2026/02/06/bloco-sargento-pimenta-carnaval-2026-cassia-eller/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260210122805/https://www.tenhomaisdiscosqueamigos.com/2026/02/06/bloco-sargento-pimenta-carnaval-2026-cassia-eller/ |archive-date=February 10, 2026 |access-date=February 22, 2026 |website=Tenho Mais Discos Que Amigos! |language=pt-BR}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Brazilian Carnival]] [[Category:Parades in Brazil]] [[Category:Rio Carnival]] [[Category:Festivals established in 2010]] [[Category:2010 establishments in Brazil]] [[Category:Musical tributes to the Beatles]]