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.

O Engraxador
Luísa Sobral Lyrics

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Ele sabe de cor
Todas as caras
Todas as pernas que caminham apressadas

Nada mudou,
Talvez a moda
Talvez a fivela do sapato seja agora
Uma fita de velcro cor-de-rosa

Ele sabe de cor
Estranhos segredos
Das velhas que vivem a falar pelos cotovelos

Nada mudou,
Talvez a moda
Talvez o sapato de pelica seja agora
Uma bota de verniz e pele de cobra

E sentado na cadeira gasta
De gente e de restos de graxa
Imagina-se num teatro inglês
A recitar Shakespeare em Português
Com a camisa e gravata de cerimonia

E depois da actuação
O olhar de comoção
Põe um ponto no grande retrato

Um aplauso ensurdecedor
Faz com que o engraxador
Enfeite de lágrimas a gravata de cetim

E sentado na cadeira gasta,
De gente e de restos de graxa
Imagina-se num teatro inglês
A recitar Shakespeare em Português
Com a camisa e gravata de cerimonia

Acorda então em sobressalto

Porque a graxa do sapato
Do cliente amargurado chegara ao fim

Overall Meaning

The song "O Engraxador" by Luísa Sobral tells the story of a shoe shiner who knows all the faces and hurried legs that pass by him every day. He also knows the secrets of strangers and chatty old ladies. Although things may change around him, such as fashion trends, his job remains the same. He imagines himself performing on stage, reciting Shakespeare in Portuguese while wearing a formal shirt and tie. But in reality, he wakes up abruptly when the polish of a disgruntled customer runs out.

The song portrays the engraxador as a humble figure who finds comfort in his routine and simple pleasures, such as imagining himself as an actor on a stage. The lyrics depict his day-to-day surroundings and the people he interacts with, highlighting the importance of paying attention to those around us. The song also touches upon the idea of the performing arts as a means of escaping one's reality.

Line by Line Meaning

Ele sabe de cor
He knows by heart

Todas as caras
All the faces

Todas as pernas que caminham apressadas
All the hurried legs that walk by

Nada mudou,
Nothing has changed,

Talvez a moda
Maybe fashion

Talvez a fivela do sapato seja agora
Perhaps the shoe buckle is now

Uma fita de velcro cor-de-rosa
A pink Velcro strap

Estranhos segredos
Strange secrets

Das velhas que vivem a falar pelos cotovelos
Of the old ladies who talk too much

Talvez o sapato de pelica seja agora
Maybe the suede shoe is now

Uma bota de verniz e pele de cobra
A snakeskin and patent leather boot