Legendary Brazilian Music Icon Gilberto Gil Concludes Farewell Tour
Brazilian music icon Gilberto Gil, aged 83, concluded his “ultimate tour” on Saturday with a festive concert lasting over three hours in front of 50,000 people in São Paulo. Gilberto Gil revolutionized Brazilian music during the military dictatorship (1964-1985), alongside artists such as Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque, by creating the genre known as “tropicalismo,” a fusion of samba, bossa nova, rock, and pop.
Surrounded by his musician children and grandchildren for his final concert, he delighted fans at the Palmeiras stadium with classics like “Palco,” “Vamos fugir,” “Andar com fé” and “Aquele abraço.” Emotionally moved but smiling, he shared a few words dedicated to his daughter, Preta Gil, who passed away less than a year ago and to whom he dedicated this tour.
Revered Brazilian Musician of His Generation
One of the highlights of the show was the song “A paz” (“The peace”), which he performed with his grandchildren, Flor and Bento Gil, aged 16 and 22, ending it by forming a “V” with his fingers as a peace sign. The concert also featured a video appearance by Chico Buarque, narrating the story of “Cálice,” a song about censorship during the dictatorship era.
With his unchanged voice and guitar talent, Gilberto Gil demonstrated his vitality and skill on Saturday, reinforcing his reputation as the “true Brazilian musician” of his generation, as once stated by his friend Veloso. The artist, who also served as the Minister of Culture under President Lula from 2003 to 2008, plans to continue performing but on a smaller and less frequent scale.
Performances in Brest and Quimper
Throughout his career, the musician had visited Brittany multiple times, including at the Festival de Cornouaille in Quimper in 2010. At that time, he told Le Télégramme: “For me, Brittany is the sea, boats, vibrant nature, unique architecture, the color of flowers, the natural kindness of the people here… I often come in the summer, a season when Brittany is especially beautiful.”
