When she celebrates 30 years of ‘O Canto da Cidade’ with a new album, the singer prefers not to say yet whether or not she has been invited to be Lula’s Minister of Culture, but she speaks with authority: ‘Brazil needs to kill the hunger for food and art’
As soon as some names began to circulate to occupy the Ministry of Culture that the president-elect Lula promises to reactivate in 2023, that of Daniel Mercury became the strongest of them. Bahian singer, 57, married to Malu Verçosa, historically linked to philanthropic actions and ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), Daniela could have the president-elect reissue the effect Gilberto Gilwho held the position between 2003 and 2008. Her respect as an artist and her assertiveness as a committed thinker would give the industry a leading role inside and outside the country.
The chances of becoming a minister caught Daniela in flight. She has just started a tour in Portugal, the first time she will start a tour outside the country, she will release her new album, titled bajanaon December 3, and this is the year that marks three decades of the album that changed ’90s music: The corner of the city🇧🇷 It was with the release of this album and with a historic show held in the Masp square in 1992 that Daniela revealed herself to Brazil and brought with her something that the Bahians already did under the name of axé music. She also analyzes an invitation to sing at the Lula’s inauguration🇧🇷 on January 1st. For this, he should be able to do the show between a performance scheduled for December 31st, in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, and another one on the same day, December 1st, in Salvador.
Daniela speaks exclusively to Stage on her career and the cultural-political scene, but she prefers not to comment on whether or not she has been called upon to serve Lula’s team in a future ministry. In a second attempt on the subject made after the interview, carried out by e-mail, she does not answer either yes or no. There would be no need to comment on the matter.
Release an album in a historic year for ‘O Canto da Cidade’. How important is this moment?
The corner of the city It is very important in my life. It was the moment of the explosion of my career in Brazil and in the world. And it was also the arrival of a new musical genre in Brazilian music. I have chosen to celebrate these 30 years and I have understood that my DNA, which has crystallized in my solo albums, is very present in this new work.
What was the reflection of that fashion show at the Masp?
I was able to bring my northeastern music with new instruments, sounds, concepts, behaviors and poetics to the Brazilian and world music scene. I consecrated my batuques mixed with pop-rock, samba-reggae and MPB. The concerts of Masp and Bem Brasil, of Cultura, had the songs from the album color swing (released by label eldorado), which was the embryo of the next album. I get very emotional when I remember those days, it was a big surprise to get such a warm welcome from the southeast audience.
And international travel has begun, hasn’t it?
The success generated the special on Rede Globo, directed by Roberto Talma, in Praça da Apoteose, in Rio, for over 40 thousand people. Soon after, I started doing international shows. The first was in New York, then at the Montreux festival in Switzerland, in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo and Punta del Este, Uruguay; Asuncion, Paraguay; Santiago de Chile, Mexico City, Acapulco, Scotland and I never stopped. Canto da Cidade was the flying saucer that took me around Brazil and the planet for the first time.
How do you see culture after the four years of Jair Bolsonaro’s administration?
Artists, the arts and culture are so important that I fearlessly state that the degree of artistic freedom in a country defines the quality of its democracy. Anti-democratic governments, like the current one, attack artists and try to silence and control cultural production, as well as trying to impose their ideological dogmas. Before being elected, the current president was already attacking artists and using the only law to promote our territory to discredit the cultural sector. I have spent the last four years criticizing this abominable policy, I have written several warning letters and manifestos and recorded songs such as carnival is forbidden🇧🇷 Queen of Chaos🇧🇷 Divine Pagoda and re-recorded Milla to save the composition from being used at anti-democratic rallies. the re-registration of in spite of you it came as a form of manifesto, with the participation of several great artists. The Culture folder has become the folder of ignorance, intolerance, fascism and lack of respect for the arts and great Brazilian artists.
How do you evaluate what happened with this break between the artistic environment and the government?
As a member of the CNJ Human Rights Watch, I coordinated several meetings with civil society on freedom of expression, to explain what was happening in the sector. A public policy deliberately installed to deny the promotion, encouragement and cultural protection determined by the Constitution, in order to silence the freedom of expression, criticism, innovation, creation, in order to tame the behavior of Brazilian men and women according to the conviction of the current rulers. It’s another form of censorship. But just as pernicious and prohibited by the Constitution. It damages freedoms and democracy. There are ADPFS (Fundamental Precept Violation Arguments) pending in the Federal Supreme Court denouncing the way this public policy operates, through delays, postponements, denials, and promoting only projects that fit into a rigid pattern of thinking, suffocating the cultural sector. Justice will judge them for it. Since they have not been re-elected, they will do anything to cover up the destruction and erase the information. There is much to be done to rebuild the portfolio of culture and democracy. The elected government will need the support of all those who love democracy.
Artists have come under heavy attack since these times. Do you see the possibility that the class will recover from possible material and image losses?
Brazilian culture has been underfunded and under censorship in recent years. But he will recover. The artistic class fought hard to obtain the Paulo Gustavo Law and the two Aldir Blanc Laws. Jobs, employment and income in the cultural sector await the release of these funds, as covid, lack of funds and attacks on culture have paralyzed shows, theater performances, popular festivals and reduced cultural production. A strong priority must be given to reinvigorating the sector, where every penny invested has a fourfold impact on the economy, boosting tourism, hotels, restaurants and commerce, and defining the main traits of Brazil as a cultural and economic powerhouse . But above all as a great democracy. Those who want to destroy democracy start by attacking culture, those who want to strengthen it, like me, defend that the values ​​of democracy are reinvigorated in the cultural sector. As for the artists, it is very sad to see that so many great icons and people so brave and loved by the Brazilian people have their reputation attacked by hate speech. But that won’t stop us from continuing to fight for democracy. Promoting artistic production is a constitutional obligation and is more necessary than ever. First of all because it is a powerful industry, which has been directly affected by the pandemic, but it is the one that grows fastest in the world, the one that generates the most jobs, the one that pollutes the least and distributes income better. And it is essential because it is the most important expression of humanity, of our creativity, intelligence and sensitivity. And I realize that, in this post pandemic moment and post attacks on the arts, artists and democracy, culture is even more necessary. We need joy, beauty, affection, togetherness and balance. Brazil needs to satisfy its hunger for food and art to thrive.
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Source: Terra
Amanda Larkin is a celebrity journalist at Gossipify, known for her in-depth interviews and unique perspectives on the entertainment industry. She covers celebrity news and gossip, providing readers with engaging and informative content, and understanding of the inner workings of the industry. She’s respected for keeping readers up to date with the latest trends and providing a fresh perspective on the celebrity world.
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