Gilbert Gil is a politician, activist, and musician who has been performing consistently for almost 60 years. He grew up during a difficult time in Brazil’s history, and his music often reflects the issues affecting him and his country. To learn more about his incredible life, check out the podcast episode I made about him earlier this year here.
Some of his most famous tunes include Expresso 2222, and Toda Menina Baiana (this version features his lifelong friend Caetano Veloso).
This song called Refloresta was released earlier this year. One of the amazing things about a good song and video, is that even if you don't understand the words, you can still get a clear sense of what this song is talking about.
Ideas for discussion questions:
(Palco) What does this song remind you of?
(Palco) Can you name another band who makes (made) music similar to this?
(Palco) How would you describe the rhythms he uses in the verse?
(Refloresta) What do you think this song is about?
(Refloresta) Why do you think the theme of this song might affect people in Brazil more than people in Europe?