Gilberto Gil Shows Us What Freedom Sounds Like
In his farewell tour concert, Gilberto Gil showcases the transformative power of sound, stirring the audience with a profound message of freedom and resilience for all who seek it.
Sense of Wander: ★★★★☆
Gilberto Gil is a pioneering figure in Brazilian music and a key proponent of the Tropicália movement. Image sourced from Internet.
TAIPEI, Taiwan — With Typhoon Krathon weakening to a tropical storm over southern Taiwan, the overcast skies in Taipei have cleared just in time for Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil’s concert.
Part of the Artquake in Autumn Festival, Legend of Brazilian Music: Gilberto Gil – Aquele Abraço has drawn a much larger audience than I expected.
The concert starts a few minutes behind schedule. As the lights dim, the band takes the stage first, building anticipation in the auditorium, where the audience awaits Gil with enthusiastic applause. I can’t help but wonder, “Does everyone here truly know who Gilberto Gil is?” When our hero finally steps onto the stage, several audience even rise for a standing ovation — something I’ve never witnessed in this auditorium, and it feels remarkable.
Without a word, Gilberto and his band launch into “Expresso 2222,” whisking us away on this imaginary train departing from Brazil’s Central Station and bound for a future “que não tem fim” (that has no end).
“The melody, like warm sunlight and a gentle breeze, sweeps away the humid, damp air left behind by the typhoon.”
As I enjoy the music, I can’t help but notice a young man next to me, swaying to the rhythm with such intensity that, for a moment, I wonder if he’s on something (though he clearly isn’t). He’s lost in his own world, so much so that it makes me reflect — am I holding myself back too much?
With that in mind, I intentionally loosen my shoulders and begin swaying my head, letting the rhythm of the second song, “Viramundo” — which fittingly means “wanderer” — carry me. The melody, like warm sunlight and a gentle breeze, sweeps away the humid, damp air left behind by the typhoon.
Gilberto then moves into a series of sambas, each like soft, fluffy pillows resting on warm beach sand — easy and soothing to listen to. The audience seems to melt into this relaxed vibe. One song in particular captivates me: “João Sabino,” written by Gil in 1974. Its carefree tone brings to mind the innocence and joy of childhood, with lyrics that carry a subtle note of rebellion.
In fact, rebellious energy is a thread throughout the concert. In some songs, Gil unexpectedly lets out a shout or a yell from deep within, like a wild animal breaking free. It’s raw, spontaneous, and utterly authentic — completely unanticipated, yet perfectly fitting.
Gilberto Gil leads a band comprised entirely of his family members. This familial connection adds a unique depth to his performances. Image sourced from Internet.
Throughout the concert, I can’t help but reflect on Gilberto Gil’s political activism. As a pioneer of the Tropicália movement in the 1960s — a revolutionary movement that challenged Brazil’s military dictatorship — Gil was exiled to London in 1969, alongside other leaders like Caetano Veloso. Introducing the song “Ladeira da Preguiça,” Gil remarks, “This is a song I wrote in London while I was missing my homeland.”
Anyone in the audience can see that Gil masterfully blends Brazilian sounds with global influences, from rock and roll to pop and avant-garde styles. However, it’s a surprise to learn that the band he’s leading is made up entirely of the Gil family, which adds quite an interesting dynamics to the performance.
Among them is his granddaughter, Flor Gil, on the keyboard. A singer-songwriter in her own right, Flor presents us with her song “Choro Rosa,” released this summer. Despite not understanding the lyrics, the song’s first few lines touch me deeply, bringing tears to my eyes. Flor’s gentle voice, paired with the song’s heartfelt melody, feels like an angel’s whisper, comforting a part of me that I didn’t realise needed healing. I certainly didn’t expect someone only 16 years old to move my soul in such a way.
Soon after, Gil performs Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” reinterpreting it in his own style with Portuguese lyrics. As if he could sense my emotions, the song calms the lingering feelings stirred by the previous emotional pieces. When a man in his 80s — who has clearly weathered many of life’s storms — repeatedly tells you that “Everything’s gonna be alright,” it’s hard not to be convinced.
In addition to samba, Gil introduces us to a genre I’d never heard of before: Xote. We learn that this style, with roots in Scottish music traditions, was brought to Brazil by the Portuguese royal family as they fled from Napoleon.
Gil returned to Brazil in 1972 as a revered national figure. A singer-songwriter and musician, he masterfully blends Brazilian rhythms with eclectic influences like reggae, rock, and jazz, all while infusing his lyrics with social and political commentary. Given the political challenges Taiwan faces today, it’s easy to see why Gilberto Gil’s presence resonates with us now more than ever.
Beyond his music, Gil also served as Brazil’s Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2008, championing creativity and cultural diversity. Now, at 82, he stands before the audience as more than a legend — a global icon who continues to inspire creativity, innovation, and activism worldwide.
The concert concluds like a grand celebration, with the audience singing along to “Aquele Abraço,” even though most may not speak a word of Portuguese. I’ve always known that music transcends borders, but this is more.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt this moved by a live concert. And if I had to choose a single word to describe my feelings during Gilberto Gil’s live performance, it would be “freedom” — the kind of carefree freedom that defies conventional rules and feels inherently bold and resilient.
When I return home in the evening and step into the shower, I notice something unusual — the water droplets clinging to the marble-tiled walls seem to form a vast landscape of mountains and rivers, reminiscent of an ink painting. In that moment, I’m convinced that Gil’s music has opened up a world I had never seen.
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Legend of Brazilian Music, Gilberto Gil: Aquele Abraço was held at the National Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan on October 4, 2024.