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.
Iansã
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Senhora do mundo
Dentro de mim
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Tempo bom, tempo ruim
Senhora de tudo
Dentro de mim
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Tempo bom, tempo ruim
Eu sou um céu
Para as tuas tempestades
Um céu partido ao meio no meio da tarde
Eu sou um céu
Para as tuas tempestades
Deusa pagã dos relâmpagos
Das chuvas de todo ano
Dentro de mim
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Tempo bom, tempo ruim
The song "Iansã" by Gilberto Gil is an homage to the powerful Orixá (deity) known as Iansã, who embodies the forces of wind, lightning, and storms. The song opens with an invocation of her power, describing her as the "Lady of leaden clouds" and "Lady of the world," who resides within the singer himself. Iansã is also referred to as the "Queen of lightning" and the chorus repeats this phrase three times for emphasis, followed by the assertion that she reigns over both good and bad times.
The second verse further emphasizes Iansã's power, describing her as the "Lady of June rains" and "Lady of everything," once again residing within the singer's own being. The chorus repeats the phrase "Queen of lightning" three more times, emphasizing her raw elemental force, while also acknowledging the inevitability of both good and bad times.
In the final verse, the singer directly addresses Iansã, declaring himself to be like a sky for her storms, able to withstand and channel her power. He is a "sky split in two" for her to unleash her tempests upon, also describing Iansã as a "pagan goddess of lightning and all-year rains." The chorus once again repeats her title as "Queen of lightning" three times, with the final line closing the song with the affirmation that she reigns over both good and bad times, inside the singer and out in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Senhora das nuvens de chumbo
Addressing Iansã, the goddess of storms and lightning, as the lady of the heavy clouds
Senhora do mundo
Acknowledging Iansã as the lady who holds power over the universe
Dentro de mim
Recognizing the personal connection and internalization of Iansã's power and presence
Rainha dos raios
Praising Iansã as the queen of lightning
Tempo bom, tempo ruim
Acknowledging the unpredictability and duality of weather and life itself
Senhora das chuvas de junho
Referring to Iansã as the lady of the rains that come in June
Senhora de tudo
Recognizing Iansã's power and hold over everything. She is the lady of everything.
Eu sou um céu
The artist is comparing themselves to a sky, a vast space that encompasses and experiences everything that comes their way
Para as tuas tempestades
The artist is offering themselves as a place for Iansã's storms, willingly taking on the power and intensity of her presence
Um céu partido ao meio no meio da tarde
Describing the overwhelming feeling of being a sky that is suddenly split in two during the middle of a chaotic moment
Deusa pagã dos relâmpagos
Iansã is referred to as a pagan goddess of lightning, invoking ancient beliefs and traditions associated with her
Das chuvas de todo ano
Not only is Iansã the lady of specific rains, but she is also the goddess of all rains that come throughout the year
Dentro de mim
Again acknowledging the personal and internalized connection to Iansã's power
Rainha dos raios
Repeating the earlier praise of Iansã's dominance over lightning
Tempo bom, tempo ruim
Repeating the earlier recognition of the duality and unpredictability of life and weather
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Caetano Emmanuel Viana Teles Veloso, Gilberto Moreira
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jane Flores
"Um dia eu ainda vou me redimir por inteiro, do pecado do intelectualismo, se Deus quiser.
Não vou ter mais necessidade de falar nada, de ficar pensando em termos
descontrarios, de tudo, pra tentar explicar as pessoas que eu não sou
perfeito, mas que o mundo também não é,
E que eu não estou querendo ser o dono da verdade, que eu não estou
querendo fazer sozinho uma obra que é de todos nós e de mais alguém, que
é o tempo, o verdadeiro grande alquimista.
Aquele que realmente transforma tudo, um pequenino grão de areia, é o que eu sou.
Só que o grão de areia já conseguiu, sendo tão grande ou maior do que
eu, ser pequenininho e não precisar se mostrar mais, ficar lá, trabalha
em silêncio, mar mineiro eu sou mais baiano ainda."
naraujo🤍🦋
...quanto amor.
pela poesia a Senhora dos Ventos.
Por uma alma que da forma ao sentir.
Que honra nascer na mesma época de seres com tanta tanta luz poética. De alma. Gratidão Gil e Caetano. ❤️
“Senhora das nuvens de chumbo
Senhora do mundo
Dentro de mim
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Tempo bom, tempo ruim
Senhora das chuvas de junho
Senhora de tudo
Dentro de mim
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Rainha dos raios
Tempo bom, tempo ruim
Eu sou um céu
Para as tuas tempestades
Um céu partido ao meio no meio da tarde
Eu sou um céu
Para…”
Acm B
Eu ouviria isso sem a musica. Só esse inicio ja foi suficiente. Que poeta ❤️
cacilda felix santos
Gil é um poço de riqueza ! Como não amar este ser ! Será eterno
Edmer Alves
Falou e disse um Genio Filosofo e ainda Canta e encanta Amo de Paixao
Acsa Dias
Assim seja 🧚♂️🧚♀️
Moara Cortazzo
Esse show (ou apresentação) todinho é uma onda! Procurem e baixem, vale muitissimo a pena! Gil conversa e interage com o público a cada música num lance super intimista e lisérgico, sincero, engraçado, profundo e acolhedor. Coisa mais linda de se ouvir e prestar atenção, sempre que ouço sinto como se tivesse estado lá, participando. Uma viagem!
El Lion
Põe lisérgico nisso! Hahahaha... Que inspiração
El Lion
Põe lisérgico nisso!! Hahaha... Que inspiração
Leonardo
Muito obrigado pela recomendação, vou logo entrar num estado alterado de mente e por esse show pra ouvir, muita paz <3
João
É um dos shows que eu mais gosto do mundo, é a expressão mais pura e genial de um artista
Rogerio Carllino
Já fui católico, depois evangélico... Só sei, que nada sei.
Linda música! 👏👏👏