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.

Estrela Azul Do Céu
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Aquela estrela azul do céu
Do céu do meu balão
De antigamente
Sumiu de repente
Da noite de São João

Azul do céu na noite só
Papel de seda faz

Balão era isso
Magia, feitiço
Milagre que não tem mais

Papel de seda azul e vermelho e amarelo
E verde a cintilar
Translúcido vitral
O balão se elevava, súbito pairava lá no ar
Ser sobrenatural

Aquela estrela azul do céu
O tempo carregou
O tempo não falha
O tempo atrapalha
O tempo não tem pudor

A fila anda, a vida vai
Propondo a mutação
Então de repente

Ficou diferente
A noite de São João

Overall Meaning

In this song, Gilberto Gil reminisces about a past São João night when he flew a balloon with a blue star made of tissue paper attached to it. The balloon represented an enchanting magical presence that has since vanished with time. The star, once a beautiful blue shade that lit up the sky on the night of São João, has disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only memories. Balloons were a part of Brazilian celebrations, and the song paints the picture of the beautiful and colorful balloons made of tissue paper that would illuminate the starry nighttime skies. Now, with time, things have changed, and João nights are not as they used to be. It is a beautiful song that reflects on how things transform and the impermanence of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Aquela estrela azul do céu
The blue star from the sky

Do céu do meu balão
Of the sky of my balloon

De antigamente
From the old times

Sumiu de repente
Disappeared suddenly

Da noite de São João
From the night of Saint John

Azul do céu na noite só
Blue of the sky in the only night

Papel de seda faz
Tissue paper does

Balão era isso
That was the balloon

Magia, feitiço
Magic, spell

Milagre que não tem mais
Miracle that doesn't exist anymore

Papel de seda azul e vermelho e amarelo
Blue and red and yellow tissue paper