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.
Noite Apressada
Camané Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
depois de um dia tão lento.
Era uma rosa encarnada
aberta nesse momento.
Era uma boca fechada
sob a mordaça de um lenço.
Era afinal quase nada
e tudo parecia imenso!
imensa a linha da vida
no seu desenho mortal,
imensa na despedida
a certeza do final.
Era uma haste inclinada
sob o capricho do vento.
Era minh´ alma, dobrada,
dentro do teu pensamento.
Era uma igreja assaltada
mas que cheirava a incenso,
Era afinal quase nada,
e tudo parecia imenso.
Imensa, a luz proibida
no centro da catedral,
imensa, a voz diluída
além do bem e do mal;
imensa por toda a vida,
na descrença total.
The lyrics of Camané’s song Noite Apressada speak of a hurried night following a slow day. In that moment, there is a red rose that has just blossomed, a mouth that is silenced by a gag, and an inclined stalk that bends to the whims of the wind. These seemingly insignificant details are contrasted with the vastness of life, the certainty of death, and the enormity of everything that surrounds the singer. The image of a storm is used to convey the immense power of life, with the line “no meio do vendaval, imensa a linha da vida” (in the midst of the storm, the line of life immense). The storm is a metaphor for the chaos and unpredictability of existence, where anything can happen in an instant.
The second stanza of the song likens the singer’s soul to a bent stalk, a symbol of his vulnerability and dependence on the person he is thinking of. The image of a church being assaulted is used to convey a sense of sacrilege and violation, yet it also evokes the scent of incense and a feeling of peace. This contradiction is another example of the contrasts that are present throughout the song. The final lines of the song speak of the vastness of life and the inevitability of death, with the “luz proibida” (prohibited light) and “voz diluída” (dissolved voice) representing the things that are beyond our understanding.
Overall, Noite Apressada is a song that explores the idea of the vastness of life and the power of the unknown. Through powerful and evocative imagery, Camané conveys a sense of awe and wonder at the complexities of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Era uma noite apressada
It was a night in a hurry
depois de um dia tão lento.
After a day so slow.
Era uma rosa encarnada
It was a red rose
aberta nesse momento.
Bloomed at that moment.
Era uma boca fechada
It was a closed mouth
sob a mordaça de um lenço.
Under the gag of a cloth.
Era afinal quase nada
It was almost nothing in the end
e tudo parecia imenso!
And everything seemed immense!
no meio do vendaval,
In the midst of a storm
imensa a linha da vida
The line of life was immense
no seu desenho mortal,
In its mortal design,
imensa na despedida
Immense in farewell
a certeza do final.
The certainty of the end.
Era uma haste inclinada
It was a bent stalk
sob o capricho do vento.
Under the whim of the wind.
Era minh' alma, dobrada,
It was my soul, folded,
dentro do teu pensamento.
Inside your thoughts.
Era uma igreja assaltada
It was a church assaulted
mas que cheirava a incenso,
But it smelled of incense.
Era afinal quase nada,
It was almost nothing in the end,
e tudo parecia imenso.
And everything seemed immense.
Imensa, a luz proibida
Immense was the forbidden light
no centro da catedral,
In the center of the cathedral,
imensa, a voz diluída
Immense was the diluted voice
além do bem e do mal;
Beyond good and evil;
imensa por toda a vida,
Immense for all life
na descrença total.
In total disbelief.
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.