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.
Canção do Instante
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De viajar no tempo
Prendia cada momento
de mim para mim
Na sensação do bom
Causa e efeito
Na dobra do sempre
Sem ter um fim
Quem me dera
Quebrar todas as regras
Quem me dera
Viver só do que alegra
Ai quem me dera!
Livrar-me do que já era
E o que já foi
Poder voltar a ser
Imagino um cata-vento
De regular o centro
Pra viver só com sentimento
Só com o sentimento!
Salvar o instante
Quem me dera
Quebrar todas as regras
Quem me dera
Viver só do que alegra
Ai quem me dera!
Livrar-me do que já era
E o que já foi
Poder voltar a ser
The lyrics of "Canção do Instante" by Luísa Sobral convey a longing for the ability to control time and capture each moment for oneself. The singer expresses a desire to possess the gift of time travel, in order to seize and retain every fleeting experience. This desire is rooted in the belief that each moment holds a special significance and should be treasured indefinitely.
The lyrics also touch upon the interconnectedness of actions and consequences, as well as the concept of eternity. The mentioning of cause and effect suggests a contemplation of the impacts of our choices and behaviors, while the idea of existing in an eternal present without a defined end point conveys a sense of timelessness and continuity.
The repeated longing to break free from limitations and constraints, to live only for joy and happiness, reflects a deep yearning for freedom and fulfillment. The singer dreams of transcending past burdens and constraints, to recreate themselves and their reality, unencumbered by what has come before.
The imagery of a weather vane guiding the center, living solely through feeling rather than rationality, and the notion of preserving the instant further accentuates the desire for emotional authenticity and spontaneity. The lyrics ultimately encapsulate a yearning for liberation, emotional purity, and the opportunity to rewrite the past in order to shape a more joyful, fulfilling present and future.
Line by Line Meaning
Se eu tivesse o dom
If I possessed the extraordinary ability
De viajar no tempo
To journey through the fabric of time
Prendia cada momento
I would capture each fleeting instant
de mim para mim
For my own reflection and understanding
Na sensação do bom
In the experience of joy
Causa e efeito
The interplay between actions and their outcomes
Na dobra do sempre
Within the folds of eternity
Ficar assim
To simply exist in this state
Sem ter um fim
Without any conclusion or closure
Quem me dera
Oh, how I wish
Quebrar todas as regras
To shatter every existing constraint
Quem me dera
Oh, how I long for
Viver só do que alegra
To exist solely on what brings happiness
Ai quem me dera!
Alas, how I desire!
Livrar-me do que já era
To free myself from what once was
E o que já foi
And from the past events
Poder voltar a ser
To be able to return to that state of being
Imagino um cata-vento
I envision a windmill
De regular o centro
To stabilize the core of existence
Pra viver só com sentimento
To live solely by emotions
Só com o sentimento!
Only guided by feeling!
Salvar o instante
To preserve the present moment
Quem me dera
Oh, how I wish
Quebrar todas as regras
To dismantle every limitation
Quem me dera
Oh, how I long for
Viver só do que alegra
To thrive only on what brings joy
Ai quem me dera!
Alas, how I desire!
Livrar-me do que já era
To liberate myself from bygone days
E o que já foi
And from experiences that have passed
Poder voltar a ser
To have the capacity to return to that essence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joana Alegre, Luisa Sobral
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anasousa2742
5 estrelas
@calipodebana
Que coisa mais bonita e terna. 🤍
@quinitabatista685
5 estrelas
@elenafernandez5429
Que guapas
@teresabranco6304
Lindas
@calipodebana
Joana, o teu álbum acabou de se tornar um dos favoritos do ano. Acabo de o ouvir e está absolutamente lindo. Quanta magia tens ✨
O álbum é sem dúvida uma lufada de ternura, parabéns!
@isabelsofiapinto2829
Espetacular
@estevesayres2967
Aqui fica o meu apoio...
@miriamchaudon1164
Maravilhosa! Obrigada, Joana Alegre!
@saltlessbread
Que maravilha <3