By Instituto Gilberto Gil
Text: Kamille Viola, journalist and music researcher
“It is breathtaking and completely lacking rationality. Pure wheezing. I sang as if to the whole town.”
Gilberto Gil, on O Globo
Green and pink inspiration
Mangueira, a traditional Rio de Janeiro samba school, Mangueira was honored in songs from Chico Buarque and Tom Jobim to Nelson Cavaquinho, including Assis Valente and even Paulinho da Viola, a lover of Portela, another traditional association in Rio’s Carnaval.
Mulheres em corso carnavalesco (1924) by Museu da Imagem e do Som / RJThe Football Museum
Colored in green and pink, the Estação Primeira da Mangueira has seen a mythical atmosphere around it since its foundation in the late 1920s (there are controversies about the exact year: 1928/1929), by names like the samba dancers Cartola, Carlos Cachaça, Zé Espinguela and Saturnino Gonçalves.
One of the most traditional samba schools in Brazil, it has always attracted passionate admirers. And, in 1994, its history intertwined to the history of Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, and Maria Bethânia, equally mythical artists. Photo illustrates Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval at the time when Mangueira was created.
In January 15th, 1994, Doces Bárbaros went on stage to perform at the headquarters of Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Estação Primeira de Mangueira. The 4,000 tickets were sold out. Not surprising: the four artists from Bahia were reuniting after the tour that was immortalized on a double album and a documentary. It wasn’t a comeback, they insisted, but a celebration of four artists among the greatest in Brazilian music. The reason was more than noble: to raise funds for the samba school that had honored the four at that year’s Carnaval parade.
Doces Bárbaros went on stage together after crossing a corridor of women dressed in the traditional clothes from Bahia throwing petals at them. Gal Costa and Maria Bethânia sang “Esotérico,” a song by Gilberto Gil, while Caetano Veloso and Gil accompanied them on their guitars.
Next, each of the musicians, performed songs from their repertoire. They also recalled songs that honored the school.
Bethânia opened with “Emoções,” by Roberto Carlos, followed with “Reconvexo”,by Caetano, “Explode coração,” by Gonzaguinha, and “A Bahia te espera,” by Herivelto Martins and Chianca de Garcia.
Then, Caetano sang “Onde o Rio é mais baiano”—which he had just written for that concert—, “Um índio,” and “Desde que o samba é samba,” also his. For this last one, he was joined by Gil. At the time, they were both on tour with the album Tropicália 2, with that song on the setlist.
With Gil, Gal sang “Folhas secas,” by Nelson Cavaquinho and Guilherme de Brito. Next, “Meu bem, meu mal,” and “Luz do Sol,” by Caetano, with him on the guitar. With Gil playing the electric guitar, Gal closed her first participation on the concert with “Bumbo da Mangueira,” by Jorge Ben Jor.
Gil started his part on the Mangueira concert with “Mundo de Zinco,” by Wilson Batista and Antônio Nássara, following it with his “Nos barracos da cidade,” and “Aquele abraço.”
Caetano joined Gil on stage for “Nossa gente,” by Roque Carvalho, from Olodum’s repertoire, which was also on the Tropicália 2 setlist.
Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa e Caetano Veloso em show dos Doces Bárbaros com a bateria da Mangueira em Londres (1994-03)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The four artists finally came together on stage to perform “Os mais doces bárbaros,” and “Exaltação à Mangueira,” with the famous verses (image of a concert by the four with Mangueira in London, that same year):
Mangueira teu cenário é uma beleza / Mangueira, what a beauty you are
Que a natureza criou / Created by nature
O morro com seus barracões de zinco / The hills with its tin dwellings
Quando amanhece, que esplendor / Is splendorous in the morning
Gal Costa e Gilberto Gil em show dos Doces Bárbaros com a bateria da Mangueira em Londres (1994-03)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Members of the school came on stage to close the night, interpreting the school’s theme song for the year, “Atrás da Verde e Rosa só não vai quem já morreu,” by David Corrêa, Carlos Senna, Paulinho, and Bira do Ponto.
Rixxa, Eraldo Caê (substituting singer Jamelão on the sound car), and Neguinho da Beija-Flor were on vocals.
Special on TV
Of the 1976 concert’s repertoire, only four songs were performed that night: “Os mais doces bárbaros,” “Pássaro proibido,” “Um índio,” and “Esotérico,” which didn’t make it on the special broadcast by TV Bandeirantes the weekend after the concert at the school’s headquarters. Caetano felt sorry that their entrance, interpreting the song, was cut. “This opening is better to situate the concert. If we had to, we’d tape it again,” he said to reporter Marcia Gomes, at the Jornal do Brasil, at the time.
The TV show also featured scenes from the rehearsal and the press conference that took place the day before the concert, excerpts from Jom Tob Azulay’s documentary Os Doces Bárbaros (1976), and interviews by important Mangueira characters, like Dona Zica (1913–2003) and Dona Neuma (1922–2000).
Bateria da Mangueira em show com os Doces Bárbaros em Londres (1994-03)Instituto Gilberto Gil
On other stages
The Doces Bárbaros reunion bore fruit. I June 1st, 1994, the musicians came together again at London’s Royal Albert Hall, with the participation of the Mangueira London School percussion team.
