Luísa Sobral. A voice, guitar, paper and pen. From this an entire musical u… Read Full Bio ↴Luísa Sobral. A voice, guitar, paper and pen. From this an entire musical universe is created in each composition. 24 years of open choices. Instinctive and expectant. «The Cherry on my Cake» is the fruit of all those possibilities. Songs full of images. Videos that are imagined for the rhythm of each song. It’s her first full-length album under in her own name, outcome of a musical journey that started at the early age of 12.

The empathy with the musical instruments started with the guitar. It was with the guitar that she realised were the chords of her parent’s music come from. From The Beatles and from many others. And it was on an early age that she gave herself to the unique melodies that the jazz immortalized. The capacity of a melody to stand by itself, without the instruments. She embraced such artists as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzerald, Chet Baker, and many others and with them in her heart she set off to the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, USA, to study music. In her 4 year stay in Boston she was nominated for the «Best Jazz Song» at the Malibu Music Awards (2008); «Best Jazz Artist» at the Hollywood Music Awards ; «International Songwriting Competition» (2007) and «The John Lennon Songwriting Competition» (2008).

More than being nominated or completing her studies, Luísa was also discovering herself every year that went by. Her musical identity would further develop in New York, where she moved after finish her degree in Boston (2009). In her bags a lot of what would eventually give shape to songs that where already wandering inside her head. Hers and her mother’s who confessed to her she had dreamed that her first album would be called «The Cherry on My Cake». Maternal magic that made a dream come true.

The learning of the jazz standards, the practice done by playing a Brazilian music in bars and the stamina of her creativity all filtered into songs that would either gain live in paper or in chords. One after another. Well thought melodies with images inside. «I Would Love To», «Don`t Let Me Down», «Why Should I», among other songs that came together in an EP («My Funny Clementine»). The emphasis on the starting theme was obvious: «Not There Yet». A triple time rhythm, like a jazz waltz, colorful, an imposing chorus and violins in heaven. The record composition wasn’t to become limited to the English language. Between trips to and from Portugal, Luisa performed at the Super Bock Super Rock festival in Stock 2009. At this gig she mentions how much she would like to have a song in Portuguese. Upon her return to the States Luisa sketches a poem and melody for “O Engraxador” (the shoe shine man). That is followed by “Xico and Dolores”. For the upcoming record the will for a Portuguese cover song was still very much present. Nobody would be better to fill this part than Rui Veloso, artist that Luisa’s father listens to insistently. Luisa registers Carlos Te’s lyric and tries a different version of “Saiu para a Rua”.

«The Cherry on my Cake» is the result of all of this: of the person who dreams to live in Paris - totally inspired by French cinema. Result of the hectic New York vibe, of the familiar affection for Lisbon. From Regina Spektor to Elis Regina. From Billie Holiday to Bjork. From the 50’s to ingenuousness. From sound to image. From voice and talent: “I have a good life” she concludes.

A Ana
Luísa Sobral Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A Ana já não quer brincar comigo
Agora só se da com a Constança
Diz que eu só brinco a coisas de criança

Mas sei que dentro da mochila
Ela ainda tem a Barbie com o vestido azul
Que foi com a minha Barbie a
Um casamento na América do Sul

Oh Ana, eu também sei ser maior
Mandar bilhetinhos às escondidas do professor
Dançar o slow juntinho e dizer que é amor

A Ana já não quer ser minha amiga
Já nem partilha o lanche que a Avó lhe faz
E diz que os meus sapatos são de rapaz

Já nem se mascarou no Carnaval
Gozou com o meu vestido, chamou lhe avental
E diz que ir para a rua não tem nada de mal

Oh Ana, eu também sei ser maior
Mandar bilhetinhos às escondidas do professor
Dançar o slow juntinho e dizer que é amor

Oh Ana, eu também sei ser maior
Mandar bilhetinhos às escondidas do professor
Dançar o slow juntinho e dizer que é amor

Dançar o slow juntinho e dizer que é amor
Mas afinal o que é o amor?

Overall Meaning

In Luísa Sobral's song "A Ana," the lyrics depict a story about a friendship that has changed over time. The singer, who is addressing a girl named Ana, reveals that Ana no longer wants to play with them and instead prefers to spend time with someone named Constança. Ana states that the singer only plays childish games, implying a growing distance between them.

However, the singer is aware that Ana still carries a Barbie with a blue dress in her backpack. This indicates that despite her new friendship, Ana still holds onto remnants of their past together, such as a shared memory of attending a wedding of their Barbies in South America. The singer reminisces about the deeper connection they used to have and expresses a desire for Ana to remember the experiences they enjoyed as children.

The lyrics then reflect on how Ana has changed further since their friendship began to fade. She no longer wants to be friends and refuses to share the lunch their grandmother prepares. Ana disapproves of the singer's shoes, perceiving them to be masculine. Additionally, she mocks the singer's choice of attire by comparing their carnival costume to an apron. Ana seems to distance herself from more innocent and playful activities, implying a growing sense of maturity or superiority.

Despite their altered friendship, the singer shares that they also know how to act more grown up. They mention sending secret notes to the teacher and dancing close to someone while referring to it as love. This could suggest that the singer understands the complexities and nuances of adult emotions, while acknowledging their ability to navigate these experiences as well.

As the song comes to a close, the singer repeats the phrase "Dançar o slow juntinho e dizer que é amor," which translates to "Dancing slow together and saying it's love." The repetition emphasizes the longing for a connection with Ana and poses a question about the true meaning of love. The lyrics suggest that love can be found in the purity and innocence of childhood friendships, but it also becomes more complicated and misunderstood as people grow older and have different priorities.

Line by Line Meaning

A Ana já não quer brincar comigo
Ana no longer wants to play with me

Agora só se da com a Constança
Now she only hangs out with Constança

Diz que eu só brinco a coisas de criança
She says I only play with childish things

Mas sei que dentro da mochila
But I know that inside her backpack

Ela ainda tem a Barbie com o vestido azul
She still has a Barbie with a blue dress

Que foi com a minha Barbie a um casamento na América do Sul
That went to a wedding in South America with my Barbie

Oh Ana, eu também sei ser maior
Oh Ana, I also know how to be mature

Mandar bilhetinhos às escondidas do professor
Sending secret notes to the teacher

Dançar o slow juntinho e dizer que é amor
Dancing slow and saying it's love

A Ana já não quer ser minha amiga
Ana no longer wants to be my friend

Já nem partilha o lanche que a Avó lhe faz
She doesn't even share the lunch her grandmother makes for her