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.
Rep
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mas o povo também quer o que não sabe
O povo sabe o que quer
Mas o povo também quer o que não sabe
O que não sabe, o que não saberia
O que não saboreia porque é só visão
E tão somente cores, a cor do veludo
Teletecido à prova de tesoura
Que não corta, não costura, que não veste
Que resiste ao teste da pele, não rasga
Nunca sai da tela, nunca chega à sala
Que é pura fala, que é beleza pura
É a pura privação de outros sentidos tais
Como o olfato, o tato e seus outros sabores
Não apenas cores, mas saliva e sal
Veludo em carne viva, nutritiva
Não apenas realidade virtual
Veludo humano, pano em carne viva
Menos realce, mais vida real
O povo sabe o que quer
Mas o povo também quer o que não sabe
O povo sabe o que quer
Mas o povo também quer o que não sabe
O que não sabe, o que não saberia
Porque morreria sem poder provar
Como provar a pilha com a ponta da língua
Receber o choque elétrico e saber
Poder matar a fome é pra quem come, é claro
Não apenas pra quem vê comer
Assim feito a criança pobre esfarrapada
Come feijoada que vê na TV
Essa criança quer o que não come
Quer o que não sabe, quer poder viver
Assim como viveu um Galileu, um Newton
E outros tantos muitos pais do amanhã
Esses que provam que a Terra é redonda
E a gravidade é a simples queda da maçã
Que dão ao povo os frutos da ciência
Sabores sem os quais a vida é vã
O povo sabe o que quer
Mas o povo também quer o que não sabe
O povo sabe o que quer
Mas o povo também quer o que não sabe
In Gilberto Gil's song "Rep," he discusses the complex relationship between what the people know and what they desire. He begins by stating that "the people know what they want, but they also want what they don't know." In other words, there is a universal desire for the unknown, the mysterious.
Gil delves deeper into this theme when he sings about "what they don't know," which he describes as something that can only be seen, but not tasted or felt. He contrasts this with the sensory experience of "velvet," which can be seen and felt, and even tasted through the use of metaphors. However, the unknown is something that cannot be fully understood or experienced through the senses.
He continues to explore this idea by discussing the importance of science and knowledge in expanding our understanding of the world. He references Galileo, Newton, and other great thinkers who have expanded human knowledge and our capacity to experience life. He suggests that without the pursuit of knowledge, life is "vain" and unfulfilling.
Overall, "Rep" is a thoughtful and introspective exploration of the human desire for the unknown, and how that desire can drive us to seek knowledge and experience in order to expand our understanding of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
O povo sabe o que quer
The people know what they want
Mas o povo também quer o que não sabe
But the people also want what they don't know
O que não sabe, o que não saberia
What they don't know, what they wouldn't know
O que não saboreia porque é só visão
What they don't taste because it's only vision
E tão somente cores, a cor do veludo
And only colors, the color of velvet
Ludo, luz, brinquedo, ledo engano, tele
Games, light, toys, false joy, TV
Teletecido à prova de tesoura
Woven on television, uncuttable
Que não corta, não costura, que não veste
That doesn't cut, doesn't sew, that doesn't wear
Que resiste ao teste da pele, não rasga
That resists the test of the skin, doesn't tear
Nunca sai da tela, nunca chega à sala
Never leaves the screen, never reaches the room
Que é pura fala, que é beleza pura
That is pure speech, that is pure beauty
É a pura privação de outros sentidos tais
It is the pure deprivation of other senses such as
Como o olfato, o tato e seus outros sabores
Such as smell, touch, and their other flavors
Não apenas cores, mas saliva e sal
Not only colors, but saliva and salt
Veludo em carne viva, nutritiva
Velvet on raw and nourishing flesh
Não apenas realidade virtual
Not just virtual reality
Veludo humano, pano em carne viva
Human velvet, cloth on raw flesh
Menos realce, mais vida real
Less enhancement, more real life
Porque morreria sem poder provar
Because they would die without being able to taste
Como provar a pilha com a ponta da língua
Like testing a battery with the tip of the tongue
Receber o choque elétrico e saber
Feeling the electric shock and knowing
Poder matar a fome é pra quem come, é claro
Being able to satisfy hunger is for those who eat, obviously
Não apenas pra quem vê comer
Not just for those who watch others eat
Essa criança quer o que não come
That child wants what they don't eat
Quer o que não sabe, quer poder viver
Wants what they don't know, wants to be able to live
Assim como viveu um Galileu, um Newton
Just like Galileo, Newton lived
E outros tantos muitos pais do amanhã
And many other future fathers
Esses que provam que a Terra é redonda
Those who prove that the Earth is round
E a gravidade é a simples queda da maçã
And that gravity is simply the fall of the apple
Que dão ao povo os frutos da ciência
Who give the people the fruits of science
Sabores sem os quais a vida é vã
Flavors without which life is empty
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GILBERTO PASSOS GIL MOREIRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind