Ai Se Eu Te Pego

"Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈaj sj ˈew tʃi ˈpɛɡu]; transl. Oh, If I Catch You) is a 2008 song originally produced by Sharon Acioly and Antônio Dyggs. Although the first versions of the song were well known by the Brazilian Northeastern public, the version that become a national and international success was recorded by the sertanejo singer Michel Teló.^[2][3]

"Ai Se Eu Te Pego"
Song by Os Meninos de Seu Zeh
Released	2008
Recorded	2008
Genre	Sertanejo
Songwriter(s)	Sharon Acioly Antônio Dyggs Maria Eduarda Lucena Aline da Fonseca Amanda Teixeira Karine Assis Vinagre[1]

Released in 2011, the version of Teló became a national success, reaching the top position of the Brazilian music charts, and the video of the song reaching an views record on YouTube for Brazilian music, with more than 1 billion views. the song beginner to have an internacional repercussion, according to Teló and Sharon Acioly, one of the authors, when the footballer player Cristiano Ronaldo beginner in one of the gols dancing the choreography of the song.^{[2][4][5][6][7]} At the end of 2011, "Ai Se Eu Te pego" became a worldwide hit ^[8][9][10] and would take Michel Teló reaching the number one spot in more than 20 countries in the entire world.^[11] The commercial success of the Teló version was so big that "Ai Se Eu Te pego" was the six best download single of 2011, with more than 7 million units sold.^[11]

In the beginning, the authorship of the song was initially credited to Sharon Acioly and Antônio Dyggs.^[2][12][13] However, in February 2012, was reveled that the Paraiban students Amanda Cruz, Aline Medeiros e Karine Assis Vinagre was the authors of the verses which would be the base of the chorus of "Ai se eu te pego", and they ended up being recognized as the co-authors next to Acioly and Dyggs.^[14] Another three students, Maria Eduarda Lucena dos Santos, Marcela Quinho Ramalho e Amanda Borba Cavalcanti de Queiroga, claim in court the co-authorship of the song.^[15]

Lyrics

The lyrics begin with two cries of "Nossa! Nossa!" short for "nossa senhora" - Our Lady, the Virgin Mary, an equivalent of "Wow!" in Brazilian Portuguese.^[16] Then Assim você me mata, "You kill me," a common exclamation.^[17] Then "ai, se eu te pego, ai, ai, se eu te pego." - "Ooh, if I catch you."^[18] The verse then repeats with "Delícia, delícia" instead of "Nossa, nossa." The third verse of the song is the only verse with a narrative text: describing a Saturday night, a crowd beginning to dance, and summoning courage to speak to the most beautiful girl. Verses 4 and 5 repeat the simple exclamations of verses 1 and 2.

First versions

"Ai Se Eu Te Pego"
Single by Cangaia de Jegue
Released	2010
Genre	Forró
Songwriter(s)	Sharon Acioly Antônio Dyggs Aline da Fonseca Amanda Teixeira Karine Assis Vinagre[1]

With an new version, the first group to sing "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" was Os Meninos de Seu Zeh, conduter by Driggs:

in the time, the lyrics was very different. Instead of 'sábado na balada', They sing 'sábado na Kabana', which is a night house that i'm have in the Feira de Santana.^[3]

The song did have a good local repercussion, but with the success on the Northeast region of Brasil would come more versions.^[2] The version of Meninos de Seu Zeh attached the attention of the forró group Cangaia de Jegue, raising in Salvador, that became the first group to commercially record the song, in 2010.^[13][19] with the recording of Cangaia de Jegue, "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" became a big success in Bahia.^[3]

In the same year, Garota Safada re-recorded "Ai Se Eu Te Pego", with a ballad mood, and this version became a big success on the North East region of Brazil, especially for cheering tradition parties of São João in the region.^[2][3] And it was during a party of São João in Salvador that the Paraná singer Michel Teló heard for the first time "Ai Se Eu Te Pego", sung by Cangaia do Jegue.^[19] after the he heard the song, Teófilo Teló, brother and businessperson, realized that the song has the potetion of being a national hit and sought the producers of Cangaia de Jegue, that indicated Acioly, that finally, that authorized Michel Teló to record an version of the song.^[2][3]

Before the recording by Michel Teló, the song additionally got a recording by Alexandre Peixe and by the Forró band Sacode.^[20]

Michel Teló version

"Ai Se Eu Te Pego"
Single by Michel Teló
from the album Na Balada
Language	Portuguese
English title	"Oh, If I Catch You"
Released	October 10, 2011 (2011-10-10)
Recorded	2011
Genre	Sertanejo universitário
Length	2:46
Label	Som Livre Universal
Songwriter(s)	Sharon Acioly Antônio Dyggs Aline da Fonseca Amanda Teixeira Karine Assis Vinagre[1]
Producer(s)	Dudu Borges
Michel Teló singles chronology
"Larga de Bobeira" (2011) "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (2011) "Humilde Residência" (2011)
Michel Teló international singles chronology
"Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (2011) "Bara Bara" (2012)
Music video
"Ai Se Eu Te Pego" on YouTube

Antônio Dyggs, who co-wrote the song, realized it could become a national hit in Brazil and offered it for a release by Brazilian singer Michel Teló. The result was a hit in Brazil, Latin America and Europe.

