Raça Humana
Gilberto Gil
1984
Why This Album Matters
Raça Humana, released in 1984, represents a turning point in Gilberto Gil's discography. Marking an audacious sonic transition, the album distinguishes itself as the first in which Gil dedicated himself exclusively to the use of electric guitars, abandoning the acoustic guitar that characterised his previous works. This change injected renewed energy and an electric pulse into his music, redefining its soundscape. The work is punctuated by songs that became notable, such as "Pessoa Nefasta", "Índigo Blue", "Tempo Rei" and the infectious "Vamos Fugir". Such tracks demonstrate Gil's ability to blend his melodic sensibility with electrifying arrangements, creating a vibrant and captivating repertoire that deserves to be explored for its originality and musical vigour.
Context
In early 1984, Gilberto Gil was immersed in intense artistic activity. After completing the recording of the soundtrack for the film Quilombo, he resumed the tour for his previous album, Extra. It was amidst this busy schedule that, in April of the same year, a strategic break led him to begin work on what would become Raça Humana.
Recording
The recording of Raça Humana was an itinerant and multifaceted process. In April 1984, Gilberto Gil and producer Liminha travelled to Kingston, Jamaica, where they composed and recorded three songs, "Gimme Your Love", "Jamaican Sunday Morning" and "Probe", with the legendary group The Wailers at the Tuff Gong studios. These were some of the last recordings made at the location before it was transformed into the current Bob Marley Museum. The production journey continued to New York, where, at Record Plant Studios, the backing vocals for "Gimme Your Love" were recorded. Among the initial songs, only "Gimme Your Love" was used for the album, receiving new lyrics in Portuguese and being retitled as "Vamos Fugir". The main recording phase began in August of the same year, at the recently founded Nas Nuvens studio, in Rio de Janeiro, an initiative by Gilberto Gil and Liminha. There, tracks such as "Pessoa Nefasta", "Extra II - O Rock do Segurança", "Índigo Blue" were recorded, and "Vamos Fugir" was finalised with the Portuguese vocals. Throughout September, other essential songs, such as "Vem, Morena", "A Raça Humana", "Tempo Rei" and "A Mão da Limpeza", were recorded, with "Feliz por um Triz" being completed in October after several sessions.
Songs
The repertoire of Raça Humana featured songs that stood out for their melody and originality. Among the album's biggest successes are "Pessoa Nefasta", "Índigo Blue", "Tempo Rei" and "Vamos Fugir". The latter, co-written with producer Liminha, had a notable trajectory, resurfacing as a big hit twenty years later in a re-recording by the band Skank. The song "Vamos Fugir" has an interesting creation story, originating from an original English composition, "Gimme Your Love", recorded in Jamaica. Subsequently, its lyrics were translated into Portuguese, culminating in the version that became one of the album's milestones.
Legacy
In a modern critical assessment, Raça Humana is frequently praised, being recognised for its importance in the Brazilian music scene. Carlos Eduardo Lima, from Monkeybuzz, points to it as "one of the most important in national rock", although he observes that the album, at times, was "forgotten" amidst the proliferation of other "great albums from that period". Despite a B+ grade awarded by Robert Christgau, the critic suggests that non-Portuguese-speaking listeners may perceive a certain gap in the experience, which is not fully filled by the universalist title or the Jamaican rhythm present in tracks such as "Vamos Fugir".
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Gilberto Gil
Liminha
Gilberto Gil, Liminha
Chico Neves, Ricardo Garcia, Vitor Farias
Vitor Farias
Rogerio Cavalcanti
Gilda
Podcasts
Acorde - Música e Psicanálise · Rafael Garbuio e Ricardo Pezati
Vigésimo quinto episódio do podcast Acorde - Música e psicanalise, vamos analisar a obra Tempo Rei de autoria de Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira, nosso Gilberto Gil. Essa música foi lançada no álbum Raça Humana de 1984.Para analisar esta obra contamos com a presença de nossa convidada a psicanalista Regina Rebelo.Edição e apresentação: vinhetando.com.brInstagram @vinhetandomultimidia, @rafael.garbuio
Videos
"Raça humana" - Gilberto Gil | Melhores discos brasileiros dos anos 80 | Alta Fidelidade
Alta Fidelidade
Films
Gilberto Gil Antologia Vol.1
2019
The documentary goes through works composed by the Bahian musician between 1968 and 1987. Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil, one of the most well-known members of the Tropicália generations, revisits some of his most famous works on this documentary.
Gilberto Gil: Tempo Rei
1996
Tempo Rei is the first audiovisual record of Gilberto Gil's vast work, celebrating the artist's thirty-year career, celebrated in 1996. Gil recalls his artistic trajectory, recalls striking facts and reveals some intimacies. Completely filmed on film, it includes great successes of the artist like Madalena, Cores Vivas, Vamos Fugir, Procissão and Expresso 2222.
Amor e Sorte com Gilberto Gil
2020
The music and poetry of Gilberto Gil in the voices of different generations of artists, and his wisdom in his own voice.
Books
The 500 Greatest Brazilian Albums of All Time
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The election was spearheaded by journalist Ricardo Alexandre, creator of the Discoteca Básica podcast. Ricardo consulted 162 specialists including journalists, YouTubers, podcasters, musicians, record-shop owners and producers. The result was published as a 200-page hardcover book, with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
Gilberto bem perto
Gilberto Gil, Regina Zappa · 2013
Esta é uma biografia abrangente de Gilberto Gil, escrita em coautoria com Regina Zappa. O livro explora a vida e a carreira do artista, desde suas origens na Bahia até seu papel na Tropicália e sua atuação como Ministro da Cultura. É provável que dedique atenção significativa à discografia de Gil, incluindo o álbum 'Raça Humana', contextualizando-o dentro de sua trajetória artística.
Analyses
Raça Humana – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
"Raça Humana" (Warner, 1984), Gilberto Gil
discosessenciais.blogspot.com
Raça Humana é um dos mais importantes álbuns desde que Gilberto Gil inclinou-se para um apelo mais pop para o seu trabalho a partir do álbum Realce, lançado em 1979.
'Raça Humana', de Gilberto Gil, ganha reinterpretações
billboard.com.br
Quarenta e um anos depois de abraçar guitarras, sintetizadores e a estética pop /new wave em plena abertura política, o disco "Raça Humana", de Gilberto Gil volta a ganhar ares de novidade.
Gilberto Gil tem evidenciadas a força e a atualidade perenes da ... - G1
g1.globo.com
Raça humana, álbum seguinte apresentado pelo artista baiano em 29 de outubro de 1984 (ano em que Caetano lançou Velô, disco de ambiência roqueira), seguiu na mesma linha com maior ênfase.
"Raça Humana" de Gilberto Gil, ganha regravação em um encontro marcado ...
conexaobeat.com.br
A releitura de Raça Humana celebra a inovação, a história e o legado de Gilberto Gil. "É uma forma de mostrar que a obra de Gil continua relevante, e que a tecnologia e a inovação podem servir de ponte para novos públicos.
Discogs
Raça Humana – Discogs
discogs.com