Rita Lee: “Gil showed me how to be a free, crazy artist”
In an interview, the singer, songwriter and former member of Mutantes recalls her meetings with Gil and says she felt “protected” by that “older brother.”
By Instituto Gilberto Gil
Interview: Chris Fuscaldo, journalist and music researcher
Singer and songwriter Rita Lee sends a message to her friend and partner Gilberto Gil in an exclusive testimonial to the Gilberto Gil project on Google Arts & Culture (Maio de 2020)Instituto Gilberto Gil
From Rita Lee to Gil
Singer, songwriter, founder of Os Mutantes—que accompanied Gilberto Gil at the festival where he performed “Domingo no Parque”—sends a loving message to her friend.
When and how was your first meeting with Gilberto Gil? What were your first impressions of his music?
Gilberto Gil, Jair Rodrigues e Elis Regina no programa O Fino da Bossa (1966)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
I remember him singing “Procissão” at the Fino da Bossa TV show, and I thought it was cool. I met him in person in the studio when the Mutantes were recording backup vocals for Gil’s “Bom dia,” sang by Nana Caymmi for the Record festival in 2967.
Gil ended up being the vehicle that transported Os Mutantes from the independent scene to the music market. After you met him as a member of that band, how did the relationship with him evolve?
Gilberto Gil e Os Mutantes em ensaio para o III Festival da Música Popular Brasileira (1967)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
Gil always treated me as a “protégée.” He was an older brother who showed me a colorful Brazil I knew little about. It was from him that I learned it was forbidden to forbid.
It mustn’t have been easy being a woman in the music scene when you started. How did you feel about Gil, a man known for his education and sensitivity?
Gilberto Gil e Rita Lee durante turnê do álbum Refestança (1977)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
Gil was a generous gentleman who showed me how to write songs in Portuguese. He would turn a conversation into a lyric and adapt a melody by drumming the acoustic guitar, and I would stand next to him drooling with emotion.
After Tropicália exploded, what meetings with Gil stayed with you the most?
Gilberto Gil em cena caseira com seu filho Pedro Gil (1972)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
After Gil and Caetano were exiled, we kind of lost touch. Once, I went to visit him in London and it was exciting to see him playing with his small son Pedro.
What was it like to share a stage with Gil at Refestança? Tell us a bit about your best, most amusing memories of that moment.
Gilberto Gil e Rita Lee em show da turnê Refestança (1977)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
We’d both been arrested. Gil had baptized my first son, Beto Lee. Nothing better for two close friends than to join their bands (Refavela and Tutti Frutti) and go on the road.
Gilberto Gil e Rita Lee no show Refestança (1978)Instituto Gilberto Gil
At the time, Gil was doing macrobiotics, and I was less “behaved.” The two bands got on perfectly and we called each other Refafrutti and Tutti Vela, because our previous works had been Refavela and Arrombou a Festa. It was an unforgettable party on stage.
Gil managed to make music that, while Brazilian, also sounds international. How did you see and still see it through the ages?
Capa do álbum Refestança, de Gilberto Gil e Rita Lee (1977)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
Gil, as a composer, is a master. He’s never had a problem mixing baião with rock and disco and samba. He shines on all the musical paths he sets out to travel.
Are there any of Gil’s songs that you wish you wrote?
Gilberto Gil em show da turnê Refazenda (1975)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
Refazenda!
For you, as an artist and as a person (if you can separate the two), what does Gilberto Gil’s songs/ideas mean?
Gilberto Gil, Arnaldo Baptista, Caetano Veloso, Rita Lee, Nara Leão e Gal Costa em evento de lançamento do disco Tropicália ou Panis et Circencis (1968-08-07)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
Gil is a Merlin of planetary music
Gil says you are one of the most insightful and fun people to deal with of those who knows in the artistic world. What would you say about him?
Gilberto Gil e Rita Lee no 11º Prêmio Sharp de Música Brasileira (1998-05-13)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Rita Lee:
I’d say I’ve had the great luck of having a master and friend who showed me the way to being a free and crazy artist.
Créditos da exposição
Entrevista e edição de vídeo: Chris Fuscaldo
Montagem: Isabela Marinho
Revisão: Laura Zandonadi
Agradecimentos: Rita Lee e João Lee
Créditos gerais
Edição e curadoria: Chris Fuscaldo / Garota FM
Pesquisa do conteúdo musical: Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo e Ricardo Schott
Pesquisa do conteúdo MinC: Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo e Laura Zandonadi
Legendas das fotos: Anna Durão, Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Daniel Malafaia, Gilberto Porcidonio, Kamille Viola, Laura Zandonadi, Lucas Vieira, Luciana Azevedo, Patrícia Sá Rêgo, Pedro Felitte, Ricardo Schott, Roni Filgueiras e Tito Guedes
Edição de dados: Isabela Marinho
Agradecimentos: Gege Produções, Gilberto Gil, Flora Gil, Gilda Mattoso, Fafá Giordano, Maria Gil, Meny Lopes, Nelci Frangipani, Cristina Doria, Daniella Bartolini e todos os autores das fotos e personagens da história
Todas as mídias: Instituto Gilberto Gil
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