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.
Jardim Roma
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que foi cowboy com André
O pirata do jardim
Ilário era o polícia do bando
Como não caçou Armando
Tentou apanhar-me a mim
Marfalda faz batota, cabra-cega
No jogo das escondidas
Alice diz que disse
Que Maria enquanto escreve mentia
Mas no fundo são amigas
Manuel virou médico dentista
José foi pra quarteirista
E dos outros não sei bem
Marfalda agora é fada do lar
Diz ela e sem inventar
Que Maria já é mãe
Manuel virou médico dentista
José foi pra quarteirista
E dos outros não sei bem
Marfalda agora é fada do lar
Diz ela e sem inventar
Que Maria já é mãe
Agora somos homens e mulheres
Já comemos com talheres
Já usamos um e vem
Só nos juntámos num momento
Quando foi o casamento
De Ilário com André
The song Jardim Roma by Luísa Sobral is a nostalgic and reflective piece that tells the story of a group of childhood friends who used to play together in the Jardim Roma neighborhood. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of their adventures and mischiefs, with each verse focusing on a different member of the group - from Manuel who scored a goal on José, to Marfalda who cheats at games, and Ilário who played the policeman. The lyrics also hint at some of the tensions and rivalries that existed within the group, such as Ilário's failed attempt to catch Armando, and Alice's gossiping.
As the song progresses, we learn that the group has grown up and gone their separate ways - Manuel became a dentist, José a policeman, and Marfalda a homemaker. The lyrics suggest that some of the friends may have lost touch, as the singer admits "e dos outros não sei bem" ("I don't really know about the others"). However, there is a sense of fondness and camaraderie that still exists between them, especially when they reunite at Ilário and André's wedding.
Overall, Jardim Roma is a celebration of childhood friendship, and a reflection on how people change and grow over time, but the memories of those formative years remain. The song's dreamy melody and wistful lyrics make it a beautiful and poignant tribute to the power of nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
Manuel marcou um golo em José
Manuel scored a goal against José
Que foi cowboy com André
Who played cowboy with André
O pirata do jardim
The pirate of the garden
Ilário era o polícia do bando
Ilário was the gang's police officer
Como não caçou Armando
As he didn't catch Armando
Tentou apanhar-me a mim
He tried to catch me
Marfalda faz batota, cabra-cega
Marfalda cheats at blind man's buff
Mariana ninguém pega
No one can catch Mariana
No jogo das escondidas
In the game of hide-and-seek
Alice diz que disse
Alice says that she said
Que Maria enquanto escreve mentia
That Maria lied while writing
Mas no fundo são amigas
But they're friends deep down
Manuel virou médico dentista
Manuel became a dentist
José foi pra quarteirista
José became a neighborhood watch
E dos outros não sei bem
And I'm not quite sure about the others
Marfalda agora é fada do lar
Marfalda is now a house fairy
Diz ela e sem inventar
She says without making it up
Que Maria já é mãe
That Maria is already a mother
Agora somos homens e mulheres
Now we are men and women
Já comemos com talheres
We already eat with utensils
Já usamos um e vem
We already use 'please' and 'thank you'
Só nos juntámos num momento
We only got together at a moment
Quando foi o casamento
When Ilário and André got married
Writer(s): Luisa Sobral
Contributed by Brayden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.