Gilberto Gil

This excellent CD finds Gilberto Gil killing two birds with one stone -- he provides the soundtrack for a Brazilian film (Me, You, Them), and he also pays tribute to the seminal Luiz Gonzaga. Often described as the father of baião, Gonzaga was among Brazil's most influential artists of the 20th century; his innovations had a major impact on tropicalismo and forró (two styles that have flourished in the northeastern part of the country). Gil, of course, is quite influential himself, and the fact that Gonzaga is among his primary influences tells you how important the father of baião was. Me, You, Them isn't a documentary on Gonzaga, although Gil felt that Gonzaga's songs would be perfect for the film. So much of the CD finds Gil providing remakes of Gonzaga classics, including "Asa Branca," "Juazeiro," "Assum Preto," and "Qui Nem Jiló." However, many of the songs weren't written by Gonzaga; Gil wrote a few new songs especially for the movie ("As Pegados do Amor" and "O Amor Daqui de Casa"), and the vibrant "Esperando Na Janela" (a major hit in Brazil in 2000) isn't a Gonzaga composition, either. Even if you've never seen the 1959 film The Black Orpheus, you can still appreciate the classic Luiz Bonfa gems that graced the soundtrack -- and similarly, the Me, You, Them soundtrack paints an attractive picture of Gil's artistry whether or not you've seen the movie. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide