The many metamorphoses of Raul Seixas
In her first article, Alessandra pays homage to one of the great icons of the brazilian's music history.
Escrito por:
Escrito por:
Alessandra Oliveira
Alessandra Oliveira
Território Brasil
Território Brasil
Raul Seixas (Photo:Disclosure)
Raul Seixas (Photo:Disclosure)
To talk about Raul Seixas can be easy and equally complex. Easy, because he transposed the limits of notoriety and his music influenced generations. Complex, because Raul doesn’t frame the vague limits that can be put, nor fit in a single article.
From the shy and introverted boy of Bahia, to the great challenger dissatisfied with the world, who gave body and voice to the meaning of “Metamorfose Ambulante” (“itinerant metamorphosis”, freely translated). He made his music the point of arrival and departure. Inquired the life, death, existence, the world, the right and the wrong.
Grew up listening to Elvis Presley and other greats of Rock, but never abandoned his northern roots. As a child he heard his father's friends (railways’ inspector) challenge “repentes” while accompanying him on trips.
Imitating his idols, began singing at festivals in Salvador. As composer, made music for Jerry Adriane and interpreters of Brazilian music, which leveraged more than eighty hits. The first trip to Rio de Janeiro, to record an album, was a failure. He starved and quit the venture.
At age 21, he had an executive position at CBS Records, but wasn’t happy. Questioner and restless, he quit his job in 1972, launching himself as a participant in FIC (Festival Internacional da Canção), sponsored by Rede Globo, where he gained national recognition. “Raulzito” would be known as Raul Seixas.
The relationship between Raul and his audience was by complicity, which explains the legion of fans he won and still wins.He was an eternal apprentice life and shared his experiences with those who followed him through art.
In his vast musical legacy, he drank all possible sources. Took to the public the philosophy of Socrates and Plato, passing through the mysticism of Crowley, where he founded the Sociedade Alternativa with his friend and writer Paulo Coelho in 1974. Paid dearly for liberal proposals: he was arrested, tortured, and exiled by the military dictatorship.
Went up and down the slope of fame several times on account of alcoholism and depression. He returned to the stage and studio for the last time in 1989, in the company of Marcelo Nova (Camisa de Venus), which earned him a posthumous golden disk award..
Twenty years after awakening from the short lifetime dream, Raul continues to cause changes. Visionary, meant that his songs portrayed not only present and past, but also the future.
