Recently, Gal Costa, an icon of Brazilian culture and music, passed away on November 9, 2022. The artist tragically passed after undergoing surgery to remove a lump in the right nasal cavity. Being so important to our local culture that she was elected the seventh biggest voice of Brazilian music by the Rolling Stone Brasil magazine in 2012, keeping her memory alive and talking about the important role of this inspiring woman is essential.
Gal Costa was born Maria da Graça Penna Burgos Costa in Salvador, Bahia on September 26, 1945. Costa was a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She was the daughter of Mariah Costa Penna, who was a huge influence in her life in terms of encouraging Costa, and Arnaldo Burgos, her father. In 1959, she heard the singer João Gilberto singing ‘Chega de Saudade’, a popular song by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Morais, on the radio; João greatly influenced the singer in her career as a singer. In 1963, she was introduced to Caetano Veloso, a Brazilian music producer, with whom a long-lasting friendship and mutual admiration bloomed. Together with Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Os Mutantes, a revolution in Brazilian music began with the sound of samba, Bossa Nova, and songs with social and political meaning. Although ‘tropicalismo’, a Brazilian artistic movement that occurred in the late 60s, initiated songs with political context, Gal Costa was who impacted generations with her high notes and her beautiful lion mane hair, being the only female voice in ‘tropicalismo’.
Throughout her career, Costa released more than 200 discs. Out of these, some were studio albums, others live, and others included participation in novela soundtracks and being featured in other artists’ albums. Some of her most notable songs include the ones that have been awarded significant titles, such as “Bossa Tropical”, “Todas as Coisas e Eu”, “Hoje” and “Ao Vivo” when Costa was awarded the Best MPB Album in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. She also won Best Alternative Song in 2012 with her single “Neguinho”. Although one of the most important awards she ever received in her career was when she won the Latino Grammy for Musical Excellence in 2011.
In addition to her musical importance, the singer also has great political and social importance. Costa was one of the first singers of her time to come out as bisexual, becoming a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, especially in Brazil. She advocated for being yourself beyond your sexuality, and often in interviews throughout her career Costa claimed that “people are who they are. Period.”
Gal will always be a symbol of rebellion, but also one of sweetness. “The girl with the silk voice” Rita Lee, a famous Brazilian singer, said in her post where she said her goodbyes to her friend Costa. She was a symbol of feminine energy and female empowerment; paving the way for women in Brazilian music. Gal will continue being a reference for many years, shaping our culture into something more fun and light. The singer eternally changed the industry and eternalized her name as Gal Costa, the voice of Brazil.
EAC PRESS 