Lulu Santos: “It's like Gil has been there his whole life”
A successful career musician in national pop rock recalls the moment he was enchanted by Gilberto Gil's music and how he came to work with him in the studio.
By Instituto Gilberto Gil
Interview: Chris Fuscaldo, journalist and music researcher
What are your first memories of your first contacts with Gilberto Gil?
Gilberto Gil com Scarlet Moon, Flora Gil e Lulu Santos na festa do seu aniversário de 60 anos (2002-06-26)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
I try to remember details and I can’t. It’s as if Gil has been there all his life, which is not true. It was probably through Scarlet Moon, my wife at the time, who had a broad social spectrum and knew important people.
Your first memories of Gilberto Gil are of seeing him on TV at the time of festivals?
Gilberto Gil e Marília Medalha no III Festival da Música Popular Brasileira (1967-10-21)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
Exactly.
How did the image and sound of that "tropicalist" Bahia native hit you?
Gilberto Gil no III Festival da Música Popular Brasileira (1967)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
I loved “Domingo no parque," with that tragic ending and the Mutantes rocking the scene.
In 1983, you played guitar and sang with Gil in “Punk da periferia.” How was the invitation and the exchange between you in studio?
Rascunho da música Punk Da Periferia, de Gilberto Gil (1978)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
The invitation came through Liminha, who was already the producer of his records and then of my first three albums. Gil had a diffuse idea of what he wanted.
Gilberto Gil e Lulu Santos no estúdio Mega após gravação do single Lamento de Carnaval (1997)Instituto Gilberto Gil
I did my part with him next to me singing and suggesting lines, while I tried all my tricks. When it was over, he sentenced it with his characteristic accent: “It’s excessive!” It ended up staying the way it was.
What was your relationship like before, and from then on, what was it like?
Gilberto Gil com Scarlet Moon e Lulu Santos no camarim do show Kaya N' Gan Daya (2002-05)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
Gil was always attentive to my movements and interested in the outcomes they led to. For my part, since “Expresso 2222,” and that rhythmic reinvention he made of playing the guitar with his nails, I had enormous respect and admiration.
Gilberto Gil, Davi Moraes, Jorge Ben Jor, Preta Gil, Lulu Santos e Scarlet Moon na festa de aniversário de Flora Gil (2005-06-02)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The mutual affection came after the personal approach.
“Punk da periferia” is a sample of the rock that Gil also knew how to do, in his own way, in the 1980s. A rock that took him to the stage of Rock in Rio and made him be a part of several other movements throughout his career. Talk a bit about how you saw and/or (still) see Gil's rock and his versatility.
Gilberto Gil durante show na década de 1970 (1973)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
Since London and the experience of living the psychedelic explosion of late 60's in loco, Gil has shown sympathy and affinity with the language of rock, bought a semi-acoustic electric guitar Gibson ES-335 Sunburst, wrote and released “Back in Bahia,” a true rock'n'roll.
In the album Quanta Gente Veio Ver, you record with Gil again, this time the song “Lamento de Carnaval.” Was there any other professional meeting between those two works? Talk about this vocal encounter with him.
Capa do álbum Quanta Gente Veio Ver, de Gilberto Gil (1998)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
I produced with Gil on this studio single added to the live album. I took my musicians and my electronic orientation, in which Gil was interested. I proposed that finish for what was essentially a Carnaval song, “Candy All.”
Did you have any other encounters with Gil, during Carnaval or any action in his days at the Ministry of Culture?
Gilberto Gil, Preta Gil, Lulu Santos, Ivete Sangalo e Margareth Menezes durante desfile do Expresso 2222 no carnaval (2007-02-19)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
Not at that time, but right after I did three concerts at his electric trio in the Salvador Carnaval.
What does Gil mean to you and what do you think is the legacy he has left and continues to leave for our culture and our country?
Gilberto Gil e Jorge Ben Jor durante aniversário de André Midani (2017-09-25)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
For me personally, he's one of the foundations of my involvement with Brazilian music. It was through its modifiers, like Gil, Ben Jor, and Caetano, that this really interested me.
If you had to leave a message for Gil, a statement for posterity, what would you tell him?
Gilberto Gil com Scarlet Moon e Lulu Santos no camarim do show Kaya N' Gan Daya (2002-05)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Lulu Santos:
Gil, I love you, like in a fan chant at a football stadium.
Exhibit credits
Interview: Chris Fuscaldo
Assembly: Isabela Marinho
Copyediting: Laura Zandonadi
Acknowledgments: Lulu Santos
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
