Gilberto Gil for kids
Songs written by the musician are part of the children’s universe, such as the theme song of TV show Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, which marked the childhood of several generations.
By Instituto Gilberto Gil
Text: Ricardo Schott, journalist and musical researcher
Shortly before the recording of album Refavela, by 1976-end, a new mission took Gilberto Gil to the studio: recording a song for a TV show to be premiered by Globo channel, called Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, based on the works of Monteiro Lobato. Familiar with Lobato’s work, Gil was invited by producer Dori Caymmi to write one of characters themes, to which he proposed writing a theme song, about the whole show.
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The music turned into the opening theme, being a song that has been listened to throughout generations. It was opening theme for Sítio in all seasons of the show, along with being brought back by Gil in his MTV Unplugged concert, in 1995.
Lado A do compacto de 1977 de Gilberto Gil, lançado pela gravadora Phillips (1977)Instituto Gilberto Gil
When the show was remarked in 2001 by Globo channel, Gil was a guest in the premiere show, which featured new songs and new records for the Sítio’s old songs. He also interacted with the show’s characters.
Beginning in the children’s universe
The song paved way for children-targeted work by the songwriter, and for him to reach the infant audience—who were gifted with the show’s album, released by Som Livre in the following year. It is no wonder that Gil, with a life full of children (and grandchildren), was enjoyed by children too.
“Domingou”
Ever since his first albums, there were songs of an almost childish tenderness—such as the joyful “Domingou” (1968), or even the easy chorus and themes in “Louvação” —his first hit, released the years before—and in “Refazenda” and “O rouxinol” (both dated from 1975).
Pedro Gil
In 1972, Gil insisted on having Pedro, his first child with the then-wife Sandra, on the cover of Expresso 2222 album.
Preta Gil’s second birthday is portrayed in the documentary on the Doces Bárbaros tour, in 1976. Years later, when saying farewell to his marriage with Sandra in his song “Drão”, he mentioned the children in the verses “os meninos são todos sãos” [the children are all healthy].
Flora Gil, esposa de Gilberto Gil, com Bem Gil, filho primogênito do casal (1985)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Children as inspirations
While seeing his kids growing up and the world changing, Gilberto Gil wrote about his children getting older, which resulted in one of his most beautiful lyrics in the 1980s, “Tempo rei” (1984).
In the song, released in the Raça Humana, from 1984, Gil mentions “mães zelosas e pais corujas” [caring mothers and proud fathers].
Gilberto Gil e Bem Gil em ensaio para o álbum Dia Dorim Noite Neon (1985)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Later on, married to wife and manager Flora Gil, in 1985, he posed for pictures with his newborn son Bem. With his son, he was pictured on the covers of international releases of the Dia Dorim Noite Neon album.
Filhos de Gilberto Gil (1985)Instituto Gilberto Gil
In the album, Preta Gil, then a small child, sang with him the opening track, “Minha ideologia, minha religião,” sided by her sister, Maria.
On November 19th, 2019, Gil brought back the song “Minha ideologia, minha religião,” on a social media, to celebrate the International Day for Tolerance.
Isabela Gil, Bem Gil e José Gil quando crianças (1992-01)Instituto Gilberto Gil
“Today, older and more used to the bleeding clashes in which political and religious sects from all spectrums engage all over the world, I feel more and more attached to this feeling,” we wrote, thinking of the verses he recorded with his daughters.
Years later, in 2008, he merged both the children and the issue of tolerance into a song featured in Banda Larga Cordel album, “Os pais.” The song stated that “preocupados demais/ com medo que seus filhos caiam nas mãos dos narco-marginais/ ou então na mão dos molestadores sexuais” [{parents are} way too worried/ about their children ending up in the hands of narco-bandits/ or else in the hands of sexual predators].
In 2013, Gilberto Gil presented a novelty in his career: he wrote the Brazilian lyrics of the musical The Lion King, a version of the Disney classic animation for the Brazilian audience. In an interview to UOL, the singer said he had resisted at first on working for the musical, but was led to it by his wife, children and grandchildren. He also said that the redemption story narrated in The Lion King made him happy.
Excerpt of The Lion King musical, which had Gilberto Gil’s lyrics in its version for the Brazilian audience.
“It is a story of redemption, of a family, the task of carrying out the redemption process. It is sort of my own history, and what attracted me to the musical,” said Gil, who worked with the original soundtrack of the The Lion King movie.
"Sol de Maria"
Virtually writing a song after another, more recently, Gil took the opportunity to write a song for his great grandchild, Preta Gil’s grandchild.
The song “Sol de Maria” was first released on the internet and later on was featured in the OK OK OK album, in 2018. In its lyrics, Gil celebrates his family and tells his great grandchild:
Gilberto Gil com as filhas Maria Gil e Preta Gil, o neto Francisco e a bisneta Sol de Maria em encontro de Natal na casa de Araras (Dezembro de 2019)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Que o mundo seja bom/ May the world be good
Que o mundo seja bom para nós / May the world be good to us
Seus pais, seus tios / To your parents, your uncles, and aunts
Seus primos, avós e bisavós / To your cousins, grandparents, and grand grandparents
Que o mundo seja o que deseja / May the world be what you wish
A sua geração / Your generation
Todos que estão aqui / Everyone in where
E mais todos os que virão / And everyone yet to come
“Sereno”
Gil also made an homage to his grandchild Sereno, Bem Gil’s son, in the album OK OK OK, with a song titled with his name [Sereno is Portuguese for “calm”]:
Sereno quer dizer que você será/ Calm means that you will be
Será suave, ameno e tranquilo será / You will be soft, gentle, and peaceful
In 2019, TV show Só Toca Top had a Children’s Day special and united Gil to his granddaughter, Flora Gil, who was 11 years old at the time. The duo sang the theme song from Sítio do Picapau Amarelo. In that occasion, on stage were also Galinha Pintadinha and Palavra Cantada, two Brazilian children’s musical acts.
Gilberto Gil e Flor Gil em momento de lazer na Bélgica, antes do show da turnê europeia do álbum OK OK OK (2019-07-24)Instituto Gilberto Gil
In the picture, grandparent and grandchild during the European tour of OK OK OK.
Filhos e netos de Gilberto Gil com filhos de Caetano Veloso e amigosInstituto Gilberto Gil
More recently, Gilberto Gil saw his work to be presented once more to the children—sided by his friend Caetano Veloso—in the concert Tropicalinha—Caetano and Gil para Crianças.
The musical takes place in the Pindorama Kingdom, whose authoritarian queen would prohibit any artistic manifestation. The idea was to promote a generational meeting and take the magic of Gil’s music to a new audience. In the picture, children, grandchildren, and friends of Gil’s family during childhood.
Exhibit credits
Text and research: Ricardo Schott
Editing: Chris Fuscaldo
Assembly: Patrícia Sá Rêgo
Copyediting: Laura Zandonadi
General credits
Editing and curating: Chris Fuscaldo / Garota FM
Musical content research: Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, and Ricardo Schott
MinC content research: Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, and Laura Zandonadi
Photo subtitles: 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, and Tito Guedes
Subtitle copyediting: Anna Durão, Carla Peixoto, Laura Zandonadi, and Patrícia Sá Rêgo
Data editing: Isabela Marinho
Acknowledgments: Gege Produções, Gilberto Gil, Flora Gil, Gilda Mattoso, Fafá Giordano, Maria Gil, Meny Lopes, Nelci Frangipani, Cristina Doria, Daniella Bartolini, and all photographers and characters in the stories
All media: Instituto Gilberto Gil
