Césaria Évora is the barefoot diva, as the title of her debut album says. When the queen of Cape Verdean music takes the stage, she does so barefoot in support of poor women around the world. The opening track of La Diva Aux Pieds Nus, "Bia Lulucha" is a traditional song gussied up by a disco dancefloor treatment. The track steams right along, buoyed by Manu Lima's synthetic wizardry, and was a huge hit in the Cape Verdean community. Évora's rendition of a Vinicius de Moraes and Antonio Carlos Jobim samba also swings and her voice soars from its guttural depths. As always, her mornas on this album are very soulful and strong. She has since made much finer albums and this should not be the starting point for the novice. However, the album does have some strong tracks and the musicians are the best in Cape Verdean music circles.
Tracklist
1 Bia Lulucha 5:03
2 Destino Negro 3:49
3 Passeio Samba 4:50
4 Fruto Proibido 4:35
5 Lucy 5:16
6 Traz d'Horizonte 4:10
7 Despidida de Immigrante 4:37
8 Cabo Verde Tierra Estimada 4:36
Bia Lulucha
Cesária Évora Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Corda bô t'olha
Bô cretcheu ta bai
Ta bai, ta bai, ta bai Fogo e Brava
M'ta passa pa Mindelo
M'ta fica pa tchora
Ó menina bô é nha consolança
Bô é nha perdição
Bo é nha cosinha fofa
The lyrics of Cesária Évora's song Bia Lulucha are emotionally charged and speak about a young girl named Bia Lulucha. The opening line, "Menina Bia Lulucha, corda bô t'olha" translates to "Girl Bia Lulucha, your cord looks good." Cord in this instance is referring to the necklace Bia is wearing. The next line "Bô cretcheu ta bai" translates to "Your sweetheart is leaving" and sets up the melancholic tone for the rest of the song.
As the song continues, Cesária sings about how she is going to pass through Mindelo, a city in Cape Verde, and stay there to cry. She tells Bia that she is her consolation and her downfall, which could mean that Bia is the one thing keeping her going, but also the one thing that causes her pain. The last line of the song, "Bô é nha cosinha fofa" means "You are my sweet little thing," and could be interpreted as a term of endearment or a bittersweet goodbye.
Overall, the song is about the pain of separation and the deep emotional connection between two people. It's unclear whether Cesária is singing to Bia as a lover or a friend, but the raw emotion in her voice leaves a lasting impact on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Menina Bia Lulucha
Young girl Bia Lulucha
Corda bô t'olha
Your eyes are looking at me
Bô cretcheu ta bai
Your sweetheart has left
Ta bai, ta bai, ta bai Fogo e Brava
He's gone, he's gone, he's gone to Fogo and Brava
M'ta passa pa Mindelo
I'm going to Mindelo
M'ta fica pa tchora
I'm staying here to cry
Ó menina bô é nha consolança
Oh girl, you are my comfort
Bô é nha perdição
You are my damnation
Bo é nha cosinha fofa
You are my sweet treasure
Contributed by Taylor P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.