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| 2002 |
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The year started lighter and with good winds, in spite of the threat of war in the Middle East. Twelve countries in Europe adopted the euro, currency already competing with the dollar. Queen Elizabeth II knighted singer Mick Jagger. In Rio, the commandos of the drug traffickers, cruelly assassinated journalist Tim Lopes.
Gal Costa closed out her contract with BMG, the record company she had been with since 1984. And soon she signs with Abril Music label, following the worldwide tendency of many important artists: end their artistic affiliation with the large, multinational labels.
What did Gal want in 2002? Sing, sing, sing. He, who sings, scares away his own maladies, and in turn those of everybody else. She then begins to perform, a few times, in a show that served as a laboratory for her new repertoire. In São Paulo, at Ibirapuera Park, she included classics of her repertoire, such as Jóia, Avarandado, Minha Voz and even wagered on unexpected things like Cabelo Raspadinho by Tenison Del Rey e Edu Casanova. Something new came of it.
At the beginning of the second half of the year, the I Prêmio Caras de Música chooses her to receive the homage of the year. On the evening of the award ceremony, in Rio de Janeiro, Gal performs on stage of the Vila Riso with invited guests. Among them was Gilberto Gil.
Then, at the same time came the CD Bossa Tropical, produced by MZA and distributed by Abril Music. And this time there was a critical surrender in relation to the singer. The album, unpretentious and happy, with few musicians and basically acoustic, showed her as an interpreter merely interested in expressing herself. An outing of timbres and possibilities, as only Gal would be capable of getting across. From Marcianita to Ovelha Negra, from Arnaldo Antunes to the Beatles, from Riachão to Caetano Veloso. Hoorah for pleasure.
In December she gets together, once again, with Doces Bárbaros, in two shows of the series Pão Music, in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Gal closed out the year in good form, singing what she wanted and how she wished. Definitive conquests which came to stay.
Soon after, Gilberto Gil accepts the invitation from president-elect Lula da Silva to act as Minister of Culture in the government that was inaugurated on January first of 2003. A gust of courage and hope.
Eduardo Logullo
translation: Kirsten Weinoldt
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