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.
Quadras
Camané Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Não se sabe revelar.
Sabe bem olhar p´ra ela,
Mas não lhe sabe falar.
Quem quer dizer o que sente
Não sabe o que há-de dizer.
Cala: parece esquecer...
Ah, mas se ela adivinhasse,
Se pudesse ouvir o olhar,
E se um olhar lhe bastasse
P´ra saber que a estão a amar!
Mas quem sente muito, cala;
Quem quer dizer quanto sente
Fica sem alma nem fala,
Fica só, inteiramente!
In Camané's song "Quadras," the lyrics discuss the difficulty of expressing emotions, particularly love. The first two stanzas describe the struggle of trying to communicate love, acknowledging that while it may be easy to look at someone you love, actually conveying those feelings can be incredibly difficult. The third stanza imagines a world in which it would be easy to communicate love - if only the object of one's affection could "hear" emotions and love through a mere glance.
The final stanza offers a more profound perspective on love and emotion, acknowledging that sometimes those who love deeply may not speak about their feelings at all. Those who speak often feel like they're lying, while those who keep silent are left with no words to express their feelings. Ultimately, love can be overwhelming, leaving one feeling alone and without the ability to communicate.
"Quadras" is a classic fado song, which is a traditional Portuguese music genre that often explores themes of longing, loss, and heartbreak. With its melancholy melody and poignant lyrics, "Quadras" is a masterful expression of the human struggle to communicate emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
O amor, quando se revela,
Love, when it reveals itself,
Não se sabe revelar.
does not know how to reveal itself.
Sabe bem olhar p´ra ela,
It knows how to look at her very well,
Mas não lhe sabe falar.
but it does not know how to speak to her.
Quem quer dizer o que sente
Whoever wants to express what they feel
Não sabe o que há-de dizer.
does not know what to say.
Fala: parece que mente...
They speak: it seems like they're lying...
Cala: parece esquecer...
They are silent: it seems like they're forgetting...
Ah, mas se ela adivinhasse,
Ah, but if she could guess,
Se pudesse ouvir o olhar,
if she could listen to the look,
E se um olhar lhe bastasse
And if one look was enough for her
P´ra saber que a estão a amar!
to know that she is being loved!
Mas quem sente muito, cala;
But whoever feels a lot, is silent;
Quem quer dizer quanto sente
whoever wants to express how they feel
Fica sem alma nem fala,
loses both soul and voice,
Fica só, inteiramente!
is left alone, completely!
Contributed by Levi K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.