He started gaining recognition in Portugal in 1979 after winning the "Grande Noite do Fado" (Great Fado Night). After this first step, the true "alfacinha" (inhabitant of Lisbon) consistently worked his way up with well accepted records and great shows at places ranging from small "Casas de Fado" (Fado clubs) in Lisbon as well as sold out audiences throughout Europe in some of the most prestigious festivals and venues. Camane was formerly married to another great fadista, Aldina Duarte.
He has released five albums: "Uma Noite de Fados" (1995), "Na Linha da Vida" (1998) marking the beginning of three records produced by José Mário Branco, "Esta Coisa da Alma" (2000), "Pelo Dia Dentro" (2001) and "Como sempre... Como dantes" (live in 2003). These have been released in several european and asian countries. He has been distinguished with several awards for his voice and talent.
Mote
Camané Lyrics
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Quando sentir penas duras
Só me podem consolar
Teus olhos, contas escuras
Do´ eles só brotam amores
Não há sombra d´ ironias
São duas ave-marias
Quando a vida os vem turvar
Fazem-me sofrer torturas
E as contas todas rezar
Do rosário d´ amarguras
Ou se os alaga a aflição
Peço para ti alegrias
Numa fervente oração
Que rezo todos os dias
Teus olhos, contas escuras
São duas ave-marias
No rosário d´ amarguras
Que rezo todos os dias
The song Mote by Camané is a melodic and melancholic fado song about the solace that can be found in the eyes of someone you love. The lyrics evoke a sense of pain and suffering (represented by the "amargurar" and "penas duras") that is only alleviated by the presence of the person, whose eyes are described as "contas escuras" (dark beads). The singer describes how the eyes of this person offer a refuge from the hardships of life and provide only love, with no hint of irony or deceit.
The lyrics also allude to religious themes, with the repeated reference to "rosário" (rosary), which is a string of beads used for prayer in the Catholic tradition. The eyes of the beloved are compared to "ave-marias" (Hail Marys), which are a fundamental part of the rosary. The singer asks for comfort and joy in times of turmoil, and relies on the image of the person's eyes as a source of peace and grounding.
Overall, Mote is a song about love, devotion, and the kind of quiet resilience that comes from finding solace in others. The lyrics are simple, but delicately wrought, with an emotional intensity that is underscored by the mournful chords of the fado style.
Line by Line Meaning
Quando a dor me amargurar
When I am filled with bitter pain
Quando sentir penas duras
When I feel hard sorrows
Só me podem consolar
Only your eyes can console me
Teus olhos, contas escuras
Your eyes, dark beads
Do' eles só brotam amores
For from them only love springs
Não há sombra d' ironias
There is no shadow of irony
Teus olhos sedutores
Your seductive eyes
São duas ave-marias
Are like two Hail Marys
Quando a vida os vem turvar
When life clouds them
Fazem-me sofrer torturas
They make me suffer tortures
E as contas todas rezar
And I say all the beads
Do rosário d' amarguras
Of the rosary of bitterness
Ou se os alaga a aflição
Or if affliction overwhelms them
Peço para ti alegrias
I ask for joy from you
Numa fervente oração
In a fervent prayer
Que rezo todos os dias
That I recite every day
Teus olhos, contas escuras
Your eyes, dark beads
São duas ave-marias
Are like two Hail Marys
No rosário d' amarguras
Of the rosary of bitterness
Que rezo todos os dias
That I recite every day
Contributed by Elena R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.