A collection of Gal Costa’s favourite songs
Gal Costa’s extraordinary career ended in 2022 when she passed away at the age of 77, yet her legacy hasn’t faded. She remains one of Brazil‘s most well-known and influential musicians, a revolutionary figure who paved the way without even trying—just being herself was enough to inspire others and incite change.
She started to sing professionally in her early 20s, recording an album with Caetano Veloso, Domingo, before partnering with him again for the collaborative record Tropicália ou Panis et Circensis. The album also featured Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes, Tom Zé and Nara Leão, remaining a highly acclaimed collection from the Tropicália movement.
Following the success of the record, she released her debut solo album, Gal Costa, which was very positively received. The musician continued to make albums, becoming hugely popular and defining an era with her gorgeous and innovative work. She was a crucial figure in the countercultural movement of the late ’60s, actively hitting back against an oppressive government and nationalism.
For Gal, music became a fundamental mode of expression, and her beautiful voice became the sound of rebellion and resistance. She even shocked people with her album art, such as the cover of India – a close-up shot of her bikini bottoms, leaving little to the imagination. She didn’t care what anyone thought, instead prioritising her pioneering songs.
For an episode of Weekend Mixtapes, the musician shared some of her favourite songs, picking titles both old and new. She began with ‘Chega de Saudade’ by João Gilberto, a pioneer of bossa nova. The Brazilian artist made a significant dent in the country’s musical scene with his unconventional take on jazz, and he even won four Grammys, with Getz/Gilberto becoming the first jazz record to win ‘Album of the Year’. ‘Chega de Saudade’, originally written by Antônio Carlos Jobim, is considered the first bossa nova song, so it’s no surprise Gal was a big fan.
She also picked out ‘Não Me Arrependo’ by Caetano Veloso, one of the leading figures of Tropicália and one of Gal’s earliest musical collaborators. When Gal passed, Veloso praised the beauty and power of her voice, a testament to their enduring friendship, which was built on the foundations of radical musical innovation.
Gal also selected several English-language musicians, starting with Billie Holliday. She picked out ‘You’ve Changed’ from her 1958 album Lady in Satin. Originally written by Carl Fischer and Bill Carey, Holliday’s version is perhaps the most well-known due to the sheer beauty and intimacy of her voice.
Her most modern song pick was Amy Winehouse’s ‘You Know I’m No Good’, released in 2006. Taken from her album Back to Black, Gal was clearly a big fan of the British singer’s searingly powerful voice and innovative mixture of classic jazz and modern neo-soul and pop. The song, with its evocative lyrics about infidelity, remains one of Winehouse’s most popular – but for good reason, it is simply brilliant.
Discover Gal’s full mixtape below.
A collection of Gal Costa’s favourite songs:
- ‘Chega de Saudade’ – João Gilberto
- ‘Por Causa de Você, Menina’ – Jorge Ben
- ‘You’ve Changed’ – Billie Holliday
- ‘Não Me Arrependo’ – Caetano Veloso
- ‘Cais’ – Milton Nascimento
- ‘Ela Disse-me Assim’ – Salvador Sobral
- ‘Coqueiro de Itapuã’ – Dorival Caymmi
- ‘You Know I’m No Good’ – Amy Winehouse
- ‘Caso Sério’ – Rita Lee
- ‘Ilusão à Toa’ – Johnny Alf