Teló's version of the song became a hit in Brazil, reaching No. 1. Later, the song also reached No. 1 in 23 countries in Europe and Latin America. In the United States, the single topped both the Billboard Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Airplay charts and peaked at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Teló the sixth Brazilian act to enter the latter.

"Ai Se Eu Te Pego" was the sixth best-selling single of 2012 worldwide with over 7.2 million in sales that year, placing it on the list of best-selling singles of all time.^[21] The single has become the most downloaded digital track in Germany since 2006.^[22] As of July 2014, it is the 90th best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 308,000 units sold.^[23] The official YouTube video has over a billion views as of April 2022.^[24]

This version was nominated for Best Brazilian Song at the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards, but lost out to "Querido Diário" by Chico Buarque.

This song also featured as soundtrack in Konami football video game, Pro Evolution Soccer 2013.

Track listing

Digital download

1. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" – 2:46

CD single

1. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" – 2:46
2. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (Music Video) – 2:46

"If I Catch You" (Remixes) - EP

1. "If I Catch You" (Original Mix) – 2:47
2. "If I Catch You" (Live Mix) – 2:47
3. "If I Catch You" (Chill Version 1) – 2:51
4. "If I Catch You" (Chill Version 2) – 2:43

German Digital EP

1. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" – 2:46
2. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (A Class Edit) – 3:04
3. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (A Class Floor Mix) – 3:39
4. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (Rudeejay Remix) – 5:57
5. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (Sagi Abitbul Remix) – 3:36

UK Digital EP

1. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (feat. Becky G) – 3:18
2. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (Live) – 2:52
3. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (If I Get Ya) (Worldwide Remix) [feat. Pitbull] – 4:07
4. "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (Cahill Remix) – 3:13

Other versions

• "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (Spanish Version) – 2:45

Commercial performance

Not only the song hit the top position on the chart Brasil Hot 100 Airplay, the song also debuted and peaked at the number one spot in Spain,^[25] where was sold 12,000 copies in the first week,^[26] staying in the number one spot for sixteen straights weeks between 2011 and 2012.^[27] In the weekly charts Italian Singles Chart the song debut in the second position on the month of November,^[28] and the next week the song hit the number one position, which would stay there for nine non-consecutive weeks between 2011 and 2012.^[28][29][30] The song also reached the number one position in Billboard Latin Songs^[31] Also the song peaked on the position of 81 on Billboard Hot 100. In Germany, the song became the best-selling song of the year.^[32]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2011–12) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[34] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[35] 1 Brazil (Billboard Hot 100)[36] 1 Brazil (Billboard Hot Popular Songs)[37] 1 Bulgaria (IFPI)[38] 1 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[39] 27 Canada AC (Billboard)[40] 33 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[41] 40 CIS Airplay (TopHit)[42] 1 Colombia (National-Report)[43] 1 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[44] 1 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[45] 99 Denmark (Tracklisten)[46] 2 Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[47] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[48] 2 France (SNEP)[49] 1 Germany (GfK)[50] 1 Global Dance Songs (Billboard)[51] 9 Greece Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[52] 1 Honduras (Honduras Top 50)[53] 1 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[54] 2 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[55] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[56] 53 Israel (Media Forest)[57] 1 Italy (FIMI)[58] 1 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[59] 53 Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20)[60] 2 Luxembourg Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[61] 1 Mexico (Monitor Latino)[62] 6 Mexico (Billboard Mexican Airplay)[63] 11 Moldova Radio Songs (Media Forest)[64] 7 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[65] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[66] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[67] 2 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[68] 1 Portugal Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[69] 2 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[70] 1 Romania (Romanian Radio Airplay)[71] 1 Romania (Romania TV Airplay)[72] 1 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[73] 1 Scotland (OCC)[74] 48 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[75] 7 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[76] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[77] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[78] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[79] 66 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[80] 10 US Billboard Hot 100[81] 81 US Heatseekers Songs (Billboard)[82] 5 US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[83] 1 US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)[84] 1 US Tropical Airplay (Billboard)[85] 10 US Regional Mexican Airplay (Billboard)[86] 32 Venezuela Top 100 (Record Report)[87] 18 Venezuela Top Latino (Record Report)[88] 1 Venezuela Pop/Rock General (Record Report)[89] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2011) Position Brazil (Billboard Hot 100)[36] 5 Italy (FIMI)[90] 8 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[91] 9 Chart (2012) Position Argentina Digital Chart (CAPIF)[92] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[93] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[94] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[94] 2 Brazil (Billboard Hot 100)[36] 13 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[95] 92 Denmark (Tracklisten)[96] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[97] 2 France (SNEP)[98] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[99] 1 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[100] 10 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[101] 6 Israel (ACUM)[102] 9 Italy (FIMI)[103] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[104] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[105] 1 Poland (ZPAV)[106] 1 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[107] 12 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[108] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[109] 7 Sweden Digital Chart (DigiListan) 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[110] 1 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[111] 61 US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[112] 5 US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)[113] 1 US Latin Tropical Airplay (Billboard)[114] 31 Venezuela (Record Report)[115] 85 World (IFPI)[21] 6 Decade-end charts Chart (2010–2019) Position Germany (Official German Charts)[116] 9 US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[117] 31