Gal Costa e Gilberto Gil em show dos Doces Bárbaros com a bateria da Mangueira em Londres (1994-03)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil e Gal Costa em show dos Doces Bárbaros em Londres (1994-06-01)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil e Maria Bethânia em show dos Doces Bárbaros com a bateria da Mangueira em Londres (1994-03)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso e Maria Bethânia em show de reunião dos Doces Bárbaros no Parque Ibirapuera (2002-12-07)Instituto Gilberto Gil
In 2002, the foursome performed on February 7th and 8th at Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo, and Copacabana Beach, in Rio. Picture shows the São Paulo concert.
Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethânia, Caetano Veloso e Gal Costa em show de reunião dos Doces Bárbaros no Parque Ibirapuera (2002-12-07)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The song “Exaltação à Mangueira” (which had already been recorded by Gil in Gilberto Gil ao Vivo — Montreux International Jazz Festival, 1978) was in the repertoire, besides the previously unreleased “Outros Bárbaros,” wrote by him especially for the group’s performances.
Acclaimed by the audience at the Sambadrome
On February 13th, 1994, another highly anticipated moment: the parade honoring the four artists at the Rio de Janeiro Carnaval. It was a debut for Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Maria Bethânia on the samba avenue; Gal Costa had been there years earlier, with Imperatriz Leopoldinense. The only one out of the four who didn’t generally support Mangueira, Gil, a fan of Portela, talked about his experience at Sapucaí: “I went with the crow when Mangueira came back along the avenue in the end,” he told reporter Aydano André Motta, from O Globo newspaper, about the 1984 parade, when the school won with the theme “Yes, nós temos Braguinha.”
Gilberto Gil e Flora Gil durante desfile da Estação Primeira de Mangueira que homenageou os Doces Bárbaros (1994)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The samba was one of the audience’s favorite, and became a popular hit. The school entered the Sambadrome as a favorite, with 4,500 components. The lyrics talked about songs from each artist’s repertoire.
The school mentioned songs such as “Explode, coração” and “Sonho meu,” hits sang by Bethânia, Gil’s “Domingo no parque,” Caetano’s” “Alegria, alegria” and “Atrás do trio elétrico,” and Gal’s “Festa do interior” and “Meu nome é Gal.”
Gilberto Gil e Jamelão, intérprete da Mangueira, nos bastidores do show Tributo a Tom Jobim (1995-12-31)Instituto Gilberto Gil
José Bispo Clementino dos Santos, the legendary Jamelão, sang the song written by David Correia, Paulinho Carvalho, Carlos Senna, and Bira do Ponto. In the 1995 photo, Jamelão visiting Gil backstage at one of his concerts.
Ministro da Cultura Gilberto Gil em visita às instalações da Mangueira na Cidade do Samba, na zona portuária carioca (2006-10-02)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Moved, the artists from Bahia payed homage to the school. “We’re not celebrities, Mangueira is,” Gil said to reporter Aydano André Motta, from O Globo newspaper.
“Just to have Jamelão say our names is indescribable,” said Caetano during the same interview. In the picture, Gilberto Gil, then minister of Culture, visits Mangueira at the Cidade do Samba, in Rio de Janeiro’s port area, in 2006.
Ministro da Cultura Gilberto Gil, Marquinhos, Giovanna e Rosemary na Mangueira (2004-12-13)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Then leading the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, the singer and songwriter kissed the samba school’s pavilion during an official visit to the headquarters. In the picture, Gil, the flag-bearer with her escort, and singer Rosemary, a passionate fan of Mangueira.
The opening float, dubbed Exploding Mangueira, brought berimbaus, drums, coconut palms, and black women. Then, Bahia’s religiousness was called upon with Baroque angels, stained glass, and the traditional cleansing of the steps at Our Lord of Good End Church, in Salvador. The sector also brought an allegory called Bahia of All Saints. The history of the four started to be told in the Tropicália car.
Tap to explore
The samba avenue
Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, at the Marquês de Sapucaí Avenue where samba schools march during Carnaval.
Maria Bethânia was first to come on the avenue, on the float called The Great Star Bethania, with references to songs such as “A hora da estrela,” and “Carcará.” The song “Abelha rainha” was the main inspiration for this part. Caetano Veloso came on the next float, which featured references to “Luz do sol,” “Sampa,” “Rapte-me, camaleoa,” and “London, London,” representing the exile. Gal Costa came on the Sweet Gal float, referencing songs “Aquarela brasileira,” “Chuva de prata,” and “Festa do interior.” For Gilberto Gil, the references were songs such as “Expresso 2222,” “Realce,” “Luar,” “Parabolicamará,” and “Procissão.” The parade ended with references to Carnaval in Rio and Bahia, with the Lapa Aqueduct, the Barra Lighthouse, and a Carnaval trio.
Pesquisa e redação: Kamille Viola
Montagem: Patrícia Sá Rêgo
Créditos gerais
Edição e curadoria: Chris Fuscaldo / Garota FM Edições
Pesquisa do conteúdo musical: Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Laura Zandonadi e Ricardo Schott
Pesquisa do conteúdo MinC: Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves e Chris Fuscaldo
Legendas das fotos: Anna Durão, Carla Peixoto, Chris Fuscaldo, Daniel Malafaia, Fernanda Pimentel, 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 e Marco Konopacki
Revisão Gege Produções: Cristina Doria
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
*Todos os esforços foram feitos para creditar as imagens, áudios e vídeos e contar corretamente os episódios narrados nas exposições. Caso encontre erros e/ou omissões, favor entrar em contato pelo e-mail atendimentogil@gege.com.br
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