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.
Japanese Rose
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where she used to sit and have tea
Now it's not there anymore
She baked little moons with her mother
And learned how to fish with her father
But now they’re not there anymore
Sea take them from me?
Was he angry I didn't learn how to swim?"
So she cries
Hoping that the tears in her eyes
Will take her to see them once more
She hears people say that it's over
That the waves have all gone to sleep
And they won’t come around anymore
And she says "Why did the
Sea take them from me?
Was he angry I didn't learn how to swim?"
So she cries
Hoping that the tears in her eyes
Will take her to see them once more
The lyrics of Luisa Sobral's song "Japanese Rose" portray a woman named Rose who is reminiscing about her past and her loved ones who are no longer with her. The opening verse describes a dream that Rose used to have about a house where she would have tea. However, the dream is now gone, and the house no longer exists. The following verse depicts Rose's memories of baking little moons with her mother and learning to fish with her father, but now they are no longer present. Rose questions why the sea took her loved ones away and wonders if it was because she didn't learn how to swim. She hopes that her tears will take her to see them once again.
The underlying theme of the song seems to be grief and the pain of losing loved ones. Rose seems to be unable to come to terms with her loss and is desperately hoping to see her parents once again. The sea is used as a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of life as it brings both life and death. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman struggling to move on from her past and come to terms with her grief, which many listeners can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Rose had a house in a dream
In her dreams, Rose owned a house.
Where she used to sit and have tea
In the imagined house, Rose used to sit and drink tea.
Now it's not there anymore
But, now Rose's imaginary house does not exist anymore.
She baked little moons with her mother
Rose used to cook with her mother, making small crescent moon-shaped treats.
And learned how to fish with her father
She also learned how to catch fish with her father.
But now they’re not there anymore
Unfortunately, both her parents are gone, and she misses them.
And she says "Why did the Sea take them from me?
Rose wonders why her loved ones were taken away from her by the sea.
Was he angry I didn't learn how to swim?"
She wonders if the sea took them because she never learned how to swim.
So she cries
Feeling loss, Rose cries.
Hoping that the tears in her eyes
She yearns that her tears could transform into something that can help her go to her parents.
Will take her to see them once more
So that they can be together again.
She hears people say that it's over
Rose overhears people say that grief dissipates over time.
That the waves have all gone to sleep
That the waves have stopped crashing to the shore.
And they won’t come around anymore
The people think that Rose will stop grieving soon and that the sea won't bring her anything more.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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