Known as the "Father of Brazilian Rock," Raul Seixas was born on June 28, 1945, in Salvador. The artist lived only until the age of 44, and was found dead on August 21, 1989, due to cardiac arrest.
Raul Seixas marked – and continues to mark – generations with his creative, innovative, and mystical spirit. He became an icon by mixing rock with popular rhythms such as baião and samba. However, beyond rhythms, the singer and songwriter stood out for his rebellious stance and profound lyrics, with mystical, social, and philosophical reflections.
It's definitely impossible to forget that some of the lyrics are the result of the great partnership between Raul Seixas and Paulo Coelho . The two met in May 1972, after Raul read an article by the writer in the magazine A Pomba , which specialized in ufology. But it was in 1974 that the most famous song from this partnership was born: "Sociedade Alternativa" (Alternative Society).
What was Raul Seixas' Alternative Society?
More than just a song, "Sociedade Alternativa" (Alternative Society) was a movement of awareness that drew attention to the possibility of living outside an oppressive system. Raul and Paulo built the project of a utopian community with the track released in 1974 on the album Gita – which earned them a gold record and is considered their most successful album.
The duo drew inspiration from the English magician Aleister Crowley and his famous work The Book of the Law , as well as the central principle of the philosophy and religion of Thelema. Founded by Aleister Crowley in the early 20th century, Thelema's motto was: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." The duo was introduced to this philosophy by Marcelo Ramos Motta , a well-known Brazilian Thelemite.
According to the website Segredos do Mundo , Raul and Paulo based their alternative society on the pillars of Thelemic ethics. "Some pillars were used in the same way in ethical matters. They reinforced the duty to oneself, to others, to humanity, and also to all beings and things."
The alternative society aimed to be a society that preached love and freedom, even being officially registered between 1972 and 1976. Its headquarters was Raul Seixas's own apartment in Rio de Janeiro. However, the Society's project aimed for something much bigger: the construction of the "City of Stars".
The idea of a physical headquarters never materialized, although a plot of land was announced for its construction in Minas Gerais, according to the newspaper Estado de Minas. Although many associate the city of São Thomé das Letras as the location of the Alternative Society, there is no evidence to prove the actual location of what would have been the "City of Stars".
The end of society and its perpetuation.
The Alternative Society also went against the political system of the time, the Military Dictatorship. According to the Júlio Ettore , the song "Alternative Society" was initially approved by the censors, but was later considered subversive: "The lyrics of 'Alternative Society' were approved by the censors, who saw no problem whatsoever. Later, however, the censors became uncomfortable with these lyrics because they had a foot in mysticism, but also in questioning some societal values."
"Although it wasn't a Marxist organization, this 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law' narrative seemed subversive to the military. They arrested Raul Seixas and Paulo Coelho to find out who the people in the alternative society were, thinking it was a place where they would train new guerrillas."
The two were arrested by the DOPS (Department of Political and Social Order), tortured, and forced into exile in the United States. They stayed only a short time, as the album Gita became so successful that they returned to Brazil to great acclaim.
The Alternative Society did not have a formal end, but rather an unfolding and transformation over time due to persecution by the military dictatorship and the personal experiences of its creators – Paulo Coelho's enthusiasm ended after a "bad trip" in 1974 in which the writer claims to have encountered the Devil himself. This event also damaged his partnership with Raul.
Although it never materialized as a physical entity, the concept of an Alternative Society remained alive in the work and imagination of Raul Seixas, influencing generations. For example, Bruce Springsteen surprised the audience at Rock in Rio 2013 by opening his show with a version of "Sociedade Alternativa".
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