Xande de Pilares: "Samba and football are twins"
A Flamengo fan at heart, the samba singer from the group Revelação talks about his passion and is confident of victories in 2011.
By From the official website team - in
The phrase that singer and songwriter Xande de Pilares, a samba musician from the Grupo Revelação, likes best is "It's easy to say you love, but difficult to know how to love." For 32 years, he has known well what it means to love Clube de Regatas do Flamengo. Rondinelli's historic header goal in the 1978 State Championship final against Vasco, his father's team, ignited the passion of a boy who was captivated watching Zico, Leandro, and company display their talent in the red and black jersey at the Maracanã.
Enjoying a bright phase in his career, following the success of the CD and DVD "Ao Vivo no Morro" (Live on the Hill), whose second edition was recently released, Alexandre S. de Assis, from Tijuca, spoke with the team from Flamengo's official website about his relationship with his beloved club. A friend of the players and with songs that serve as inspiration and are listened to daily, during training and team gatherings, he doesn't hide his satisfaction with it all.
And in the lyrics of the song "Ta Escrito" by Grupo Revelação, written by Xande, Gilson Bernini and Carlinhos Madureira, there's a message for Flamengo in 2011. After a difficult season this year, nothing is better than lifting your head, putting your foot down, having faith, sending sadness away and believing in the dawn of a new day.
Check out the full conversation below:
Official website team: When did you first start feeling this passion for Flamengo?
Xande de Pilares: My passion began in 1978 when I went to Maracanã for the first time. An uncle of mine took me, and at that time there was still the "Geral" section in the stadium. Everyone watched the game standing up, and since I was a kid, I couldn't see very well. I had to stand on some metal bars that were there, and even then, I could only see the players who were on this side. Those who were on the other side could only see their heads (laughs). Back then, my father's family, all Vasco fans, still tried to dress me in Vasco gear; I had that childhood doubt, but when I saw Junior, Zico, Leandro, Uri Geller, Toninho Baiano and company, it was impossible to root for any other team, right?
Team: What is your most unforgettable match?
Xande: It's difficult, but I think that because of all this history, because of how it all started, the game with Rondinelli's goal in 1978 was special. I remember that match well. It was sensational.
Team: You also have a great relationship with the Flamengo players. How does that feel for you?
Xande: I'm friends not only with the players, but also with the club's management, and I think that's really cool. I have a very good relationship with the Flamengo staff, with the security guards, with the directors, and I have the privilege of being close to the current players and former players, like Cláudio Adão, for example. I'm very happy, it's a great affection that I receive and I always try to reciprocate in the best way possible. Zico gives me a hard time, I haven't had the opportunity to meet him personally yet (laughs).
Team: It's often said that samba and football go hand in hand. Do you agree?
Xande: It's a great relationship, one that started a long time ago. Samba and football are twin brothers here in Brazil. This passion for each other is a cool thing, because if a player in his free time tries to be a samba musician, we all want to be players... There's no way around it. When the drumming starts, everyone gets into the samba rhythm. But Brazilian music is very rich, with all the rhythms, and even in our shows we often sing some songs that aren't originally samba.
Team: And how does it feel to see the players on the national team, at Flamengo, singing your songs?
Xande: It's really cool. Knowing that the players like and even get motivated listening to our music is incredibly rewarding. Of course, some prefer other genres, but we always try to please everyone, and when we see the players from our team, from the Brazilian national team, singing our music, it's really great. I'm very happy.
Team: This week, Revelação played a friendly match against Sorriso Maroto. What's Xande like on the field? Does he score a lot of goals?
Xande: I had my glory days, but now I've had knee surgery, I don't play much, but I don't do badly. I don't try to be fancy, I don't do what I don't know. I learned like this: you receive the ball, pass it to someone who knows how, receive it up front and keep going until you reach the goal. Now, partner, if I get in front of the goal, I don't miss either (laughs).
Team: Could the song "Ta Escrito," which was such a hit this year, be a message for Flamengo in 2011?
Xande: I used it last year, during the championship campaign, when the song was still unreleased and we were starting to develop it. With Flamengo underestimated, after their comeback to win the sixth title, I started thinking about it a lot. It's a song that definitely serves as motivation.
Team: Revelação is now releasing the sequel to "Ao Vivo no Morro," which was a success. How would you analyze the group's current moment?
Xande: We're releasing the sequel to "Ao Vivo No Morro," which was a very interesting project. Morro da Urca has become a sanctuary in my life. We did something that had never been done before. We were the first samba group to record there. It worked out well, and I hope other artists have that opportunity. There's a really good kind of magic up there.
Team: This new DVD features a guest appearance by Zeca Pagodinho. Was it a different experience recording with him?
