TV Globo premiered the novela Coração Acelerado in the 7pm slot, delving into the world of sertanejo music, a genre actors say has never gone out of style. Written by Izabel de Oliveira and Maria Helena Nascimento, the story links to past hits like Cheias de Charme by featuring women pursuing artistic dreams.
The novela Coração Acelerado brings the sertanejo universe to Globo's open television, following the success of the series Rensga Hits! on Globoplay. Starring Isadora Cruz as protagonist Agrado, the plot is set in the world of Brazilian country music and highlights women's roles in the genre.
Letícia Spiller, portraying Janete, Agrado's mother, celebrates the rise of feminejo: “Fico feliz de ver as mulheres ascendendo na música sertaneja, porque sempre foi um ambiente muito masculino” [I'm happy to see women rising in sertanejo music, as it has always been a very masculine environment]. Leandra Leal, as villain Zilá, a sertanejo businesswoman, emphasizes its cultural relevance: “O sertanejo é um dos gêneros constituintes do Brasil. O que acontece é que ele tem várias ramificações, e algumas ficam mais em alta do que outras. Mas nunca saiu de moda” [Sertanejo is one of Brazil's constitutive genres. It has various ramifications, some more in vogue than others. But it never went out of fashion].
Daniel de Oliveira, as Alaorzinho, credits the style's vitality to the internet: “Hoje é tudo muito mais aberto. Cada um encontra sua própria moda, seu próprio ritmo. As pessoas escutam de tudo, no mundo inteiro” [Today everything is much more open. Everyone finds their own fashion, their own rhythm. People listen to everything, from around the world]. Gabz, as dreamer Eduarda, links sertanejo to Brazil's essence: “Ele representa uma parte muito grande do Brasil. A gente precisa olhar para além da superfície: para a galera do campo, da roça, de Goiás, inclusive a urbana” [It represents a large part of Brazil. We need to look beyond the surface: to the rural folks, the countryside, Goiás, even urban areas].
The novela connects to Cheias de Charme (2012), with Leandra Leal and Isabelle Drummond reprising villain roles – Isabelle as Naiane, Zilá's daughter and influencer. Leandra notes: “Assim como Cheias de Charme, essa novela tem mulheres tentando realizar um sonho, tem essa dupla feminina que está em busca de se realizar através da arte” [Like Cheias de Charme, this novela has women trying to realize a dream, this female duo seeking fulfillment through art]. Writer Izabel de Oliveira and director Carlos Araújo also worked on the earlier production, where music was central.
Critics, as in a Folha de S.Paulo analysis, note that Coração Acelerado faces the challenge of retaining the audience from Dona de Mim, but struggles with predictable plots and an underutilized cast, despite its fresh sertanejo packaging.
