Thousands of people said goodbye today in São Paulo to the remains of the singer and icon of Brazilian rock Rita Leewho died at the age of 75, a victim of lung cancer, during the public funerals held at the Ibirapuera Park Planetarium, the main green lung of the largest South American metropolis.
On a rainy day, fans and the general public lined up to open the gates of the planetarium, which was one of the favorite haunts of the São Paulo singer, lead singer of the legendary late-’60s psychedelic band Os Mutantes.
Thus, grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters arrived “dressed as Rita” at the farewell party, with John Lennon model glasses but pink, a brand of the queen of Brazilian rock, author of hits like “Oveja Negra”, “Lanza Perfume”, “Manía de tí”, “Amor y Sexo” and “Baila Conmigo” that are part of the universal culture of Brazilians.
The fans entered with T-shirts with the face of Rita Lee, who was honored with figures in the Led posters of the Ibirapuera Park, the main one in San Pablo, whose award-winning architecture was devised by the architect Oscar Niemeyer.
“We come to say goodbye to Rita with great joy, more than pain, we feel grateful and we come to thank,” Edith Almeida, 52, told Télam, who was in line with her teenage daughter, both wearing T-shirts of the singer, under the drizzle
Several people brought flowers and drawings to the planetarium, the place where Rita Lee, a fan of the cosmos, went almost weekly to relax in the green of the great mass of cement with 13 million inhabitants and 7 million cars that is San Pablo, a city that he forged his avant-garde.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decreed three-day mourning for the death of the singer.
In dialogue with journalists, one of the singer’s three sons, Joao Lee, assured that his mother was the heroine of his life.
“She had a unique way of communicating. I was privileged to have spent 43 years learning with her. It will be eternal for me, as it will be for the whole world,” said Joao Lee.
Among those present were fans who came from all corners of Brazil such as Isabella Silva Machado, who traveled 17 hours by bus from Vitoria, capital of the state of Espirito Santo. “She changed my life, she represents rebellion, creativity, she taught women to have a good time, to be free,” said the 24-year-old.
In her 2016 autobiography, the singer imagined what the minutes after her death would be like, when she asked, for example, politicians not to attend her wake.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