Xande: Zeca, for me, is a Pelé, a Zico of samba. One of them, right? There's Jorge Aragão, Leci Brandão, Beth Carvalho... Zeca's participation in the DVD was very good for me. He's an idol and having him by my side, singing with me, was special, for sure.
Enjoying a bright phase in his career, following the success of the CD and DVD "Ao Vivo no Morro" (Live on the Hill), whose second edition was recently released, Alexandre S. de Assis, from Tijuca, spoke with the team from Flamengo's official website about his relationship with his beloved club. A friend of the players and with songs that serve as inspiration and are listened to daily, during training and team gatherings, he doesn't hide his satisfaction with it all.
And in the lyrics of the song "Ta Escrito" by Grupo Revelação, written by Xande, Gilson Bernini and Carlinhos Madureira, there's a message for Flamengo in 2011. After a difficult season this year, nothing is better than lifting your head, putting your foot down, having faith, sending sadness away and believing in the dawn of a new day.
Check out the full conversation below:
Official website team: When did you first start feeling this passion for Flamengo?
Xande de Pilares: My passion began in 1978 when I went to Maracanã for the first time. An uncle of mine took me, and at that time there was still the "Geral" section in the stadium. Everyone watched the game standing up, and since I was a kid, I couldn't see very well. I had to stand on some metal bars that were there, and even then, I could only see the players who were on this side. Those who were on the other side could only see their heads (laughs). Back then, my father's family, all Vasco fans, still tried to dress me in Vasco gear; I had that childhood doubt, but when I saw Junior, Zico, Leandro, Uri Geller, Toninho Baiano and company, it was impossible to root for any other team, right?
Team: What is your most unforgettable match?
Xande: It's difficult, but I think that because of all this history, because of how it all started, the game with Rondinelli's goal in 1978 was special. I remember that match well. It was sensational.
Team: You also have a great relationship with the Flamengo players. How does that feel for you?
Xande: I'm friends not only with the players, but also with the club's management, and I think that's really cool. I have a very good relationship with the Flamengo staff, with the security guards, with the directors, and I have the privilege of being close to the current players and former players, like Cláudio Adão, for example. I'm very happy, it's a great affection that I receive and I always try to reciprocate in the best way possible. Zico gives me a hard time, I haven't had the opportunity to meet him personally yet (laughs).
Team: It's often said that samba and football go hand in hand. Do you agree?
Xande: It's a great relationship, one that started a long time ago. Samba and football are twin brothers here in Brazil. This passion for each other is a cool thing, because if a player in his free time tries to be a samba musician, we all want to be players... There's no way around it. When the drumming starts, everyone gets into the samba rhythm. But Brazilian music is very rich, with all the rhythms, and even in our shows we often sing some songs that aren't originally samba.
Team: And how does it feel to see the players on the national team, at Flamengo, singing your songs?
Xande: It's really cool. Knowing that the players like and even get motivated listening to our music is incredibly rewarding. Of course, some prefer other genres, but we always try to please everyone, and when we see the players from our team, from the Brazilian national team, singing our music, it's really great. I'm very happy.
Team: This week, Revelação played a friendly match against Sorriso Maroto. What's Xande like on the field? Does he score a lot of goals?
Xande: I had my glory days, but now I've had knee surgery, I don't play much, but I don't do badly. I don't try to be fancy, I don't do what I don't know. I learned like this: you receive the ball, pass it to someone who knows how, receive it up front and keep going until you reach the goal. Now, partner, if I get in front of the goal, I don't miss either (laughs).
Team: Could the song "Ta Escrito," which was such a hit this year, be a message for Flamengo in 2011?
Xande: I used it last year, during the championship campaign, when the song was still unreleased and we were starting to develop it. With Flamengo underestimated, after their comeback to win the sixth title, I started thinking about it a lot. It's a song that definitely serves as motivation.
Team: Revelação is now releasing the sequel to "Ao Vivo no Morro," which was a success. How would you analyze the group's current moment?
Xande: We're releasing the sequel to "Ao Vivo No Morro," which was a very interesting project. Morro da Urca has become a sanctuary in my life. We did something that had never been done before. We were the first samba group to record there. It worked out well, and I hope other artists have that opportunity. There's a really good kind of magic up there.
Team: This new DVD features a guest appearance by Zeca Pagodinho. Was it a different experience recording with him?
Xande: Zeca, for me, is a Pelé, a Zico of samba. One of them, right? There's Jorge Aragão, Leci Brandão, Beth Carvalho... Zeca's participation in the DVD was very good for me. He's an idol and having him by my side, singing with me, was special, for sure.