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.

Marcha Da Tietagem
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Você sabe o que é tiete?
Tiete é uma espécie de admirador
Atrás de um bocadinho só do seu amor
Afins de estar pertinho, afins do seu calor

Hoje eu sou o seu tiete
Às suas ordens, ao seu inteiro dispor
De imediato aonde você for eu vou

No ato, no ato
Pro mato, pro motel, de moto ou de metrô

Tititititi
Como é bom tietar
Seu amor inatingível
Tititititi
E se você deixar

Eu farei todo o possível
Pra alcançar o nível do seu paladar

Overall Meaning

The song "Marcha Da Tietagem" by Gilberto Gil is an upbeat and playful tune that explores the theme of fandom or "tiete" in Brazilian Portuguese. The lyrics describe what a "tiete" is, which is someone who is an admirer of someone else, someone who wants to get closer to them and feel their warmth. But in this song, the singer is saying that he is the one who is the "tiete" now, and he is at the complete disposal of his loved one.

The chorus of the song is dominated by the repeated phrase "Tititititi", which adds a catchy and rhythmic element to the song. It is a playful phrase that may evoke the sound of a heart beating fast, which is a common sensation when people are infatuated with someone. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to please his loved one and reach the same level of taste or preference as they have.

Line by Line Meaning

Você sabe o que é tiete?
Do you know what being a 'tiete' means?

Tiete é uma espécie de admirador
'Tiete' refers to someone who admires another person

Atrás de um bocadinho só do seu amor
They seek just a little bit of love from the admired person

Afins de estar pertinho, afins do seu calor
In an effort to be close and feel their warmth

Hoje eu sou o seu tiete
Today, I am your 'tiete'

Às suas ordens, ao seu inteiro dispor
At your service, completely available to you

De imediato aonde você for eu vou
I will follow you immediately wherever you go

No ato, no ato
Right away, without hesitation

Pro mato, pro motel, de moto ou de metrô
To the forest, to the motel, by motorcycle or subway

Tititititi
Ti-ti-ti-ti-ti

Como é bom tietar
How good it is to be a 'tiete'