brega is brazilian slang for 'tacky' - as a music genre, the term started being used in the 1970's when it began started being played in the city of belem.

the reason why brazilians used the term 'tacky' to refer to this genre is no accident - its musical aesthetics are hard to describe even by those who consider themselves connoisseurs but it is widely accepted that is has its origins in cafona, another music style based mostly in popular romantic songs.

at first, it combined elements of brazilian pop music and disco - every good new brega hit uses whatever is the most popular beat and rhythm style at the time of its release in order to blend in better into the current musical fad.