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.

João
Luísa Sobral Lyrics

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Eu saio da escola sempre à mesma hora
E vejo o João que sai também
Já me fiz de distraída, sorri meio atrevida
Mas o João da C finge que não vê

Todas na escola gostam do João
Propõem namorar num papel com sim ou não
Sei que é difícil com tanta escolha assim

Que vai fazer o João gostar de mim?

Sou a mais bonita e nunca sou escolhida
Quando fazem equipas para o futebol
Se alguém fica doente entro para suplente
Fico sentadinha a apanhar sol

Todas na escola gostam do João
Propõem namorar num papel com sim ou não
Sei que é difícil com tanta escolha assim
Que vai fazer o João gostar de mim?

Todas na escola gostam do João
Propõem namorar num papel com sim ou não
Sei que é difícil com tanta escolha assim
Que vai fazer o João gostar de mim?

O João olhar para mim

O João gostar de mim
Ele está a olhar para mim

Overall Meaning

Luísa Sobral's song "João" is a beautiful narrative about a teenage girl's infatuation with a boy named João. The song is a true testament to how people can harbour a crush on someone without the possibility of reciprocation. She sings about how she leaves school at the same time every day and sees João, who also happens to leave at the same time. She has tried to catch his attention in the past, but he always turns a blind eye. The singer of the song reflects on how all of the girls in school also like João and are vying for his attention, but she is left feeling invisible amongst the crowd.

Additionally, she compares her beauty to the other girls in school, who are always chosen before her, even when it comes to something as simple as a game of football. Despite this, she is resolute in her crush and wants nothing more than for João to notice her. She sings about how difficult it is to get someone's attention when everyone else is also trying to win them over, leaving her to wonder what she can do to get João to like her back. Perhaps the most poignant moment in the song is when she sings the line "O João olhar para mim, o João gostar de mim," which translates to "João looking at me, João liking me." It is a simple wish - for someone to see and appreciate her, but it encompasses so much of what it means to have a crush.

"João" is a relatable and heartfelt portrayal of teenage love and longing. Through the singer's musings, Sobral captures what it is like to admire someone from afar and desperately hope that they will take notice. It is a song that many can identify with, regardless of their age or gender.

Line by Line Meaning

Eu saio da escola sempre à mesma hora
I leave school at the same time every day

E vejo o João que sai também
And I see João leaving too

Já me fiz de distraída, sorri meio atrevida
I've acted like I wasn't paying attention, smiled a bit daringly

Mas o João da C finge que não vê
But João from class C pretends not to see me

Todas na escola gostam do João
All the girls in school like João

Propõem namorar num papel com sim ou não
They ask him out on paper by saying yes or no

Sei que é difícil com tanta escolha assim
I know it's hard with so many options

Que vai fazer o João gostar de mim?
What can I do to make João like me?

Sou a mais bonita e nunca sou escolhida
I'm the prettiest but never chosen

Quando fazem equipas para o futebol
When they pick teams for football

Se alguém fica doente entro para suplente
If someone gets sick, I become a substitute