Born on the 27th August 1941 in the port town of Mindelo, Cape Verde, on the island of São Vicente. Long known as the queen of the morna, a soulful genre (related to the Portuguese fado) sung in Creole-Portuguese, she mixed her sentimental folk tunes filled with longing and sadness with the acoustic sounds of guitar, cavaquinho, violin, accordion, and clarinet. Évora's Cape Verdean blues often spoke of the country's history of isolation and slave trade, as well as emigration; almost two-thirds of the million Cape Verdeans alive live abroad.
Évora's voice, a finely-tuned, melancholy instrument with a touch of hoarseness, highlighted her emotional phrasing by accenting a word or phrase. Even audiences who do not understand her language could be held spell-bound by the emotions evident in her performances.
In 2004 she won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
A heavy smoker for decades, Évora was diagnosed with heart problems in 2005. She suffered strokes in 2008 and in September 2011, when she announced she was retiring. She died at the age of seventy in São Vicente, Cape Verde on the 17th December 2011 from respiratory failure and hypertension. A Spanish newspaper reported that forty-eight hours before her death she was still receiving people in her home in Mindelo, popular for always having its doors open.
Avenida Marginal
Cesária Évora Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Num luar di madrugada
Ums ta brinca no sota
Ot's ta brinca mae ma pai
Oi c'sabura ta brinca na mei di crioula
Num silencio di madrugada
Ta ouvi mar squebra na areia
V'nida marginal é k'ta na moda
V'nida marginal é k'ta morrê pêxe
Ô djack
Bêm ness calor di madrugada
Bêm ness calor nô ta passá sabe
Cesária Évora's song Avenida Marginal seems to be a reflection on the nightlife of the marginal avenue where people from all walks of life come together to socialize and have fun. The song paints a picture of a place buzzing with activity, especially in the early morning hours, where some people are playing games under the shade while others are playing with their parents. The singer goes on to talk about the parties that take place on the avenue, which are popular and always full of life. It seems like those who attend the parties come not only to have a good time but also to connect with others.
The song seems to romanticize the experience of being on the Avenida Marginal, depicting it as a place where people gather to escape from the mundanity of everyday life. The silence at midnight is only broken by the sound of the waves and the laughter of people playing games. The Avenida Marginal is not only popular for its nightlife but also for its seafood. It's a place where one can find the freshest catch of the day.
Overall, Avenida Marginal is a beautiful and nostalgic tribute to the people, culture, and nightlife in Cesária Évora's hometown. The lyrics depict a vibrant and colorful community that comes together to have fun and socialize with one another.
Line by Line Meaning
N'avenida marginal
On the seaside avenue
Num luar di madrugada
In the moonlight of dawn
Ums ta brinca no sota
Some are playing below
Ot's ta brinca mae ma pai
Others are playing with their mom and dad
Oi c'sabura ta brinca na mei di crioula
The boys from Cabora are playing amidst Creole girls
Num silencio di madrugada
In the silence of the dawn
Ta ouvi mar squebra na areia
You hear the sea breaking on the sand
V'nida marginal é k'ta na moda
The seaside avenue is in style
V'nida marginal é k'ta morrê pêxe
The seaside avenue is where fish die
Ô djack
Hey, buddy
Bêm ness calor di madrugada
Come in this heat of dawn
Bêm ness calor nô ta passá sabe
Come and let's have fun together
Contributed by Mackenzie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
M. L.L.
Bravo cesaria!
Armegaz2
Amazing Cesaria! Love your music! We miss you.
EkotiYaNzube
Obrigada mãe!!!!
Mabel Charlotte Schilfrohr
silky voice! THE BEST
Reemo is here
Awesome...
Francis Olisa
Eu te Saudade… Cize Mae carinhosa