Extra (1983)

Reflecting the then recent association with Jimmy Cliff, this Gilberto Gil album opens with the reggae "Extra," in which he exorcises the powers of political obscurantism invoking the liberating forces of mysticism. "E Lá Poeira" anticipated the crossover pop/Northeastern music made successful in the world music of the '90s. "Mar de Copacabana" has the old Gil, composer of melodies full of a refreshing feeling but at the same time with the two feet rooted in the samba tradition. "A Linha E O Linho" could be a minor pop ... Read More

Reflecting the then recent association with Jimmy Cliff, this Gilberto Gil album opens with the reggae "Extra," in which he exorcises the powers of political obscurantism invoking the liberating forces of mysticism. "E Lá Poeira" anticipated the crossover pop/Northeastern music made successful in the world music of the '90s. "Mar de Copacabana" has the old Gil, composer of melodies full of a refreshing feeling but at the same time with the two feet rooted in the samba tradition. "A Linha E O Linho" could be a minor pop ballad if it weren't for the sensitive and indigenous lyrics solution, where he used the metaphor of sewing to talk about two people united by a deep love. "Preciso de Você" is a pop dance tune sung by his daughter Nara. "Punk Da Periferia" was a hit, talking about the violent world of the punks of São Paulo's periphery. "Funk-se Quem Puder" is a funk where the biggest interest is to provide a danceable sound. "O Veado," a curious experience that mixes samba and pop music, had its lyrics responsible for the importance of this song; "Veado" can be alternatively a deer or a gay person, in Brazilian Portuguese. Gil keeps the ambiguity in the text, which compares the veado to Greta Garbo. In spite of the frenetic graphic artwork of the cover, the album is not the most pop based in Gil's discography, having sensitive and reflexive moments as well as simple entertainment. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi Read Less