Gilberto Gil and Other Artists Coming Together

Gilberto Gil unites with other artists in music and beyond.

Gilberto Gil na gravação do projeto Nordeste Já (1985)Instituto Gilberto Gil

Coming Together for Social and Environmental Causes

In the 1980s, Brazil's attention started to turn to social and environmental issues. Many performers embraced this trend, writing and recording songs that revered nature or protested against human mistreatment of the environment. 

Around this time, a lot of collective projects also emerged around specific causes. One such project was Nordeste Já, in 1985.

Letra da música Chega de Mágoa, manuscrita por Gilberto Gil Página 1 (1985)Instituto Gilberto Gil

A group of 155 well-known Brazilian singers came together to record two tracks with the aim of raising funds from record sales to help the deprived population in northeastern Brazil. 

Aiming to be a Brazilian version of the US hit We Are the World—which brought singers together to raise funds for Africa—Nordeste Já was a collective, creative effort to embrace the cause of drought-ridden northeastern Brazil. 

Rubão Sabino, Gonzaguinha e outros nos bastidores da gravação do projeto Nordeste Já (1985-05)Instituto Gilberto Gil

The two songs on the single were Chega de Mágoa and Seca d'Água. Chega de Mágoa was credited as a collective creation, with Gilberto Gil writing part of it. Seca d'Água was also a collective effort, based on the poem Patativa do Assaré.

Gilberto Gil, Renato Russo, Gal Costa, Sandra de Sá, Djavan, Ney Matogrosso, Rita Lee e Marisa Monte em estúdio, na gravação do projeto Spirit of The Forest (1989)Instituto Gilberto Gil

Four years later, in 1989, Gil once again joined up with some big names in Brazilian music to take part in the Spirit of the Forest project to record a single with the same title, released by Richard Branson and Earth Love Fund.

Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group, and is also involved in the music business. Earth Love Fund was a  collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme. 

Artists from around the globe were invited to come together to draw the world's attention to the importance of protecting the environment. Taking part in Los Angeles were Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, Olivia Newton-John, and many others.

In London, David Gilmour, Ringo Starr, and Jon Anderson were among those involved, while Donna Summer, Iggy Pop, the Ramones, Africa Bambaataa, and others gathered in New York.

 Performing on the Brazilian single—released by RCA Victor—were Rita Lee, Ney Matogrosso, Gal Costa, Renato Russo, Djavan, Sandra de Sá, Ivan Lins, and Gilberto Gil. 

Credits: Story

General credits

Editing and curation: Chris Fuscaldo / Garota FM 
Research - music: Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Laura Zandonadi and Ricardo Schott 
Research - Ministry of Culture: Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves and Chris Fuscaldo 
Subtitles: Anna Durão, Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, 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 
Data editing: Isabela Marinho and Marco Konopacki
Gege Produções Review: Cristina Doria
Acknowledgements: 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
All media: Instituto Gilberto Gil 
*Every effort has been made to credit the images, audios and videos and correctly tell the story about the episodes narrated in the exhibitions. If you find errors and/or omissions, please contact us by email atendimentogil@gege.com.br

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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