Early years (1942–69) Caetano Veloso

veloso born in santo amaro da purificação, bahia, fifth of 7 children of josé teles veloso (1901–1983) , claudionor viana teles veloso (1907–2012). childhood influenced artistic endeavors: interested in both literature , filmmaking child, focused on music. musical style of bossa nova , joão gilberto, 1 of prominent exponents, major influences on veloso s music grew up. veloso first heard gilberto @ 17 years old, , describes musician supreme master. recognizes gilberto s contribution brazilian music new— illuminating tradition of brazilian music , paving way future innovation. veloso moved bahian port city of salvador teenager, city in gilberto lived , center of afro-brazilian culture , music.

in 1965 veloso moved again rio de janeiro, sister maria bethânia, musician. shortly after move, veloso won lyrics contest composition um dia , signed philips records. on 21 october 1967 veloso won fourth prize , gained standing ovation @ third annual brazil popular music festival song alegria, alegria . on backed são paulo group beat boys; along performance of friend gilberto gil, backed psychedelic band os mutantes, marked first time rock bands had performed @ festival. during period, veloso, bethânia, gilberto gil, gal costa, tom zé, , os mutantes developed tropicalismo , fused brazilian pop rock , roll , avant-garde music. veloso describes movement wish different - not defensive right-wing brazilian military government, vehemently opposed movement. although gil , veloso s performances @ 1967 mbp festival rapturously received, within year, tropicalismo had become divisive issue among brazil s youth audience, marxist-influenced college students of brazilian left wing condemning tropicalismo, because believed commercialized brazilian traditional music incorporating musical influence other cultures, united states.

the musical manifesto of tropicalist movement landmark collaborative lp tropicália: ou panis et circencis ( tropicalia: or bread , circuses ), issued in mid-1968, brought talents of veloso, os mutantes, gilberto gil, tom zé , gal costa, arrangements avant-garde composer-arranger rogerio duprat (who had studied pierre boulez) , lyrical contributions poet torquato neto. album s group cover photograph depicted collective holding variety of objects , images, in deliberate reference cover of beatles sgt. pepper s lonely hearts club band.

the tensions between tropicalistas , student left peaked in september 1968 veloso s now-legendary performances @ third annual international song festival, held @ catholic university in rio, audience included large contingent of students vehemently opposed tropicalistas. when veloso (backed os mutantes) performed in first round of festival s song competition on 12 september, greeted enthusiastic applause, situation turned ugly. dressed in shiny green plastic suit, festooned electrical wires , necklaces strung animal teeth, veloso provoked students lurid costume, sensual body movements , startling new psychedelic music, , performers being bombarded loud insults, jeers , boos students, became more incensed when american pop singer john dandurand made surprise appearance on stage during song.

the ideological conflict climaxed 3 days later on 15 september when veloso returned second round of competition, performing specially-written new song entitled e proibido proibir ( forbidden forbid ). leftist students began hissing , booing veloso s name announced, , when began performance, overtly sexual stage moves , experimental music of os mutantes again provoked wild reaction – students began booing loudly performers barely heard, , section of crowd stood , turned backs stage, prompting os mutantes turn backs on audience. performance continued, students pelted stage fruit, vegetables, eggs, paper balls , else came hand. veloso stopped singing , launched impassioned monologue, in excoriated students conservatism. after being joined gilberto gil, came on stage show support, veloso finished diatribe telling students ... if same in politics in aesthetics, we’re done for! , declaring no longer compete in music festivals. deliberately finished song out of tune, angrily shouted enough! , walked off arm-in-arm gil , os mutantes. studio version of song later released single, , closing section of tumultuous live performance featuring veloso s speech, issued single s b-side. [103] though tropicalismo controversial among traditional critics, introduced música popular brasileira new elements making music eclectic style.

veloso studied philosophy @ universidade federal da bahia, influenced both artistic expression , viewpoint on life. 2 of favorite philosophers jean-paul sartre , martin heidegger. veloso s leftist political stance earned him enmity of brazil s military dictatorship ruled until 1985; songs censored , banned. veloso , gil both arrested in february 1969 , held in prison 3 months, followed further 4 months under house arrest; released on condition leave country, , spent next few years in exile. said didn t imprison song or particular thing said, ascribing government s reaction unfamiliarity cultural phenomenon of tropicália—they seemed might put them in prison. federal police detained 2 , flew them unknown destination. finally, veloso , gil lived out exile in london, england. when caetano asked experience there says, london felt dark, , felt far away myself. nevertheless, 2 improved music there , asked make musical production producer ralph mace.