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[118]	3× Platinum	90,000*
Argentina (CAPIF)[119]	7× Platinum
Belgium (BRMA)[120]	2× Platinum	60,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[121]	Platinum	80,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[122]	2× Platinum	60,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[123]	Gold	7,423[123]
France (SNEP)[124]	Gold	150,000*
Germany (BVMI)[125]	3× Platinum	900,000^
Italy (FIMI)[126]	8× Platinum	240,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[127]	3× Platinum+Gold	210,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[128]	3× Platinum	60,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[129]	3× Platinum	30,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[130]	4× Platinum	160,000*
Sweden (GLF)[131]	5× Platinum	200,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[132]	6× Platinum	180,000^
United States	—	305,000[133]
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[134]	2× Platinum	1,800,000†
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Release date	Ref.	Format
Brazil	October 10, 2011	[135]	Digital download
Portugal	July 2011	[136]
Austria	November 11, 2011	[137]
France		[138]
Germany		[139]
Greece		[140]
Italy		[141]
Poland		[142]
Switzerland		[143]
Canada	November 16, 2011	[144]
United States		[145]
Spain	November 22, 2011	[146]
Belgium	November 25, 2011	[147]
Luxembourg		[148]
Netherlands		[149]
Denmark	November 28, 2011	[150]
Mexico		[150]
Germany	December 16, 2011	[151]	CD single
United Kingdom	October 14, 2012	[152]	Digital download

Other versions

There are many translated versions of "Ai Se Eu Te Pego", such as:

• Dutch singer Gerard Joling released "Dan voel je me beter" (English: "You will feel me better that way"). This version reached the 9th position in the Mega Single Top 100.^[153]
• Dutch singer Tom Haver also recorded a Dutch version of the song, called "Samen vanavond" ("Together tonight"). This version reached the 66th position in the Mega Single Top 100.^[154]
• Serbian singer Dragan Kojić released "Kosa" (English: "Hair"). This version was very popular in Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia, as well in the Republic of Macedonia.

In popular culture

Popularity in sport

The song is especially popular among footballers. It was first danced by Brazilian player Neymar who initially appeared on a video dancing to the song "Ai Se Eu Te Pego". Many other videos of the same player emerged later leading to its huge popularity in Brazil.

The song became extremely popular in Spain and all over Europe after Real Madrid players Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated a goal dancing to the choreography of the song.^[155] Playing in a La Liga match, the dance was performed by the two players after Ronaldo scored the first goal against Málaga on 22 October 2011. The popularity was such that on 12 January 2012, Michel Teló was invited to the Real Madrid training ground and posed for pictures with Marcelo and Ronaldo.^{[citation needed]} The goal celebration has been performed by many other footballers across Europe.^{[citation needed]}

Muay Thai kickboxer Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee danced and sang along to "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" in the ring following his win over Marco Piqué at Yokkao Extreme 2012 in Milan on 21 January 2012. The mixed martial artists Fabrício Werdum and Dave Herman have used the song as their entrance music. Werdum walked out to it before facing Mike Russow at UFC 147 in Rio de Janeiro on 23 June 2012, while Herman entered to the song ahead of his match with Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 153 on 13 October 2012, also in Rio.

See also

• Brazil portal
• Latin music portal

• List of number-one hits of 2012 (Austria)
• List of Ultratop 40 number-one singles of 2012
• List of Ultratop 50 number-one singles of 2012
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 2012 (Brazil)
• List of number-one popular hits of 2012 (Brazil)
• List of number-one hits of 2012 (France)
• List of number-one hits of 2012 (Germany)
• List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 2012
• List of number-one singles of 2012 (Poland)
• List of number-one singles of 2012 (Spain)
• List of number-one hits of 2012 (Switzerland)
• List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Songs of 2012
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Pop Airplay of 2012
• List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2010s