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.
Nádia
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nádia quer tudo esquecer
Quer ser outra mulher num lugar qualquer
Longe do que a viu nascer
Nádia sem nada a temer
Nádia com tudo a temer atravessa o mar Egeu
Escuro como breu dois filhos, um abraço
Dias e dias, noites e noites
De uma viagem sem fim
Podem um começo e um final
Ser tão iguais assim?
Dias e dias, noites e noites
De uma viagem sem fim
Podem um começo e um final
Ser tão iguais assim?
Podem um começo e um final
Ser tão iguais assim?
Nádia não sabe nadar nádia no meio do mar
Tem a cara já molhada ajuda a disfarçar
As lágrimas que devolve ao mar ah ah ah
The lyrics of Luísa Sobral's song "Nádia" convey the story of a woman named Nádia who feels trapped in her current circumstances and longs to escape. She feels she has nothing to lose and wants to forget everything, desiring to become a different person in a distant place far from where she was born. Nádia finds herself in a paradoxical situation, as she simultaneously has nothing to fear and yet everything to fear as she crosses the Aegean Sea, which is described as dark and as black as ink. She is accompanied by her two children, with whom she shares intimate moments like a hug, but also experiences the coldness, fear, and exhaustion that come with her journey.
The lyrics pose a thought-provoking question about the nature of beginnings and endings. Nádia wonders if they can be so similar that they appear indistinguishable. The repetition of the question, "Can a beginning and an end be so alike?", highlights the confusion and ambiguity she faces in her quest for a fresh start. Furthermore, the image of Nádia in the middle of the sea, unable to swim but with her face already wet, suggests that she is both disguising and releasing her tears. This symbolizes her emotional turmoil and the hidden pain she carries.
Overall, Luísa Sobral's "Nádia" echoes the struggles and desires of a woman seeking to break free from her past and find a new beginning, while exploring the complex emotions and challenges she faces along her journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Nádia sem nada a perder
Nádia has nothing to lose
Nádia quer tudo esquecer
Nádia wants to forget everything
Quer ser outra mulher num lugar qualquer
She wants to be another woman in any place
Longe do que a viu nascer
Far from where she was born
Nádia sem nada a temer
Nádia has nothing to fear
Nádia com tudo a temer atravessa o mar Egeu
Nádia, who fears everything, crosses the Aegean Sea
Escuro como breu dois filhos, um abraço
Dark as ink, two children, one hug
Frio, medo e cansaço
Cold, fear, and tiredness
Dias e dias, noites e noites
Days and days, nights and nights
De uma viagem sem fim
Of an endless journey
Podem um começo e um final
Can a beginning and an end
Ser tão iguais assim?
Be so alike?
Nádia não sabe nadar Nádia no meio do mar
Nádia doesn't know how to swim, Nádia in the middle of the sea
Tem a cara já molhada ajuda a disfarçar
Her face is already wet, helping to disguise
As lágrimas que devolve ao mar ah ah ah
The tears she gives back to the sea, ah ah ah
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind