Music and Revolution
Caetano Veloso’s Tropical Truth
I left out my favorite moment from this 2002 encounter with Caetano Veloso when I first published it - but I think after all this time he wouldn’t mind if I shared it. When I went to interview Caetano in his chic New York apartment, I brought my favorite album of his, Araça Azul (1972), in case there was a moment to have him sign it. He was completely charming throughout our time together, while a series of women kept swooping in and out of the room to check on him. At the end, as we stood up, I took out the record. He gazed at the cover like he hadn’t seen it in years - it’s possible he hadn’t, since (as we discuss in the interview that follows) it had been a huge flop and a pivotal moment in his career. As he took it from me, he showed it to one of the women who had again materialized. “I was so beautiful!” he said, looking at the photo. “You still are, Caetano!” said the woman, now joined by another drawn in by the commotion. “But then,” said Caetano. “Then, I was so beautiful.” “You are now, Caetano!” said the women, in chorus. He demurred this time. Grinning, he signed the LP.
Originally published by The Boston Phoenix (November 1, 2002)