The specialized critics loved the debut album on Ana Laíns – Sentidos. Revi… Read Full Bio ↴The specialized critics loved the debut album on Ana Laíns – Sentidos. Reviews in World Music (Spain), Songlines (UK) and Global Rhythm (USA) have paid tribute to the songs presented in Sentidos. Born in 1979, at Tomar – Portugal, Ana Laíns sings from early age. She first stepped on a stage aged 6. Soon after, she realizes that music is a very important part in her life. She lives all her childhood and teenage years in a very small village, near Constância. With 18 years old, Ana Laíns decides to move to Lisbon, the capital on Portugal, in order to pursuit her musical dream. This, at first sight, risky step soon pays of with the first conquests. During the first years of her career, Ana takes part as a singer in several projects, from jazz to bossa nova. Being a performer in these different styles, helped her to grow as an artist, and to lend a sui generis note to her path in Fado and traditional music. In 1996, Ana enters the first musical contests, and has been awarded several times, wining the 1999 Grande Noite do Fado. This special prize is also a revelation: according to Ana Laíns, is in Fado that she has found the best way to express and share her feelings with the audience. Later on, a tour by several countries follows. At age of 22, Ana has already performed in stages in France, USA, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany. The first recording experiences took place six years ago, for “Songs about Lisbon”, just before the invitation to be part of Difference’s compilation “Divas do Fado Novo”. In 2005, Ana is featured at “Amália revisted”, a compilation where she gives “Povo que lavas no rio” a modern touch. “Sentidos”, the first album, is released in 2006, through the label Different World, and is also the debut of Diogo Clemente as a producer. At the studio, Ana had the precious collaboration of Diogo Clemente at the acoustic guitar (credited not only for the production, but also for the musical direction and arrangements), Fernando Araújo at bass guitar, Bernardo Couto at Portuguese guitar, Vicky at percussion, Ricardo Mota at cello and Ruben Alves at accordion, piano and melodica. “Sentidos” is a record full of true songs. A contemporary approach to Fado, where we can find more introspective themes with simple lullaby melodies, that take us back to our childhood imaginary. On the other side, we can find Fado references, on it’s most classical shape, as well as Portuguese traditional music influences. Ana Laíns lyricist choice was upon some of her side bed table companions, such as Florbela Espanca, Lídia Oliveira, António Ramos Rosa, among others. “Pouco tempo”, the first video and single from “Sentidos” was already requested for compilations. It’s featured at “Novo Fado” (worldwide distribution) and “Colors” (Greece, Cyprus, the Balkan Territory and Ukraine). Ana has presented “Sentidos”, the live show, in Greece, Portugal and Spain. Russia is already booked for November. Other countries are to be followed.

A Ti
Ana Laíns Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo vi una ave
Que suave
Sus cantares
A la orilla de los mares
Entonó,
Y voló...

Y a lo lejos

Los reflejos
De la luna en alta cumbre,
Que argentando las espumas,
Bañava de luz sus plumas
De tisú...
Y eras...tú!

Y vi un alma
Que sin calma
Sus amores
Cantaba en sus tristes rumores,
Y su ser
Conmover
A las rocas parecia;
Miro la azul lejania, tendió su vista anhelante,
Suspiró,
Y cantando, pobre amante,

Prosiguió...
Y era yo!

Overall Meaning

In Ana Laíns's song "A Ti," we see a poetic portrayal of a person's inner emotions and their yearning for someone who seems to have touched them in a profound way. The song begins by describing a bird singing beautifully by the sea, and flying off into the distance. This bird seems to symbolize a sense of lightness and freedom, perhaps representing something the singer wishes to attain.

The lyrics then shift to describe the moon reflecting off the ocean waves, illuminating the bird's stunning tisú feathers. Suddenly, the lyrics reveal that this bird was a representation of the person the singer is singing to, addressing them as "tú." It is a beautiful metaphor that represents the beauty and grace of this person.

The song continues by describing the singer's own soul, restless and unable to calm itself. They sing of their own loves and sorrowful emotions that feel almost as if they are physically moving the surrounding rocks. The lyrics then describe the singer gazing towards the blue horizon in hope, releasing a sigh and continuing to sing. At the end of this verse, the song reveals that the singer is addressing himself with the line "Y era yo!" - meaning "and it was me!" It's a poignant way of completing the metaphor of the bird and reiterating how deeply the singer's emotions run.

The use of metaphor and vivid descriptions in the lyrics creates a beautiful, poetic story of love, hope, and longing. The song's use of imagery and metaphor offers a unique interpretation of human emotions that will connect with people on a deep, primal level.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo vi una ave
I saw a bird

Que suave
How softly

Sus cantares
It's singing

A la orilla de los mares
By the sea shore

Entonó,
It sang

Y voló...
And flew away...

Y a lo lejos
And in the distance

Los reflejos
The reflections

De la luna en alta cumbre,
Of the moon on the highest peak

Que argentando las espumas,
That silvers the foam

Bañava de luz sus plumas
Bathed its feathers in light