"When I thought of a second term for the current president, I didn't think of a ceiling, but of a hole. I feared seeing Brazil buried and almost banned myself from thinking", says composer Caetano Veloso, after the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of the PT (Workers' Party), in the runoff presidential election in Brazil.
The composer comments on the death of singer Gal Costa and assesses her legacy in Brazilian popular music. "Gal embodied the tropicalist movement. Gil ( singer-songwriter Gilberto Gil)**** and I are the children of bossa nova who created a movement that contrasted with the cool genre. Gal was bossa nova personified".
On his 80th birthday, in August, Caetano preferred to concentrate on the tour and didn't want to give interviews. "At the age of 80 I have to admit I'm an old man," he says.
A former supporter of Ciro Gomes, from the PDT, Caetano disagrees with the strategy adopted by the candidate of attacking Lula more than Bolsonaro, in his last campaign, but guarantees that his fondness remains unchanged.
"When Ciro talked about me, I thought he was trying to keep his position in the debate, not that he was resentful of me. I wasn't at all upset with him."
Translated by Cassy Dias