Even though Brazilian pop singer Michel Teló is best known for his 2011
single "Ai Se Eu Te Pego!," he had already been a successful performer
for several years before recording the song, which became a number one
hit in over 15 countries. Teló, who was born on January 21, 1981 in
Medianeira, Paraná, had been singing since he was six years old, as
well as playing the accordion, the piano, and the harmonica. He formed
his first band when he was 12; in 1997, he joined the Brazilian band
Grupo Tradição, with whom he released several successful albums and
singles as a singer, songwriter, and harmonica player. In 2008, Teló
decided to leave the band; his final album with Grupo Tradição,
Micareta Sertaneja 2, was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Brazilian
music category. Teló's first solo album, 2009's Balada Sertaneja,
featured the hit single "Ei, Psiu! Beijo, Me Liga," while his 2010 live
album, Ao Vivo, was awarded gold status and sported the single
"Fugidinha," which reached number one in the Brazilian Hot 100 charts.
The following year, Teló released his signature song, "Ai Se Eu Te
Pego!," which was made popular when Brazilian soccer player Neymar
danced to it in a YouTube video that received several million clicks -
a dance that was performed by several other soccer players as well
(among them Spanish players Marcelo Vieira and Cristiano Ronaldo, and
Polish player Adrian Mierzejewski). The song, which was originally
written by Sharon Acioly and Antônio Dyggs, and which had already been
a regional hit in Brazil in 2008, received further attention when
Brazilian soccer player Ailton sang the song in the German TV show Ich
Bin Ein Star - Holt Mich Hier Raus. Eventually, the song topped the
charts in several European countries, as well as in Latin America and
Israel. Télo's accompanying 2011 live album, Michel Na Balada, which
featured "Ai Se Eu Te Pego!," was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award as
Best Sertanejo Album and charted at number 11 in Germany, at number ten
in Austria, and at number two in Switzerland.