Gal Costa (1945–2022), iconic Brazilian singer
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2 min readGal Costa was a Brazilian singer who became an icon of tropicália music, blending traditional styles with rock and avant-garde sounds.
Died: November 9, 2022 (Who else died on November 9?)
Details of death: Died at her home in Sí£o Paulo at the age of 77.
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Musical career
Costa began performing and recording in the mid-1960s. As the tropicália movement arose in the late 1960s, she became one of its leaders, collaborating on the seminal album “Tropicália: ou Panis et Circencis.” The politically charged genre carried risks for its musicians; tropicália icons Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso were exiled by Brazilian leaders for their anti-authoritarianism, and Costa flouted authority by continuing to sing their songs. Her career lasted decades and she became one of Brazil’s most legendary singers, honored with a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Her well-known singled include “Baby,” “Festa Do Interior,” and “Meu Nome é Gal.” Her most recent album, “Nenhuma Dor,” was released in 2021.
Notable quote
“I was born wanting to sing, wanting to be a singer. I always thought I would be one – I had this intuition and I wanted it. [I knew it from] when I was born. When I started to understand myself as an individual I already wanted to be [a professional singer].” —from a 2020 interview for Sounds and Colours
Tributes to Gal Costa
Full obituary: The New York Times
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