Gilberto Gil (born 26 June, 1942) is a Brazilian singer, guitarist and song… Read Full Bio ↴Gilberto Gil (born 26 June, 1942) is a Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter, and Brazil's former minister of culture.

He began his career as a bossa nova musician, but soon began writing songs that reflected a new focus on political awareness and social activism, along with fellow singer Caetano Veloso. In the 1970s, Gil added new elements of African and North American music to his already broad palette, and continued to release a steady stream of albums, including Realce and Refazenda. João Gilberto recorded Gil's "Eu Vim da Bahia" ("I Came from Bahia") on his classic João Gilberto LP.

In 1969, Gil and Veloso, whose status in Brazil was, and is, equivalent to that of John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the English-speaking world, were arrested by the military government of Brazil for anti-government activities. Upon their release, the pair both moved to London. Gil began playing with groups like Yes, Pink Floyd and The Incredible String Band, while continuing his solo career. In the 1970s, he toured the US and recorded an English-language album. He worked with Jimmy Cliff and released in 1980 a cover of "No Woman, No Cry" (Bob Marley & the Wailers) that was a massive hit and introduced reggae to Brazil.

Gil continued recording, performing and involving himself in various social causes, and was eventually elected a city councillor in his home town Salvador in 1989. His 1993 album with Caetano Veloso, Tropicália 2, featured a cover of a Jimi Hendrix song, "Wait Until Tomorrow", and is regarded as one of his finest efforts since the late 1960s.

When President Lula da Silva took office in January 2003, he chose Gil to serve as Brazil's new Minister of Culture, a post he held until 2008. While minister, Gil released his songs "Refazenda", "Rebento" and "Refavela" under the Creative Commons Sampling License.

In May 2005 Gil was awarded the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm, Sweden. He was the first Latin American recipient of the annual award, which was given to him by the King of Sweden. Gil also performed four songs in an outdoors concert the day before the award show and again at the show with only two songs, accompanied by Jimmy Cliff.

In September 2005 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur from the French Government. This coincided with the Année du Brésil en France (Brazil's Year in France).

His daughter Preta Gil is also a musician.

Dança Da Moda
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

No Rio tá tudo mudado
Nas noites de São João
Em vez de polca e rancheira
O povo só dança e só pede o baião

No meio da rua
Inda é balão
Inda é fogueira

É fogo de vista
Mas dentro da pista
O povo só dança e só pede o baião

Ai, ai, ai, ai, São João
Ai, ai, ai, ai, São João
É a dança da moda

Pois em toda a roda
Só pedem baião

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gilberto Gil's "Dança Da Moda" celebrate the traditional dance of the Northeast region of Brazil, the baião, which has gained popularity in Rio de Janeiro during the São João festival. The song describes how the people have abandoned the traditional polka and rancheira dances in favor of the baião, which has become "a dance fashion" ("dança da moda"). The verses evoke the festive atmosphere of the São João celebrations, with the streets filled with balloons, bonfires, and people dancing to the rhythm of the baião.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Ai, ai, ai, ai, São João" twice, as a joyful expression of the festival's spirit. The baião, which originated in the rural areas of the Northeast, is characterized by its syncopated rhythm and the use of accordion, triangle, and zabumba (a type of bass drum). The song acknowledges both the roots and the contemporary popularity of the baião, as it describes it as "a fire of sight" ("fogo de vista") and as the dance requested in every circle ("em toda a roda").

Overall, "Dança Da Moda" is a festive tribute to the cultural diversity and vitality of Brazil, as it celebrates the joy of dancing, the richness of regional traditions, and the fluidity of popular culture.

Line by Line Meaning

No Rio tá tudo mudado
There has been a lot of change in Rio

Nas noites de São João
During São João festivities

Em vez de polca e rancheira
Instead of polka and rancheira

O povo só dança e só pede o baião
The people only dance and ask for baião

No meio da rua
In the middle of the street

Inda é balão
Balloons are still present

Inda é fogueira
Bonfires are still there

É fogo de vista
It's just for show

Mas dentro da pista
But inside the dance floor

O povo só dança e só pede o baião
The people only dance and ask for baião

Ai, ai, ai, ai, São João
São João brings excitement