'She tore up her own truth and left': Simone Mendes says no one will replace Marília Mendonça

"Marília, for me, without a doubt, was one of the greatest voices in our country. One of the greatest artists. An inexplicable person. Breaking all the parameters of everything," said Simone. "A strong woman. A woman who arrived with her voice, her talent, her sweetness, her beauty, without caring what people would think of her, tore up her truth and left."

The third episode of the podcast "Marília – o outro lado da sofrência" , from g1, shows how the singer rejected the "feminejo" label, faced the machismo of the market and ended up opening space for an entire generation of women in sertanejo – with lyrics that talk about betrayal, drunkenness and freedom without asking permission (listen below or on your preferred audio platform).

Simone emphasized how much Marília inspired other women by embracing her identity authentically. According to Simone, beyond her charisma and attitude, Marília's musical quality is "incomparable." "For me, she is one of the greatest inspirations—as an artist, in terms of talent, musical quality, in short."

The singer also spoke about the power of Marília's legacy. "And I don't think there will be another Marília Mendonça. I think her place is hers. I think stars come, artists come, talents come, everything comes, but her legacy is unique."

Simone said she continues to feel the artist's presence on stage. "She came through, she made her mark, and she continues to make her mark, because we sing her songs at shows and it's the devotion of an audience, singing it in a way... as if the song had just been released yesterday."

At the beginning of her fame, in 2016, Marília told G1 that she wasn't a feminist . She even stated that feminism "diminishes women" and that she had never experienced sexism. The statement caused shock, but also revealed something important: Marília was still figuring out what it meant to occupy that space.

Over time, her approach changed. On TV, she acknowledged the machismo of the country music market and of Brazil. She began to argue that the best way to empower women was by example: by sharing their stories, their struggles, their resilience.

And this was reflected in the lyrics. In "Troca de Calçada," Marília gives voice to a marginalized woman, a call girl. In "Você Não Manda Em Mim," she sings of the liberation of a woman leaving an abusive relationship. Each song became a portrait of real pain, experienced by many. That's why they were so popular.

Today, artists like Simone Mendes, Lauana Prado, and Ana Castela occupy the top rankings of the most-listened-to artists in the country. And many of them acknowledge that they only got where they are because of the doors Marília opened.

Mari Fernandez, who at the beginning of her career was known as the "Marília Mendonça of piseiro," recalls: "When Marília arrived, she brought this new wave of singers. Before, there weren't that many. Much of what we experience today comes from the work she planted with all her essence and identity."

Simone Mendes, after the end of her duo with Simaria, sought out Marília's team for her new solo phase—including producer Eduardo Pepato. The first release from this partnership, "Erro Gostoso," was an immediate success.