"Igreja" ("Church") is a single by Brazilian rock band

Titãs Titãs () are a Brazilian rock band from São Paulo. Though they basically play pop/alternative rock, their music has touched a number of other styles throughout their 30-year career, such as new wave, punk rock, grunge, MPB and electronic ...

, released in 1986, part of their ''

Cabeça Dinossauro ''Cabeça Dinossauro'' (Portuguese for ''Dinosaur Head'') is the third studio album by Brazilian rock band Titãs, released on 25 June 1986. It was their first album produced by Liminha, who was the director of WEA at the time of the album's reco ...

'' album.

Lyrics and composition

According to songwriter and then bassist and vocalist

Nando Reis Nando Reis (, born José Fernando Gomes dos Reis; January 12, 1963) is a Brazilian musician and producer, best known as the former bassist and one of the lead singers of Brazilian rock band Titãs and for his successful solo career, with his ow ...

, the song was written on the acoustic guitar at his mother's house in the district of Butantã,

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...

: By the time of the album's release, Reis said:

Reception within the band

It was one of the last songs to be selected for the album and it stirred controversy among the members themselves - vocalist

Arnaldo Antunes Arnaldo Antunes (, born Arnaldo Augusto Nora Antunes Filho, September 2, 1960) is a Brazilian musician, writer, and composer. He was a member of the rock band Titãs, which he co-founded in 1982 and left ten years later. After 1992, he embarked ...

, at first, didn't want to record it and would even leave the stage sometimes when the song was performed live. When the members had a meeting at vocalist

Branco Mello Branco Mello (; born Claudio Corrêa de Mello Júnior on March 16, 1962) is a Brazilian musician and actor, best known as the vocalist and bassist of Brazilian rock band Titãs. He has also played small but significant roles for the movies. C ...

's apartment to discuss the album's repertoire, vocalist, bassist and saxophonist

Paulo Miklos Paulo Roberto de Souza Miklos (known as Paulo Miklos , born on January 21, 1959) is a Brazilian multi-instrumentalist, musician and actor. He is best known for his tenure with the band Titãs, in which he was a vocalist, guitarist and occasional ...

also opposed the song's inclusion, but soon changed his mind as the band performed it live. Antunes, on the other hand, said "the song is against the Church as the institution, but at the same time I have a problem, for me it is difficult to sing that I don't have a religion, because I do. And the Church has great contributions to the history of men, to the arts, take Botticelli for instance".

Personnel

Per the ''Cabeça Dinossauro'' liner notes: *

- lead vocals *

- backing vocals *

Sérgio Britto Sérgio Britto (, born Sérgio de Britto Álvares Affonso(September 18, 1959) is a Brazilian musician, best known as a member of the rock band Titãs, for which he contributes with lead vocals, keyboards and, more recently, the bass guitar. He ha ...

- backing vocals *

Marcelo Fromer Marcelo Fromer (December 3, 1961 – June 13, 2001) was the guitarist of Brazilian rock band Titãs. One of the founding members and also the band's manager, he died in 2001, after being hit by a motorcycle while jogging. Early life and youth ...

- lead guitar *

Tony Bellotto Antonio Carlos Liberalli Bellotto (; born June 30, 1960) is a Brazilian musician and writer, best known as the lead guitarist of Brazilian rock band Titãs. He has also written and released several books. Childhood Bellotto spent his childhood ...

- rhythm guitar *

- bass *

Charles Gavin Charles de Souza Gavin (born July 9, 1960) is a Brazilian drummer and music producer, perhaps best known for his 25-year tenure with rock band Titãs. Before Titãs, he had brief stints at Ira! and RPM. Early life and first works At age 8, hi ...

- drums

References

1987 singles Titãs songs 1987 songs Warner Music Group singles Songs written by Nando Reis Songs critical of religion {{Brazil-music-stub