In an interview with Rolling Stone Brasil, CeeLo Green told what fans can expect from his show, praised Iza and remembered James Brown
CeeLo Green returns to Brazil as an international attraction summer festival, which takes place this weekend, 27th and 28th, in Salvador. Five-time winner of Grammyhe promises a show with new productions from ThePink, without leaving your hits behind. Furthermore, the musician hopes to receive love from the public, which he will also deliver: “because all I have to give is love”
During his last visit to the country, in 2022, the artist paid homage James Brown beside Luisa Sonza. CeeLo Green consider Brown, who died in 2006, as a godfather of music, although they never met in person. Talking to Rolling Stone Brazil, Green highlighted that he respects him “as a man and as an artist”.
In 2017, Iza was the one who took the stage with CeeLo. Since then, the two have become good friends and, in 2024, they will meet again, this time in the line-up of summer festival. The singer praised the owner of the hit “Pesadão” and stated that he “really liked her as the queen” in her most recent album, AFRODHIT (2023).
See this photo on InstagramA post shared by Festival de Verão Salvador (@festivalverao)
A partnership with Iza is not out of the question, but CeeLo Green is aiming Steve Lacy It is Sade: “Sadeif you see this, I would love to work with you, my friend.”
Read interview with CeeLo Green in full:
Rolling Stone Brasil: How do you feel returning to Brazil?
CeeLo Green: It’s amazing to be invited back as often as I am, so I feel very graced, honored and grateful.
Rolling Stone Brasil: What should fans expect from your show?
CeeLo Green: People in Brazil like to move. They like energy, rhythm and dance. If I can give them that, then I think they will be satisfied. I’ll be there to make people move.
Rolling Stone Brasil: And what do you expect from the Summer Festival audience?
CeeLo Green: Love. This is all I hope for: love… Because all I have to give is love. This is the exchange offer: love for love.
Rolling Stone Brasil: Will you play the songs from your partnership with Jack Splash?
CeeLo Green: Oh yeah. To tell you the truth, I included both songs in the setlist.
Rolling Stone Brasil: What was it like working with him on The Pink?
CeeLo Green: jack splash and I are like brothers. We’ve been working together for 13 or 14 years, if not longer than that. We’ve had some of the songs we were finally able to release last year for all this time. So we have a large catalog of unreleased music that we can enjoy at leisure. He is definitely one of the most unknown and underrated genius producers of our time. He’s a brilliant guy.
Rolling Stone Brasil: Are you working on an album together?
CeeLo Green: Well, we always record, you know? Because when we’re working on something new, we’re like, “Hey, check this out.” I like that. We just record something in our free time and just catalog it, you know, record it and put it somewhere. “Hey, it could be a soundtrack or some kind of opportunity where this fits perfectly…” You don’t always know where the music belongs. So be patient, you must trust the process.
Rolling Stone Brasil: Are you going to play some covers?
CeeLo Green: I would. If people want it, I’ll play it.
Rolling Stone Brasil: How do you put together your setlist?
CeeLo Green: I think I try and do this because I perform regularly in Brazil: I have an idea of ​​what the audience likes and what excites them. So, it’s like building a movie. It’s as if each performance is like a movie. It’s like a play. You start and then it’s like a climb, you climb that mountain, you get to the top of it. You have this view of the world that is breathtaking and leaves you speechless. You go back to the valley, you breathe, you have a moment. Then you go back up, I mean you take off into outer space from there. I think this is the best way to show it, because it is the vital sign of life. Ups and downs mean you are alive. If everything looks great, it means you’re done.
Rolling Stone Brasil: How is your relationship with your hits, such as “Crazy” and “Fuck You”?
CeeLo Green: Oh, I love these songs! They are like mothers of babies. I had children with these songs. Maybe it’s a silly analogy, but I think you understand what I’m saying. Basically, what I’m saying is that we are a family. These songs are alive. They’re living things, you know?
Rolling Stone Brasil: Last year, hip-hop turned 50. How does it feel to be part of this?
CeeLo Green: Honored, because I’ve been a huge fan of hip-hop since the beginning. It was the first reflection I saw of myself in the mirror. And, you know, I’m fine with myself, you know? I accept myself and have grown a lot. I feel young and vibrant like never before. Fifty is still young. There is a lot we can still do.
Rolling Stone Brasil: Sometimes it can be difficult to praise ourselves, I think, but what are, for you, your biggest contributions to this type of music?
CeeLo Green: Well, I don’t know. I think everything is judged as a body of work. It could be a song, or a verse. Michael Jackson and the Michael Jackson because he was born Michael Jackson. It’s a birthright of passage from the beginning. I haven’t had my ending yet. I still don’t know if I’ve done my best. I believe God prepared more for me. I still have time.
Rolling Stone Brasil: You wrote “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” for James Brown and paid homage to him at shows by singing his songs, but you never talked. If he were alive and you could, what would you say to James Brown?
CeeLo Green: I think I would probably start this conversation with the reverence and respect I have for him as a man, as an artist and as a godfather to me. I would say, “Thank you very much. I will always be in your debt.” So I would probably shut my mouth and listen to him.
Rolling Stone Brasil: There is time to go after other brilliant musicians. Do you have any names of artists you would like to work with in mind?
CeeLo Green: Who do I like? I’m always perplexed when I just think about current artists. I like Steve Lacy. You also like? I always talk about Sade, because she doesn’t work with a lot of people, so it would be an honor if she said, “You know what? I don’t work with a lot of people, but I’m going to work with you.” Then, Sadeif you see this, I would love to work with you, my friend.
Rolling Stone Brasil: On your last visits to Brazil, LuÃsa Sonza and Iza played alongside you. Have you ever thought about producing something with them?
CeeLo Green: Yes! The latest album by Iza it’s great. I was able to listen to her entire discography and I really liked her as her reigning queen. And because we’re friends and we have history… I think that’s great. It just makes things easier for us to work together at some point. So I’ll be here if she’s willing to do that.
Rolling Stone Brasil: It’s your first time in Salvador, right?
CeeLo Green: Yes!
Rolling Stone Brasil: Are you planning to visit some places?
CeeLo Green: Yeah, I’m sure they’ll take me for a ride. I have some friends there. They know exactly what to do. So, let’s celebrate and have a good time.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
