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.
Oversize
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I might ask you to stay forever
Don't hold my hand
I might never, ever let it go
´Cause no one told me not to fall in love
No one gave me such advice
And now as I'm packing my bags
Don't dream with me
I might never wake up again
Don't think of what this could be
If for you this is the end
And no one told me not to fall in love
No one gave up such advice
And now as I'm packing my bags
I'll have to send my tears in oversize…
Goodbye
The lyrics to Luísa Sobral's song Oversize talk about the fear of falling in love and the pain that comes with it. The singer warns her lover not to get too close or hold her hand because she might not be able to let go. She is aware that no one ever advised her not to fall in love and she is now faced with the prospect of leaving this person behind, with tears that will require oversize packaging.
The first verse addresses the fear of holding on too tight and potentially losing oneself in the process. The second verse focuses on the possibility that this person's feelings may not be reciprocated and the pain that ensues when this happens. The chorus highlights the fact that no one ever told her not to fall in love and that she is now in a difficult situation that requires her to move on, with tears that will require oversize packaging.
Overall, the song is about the risks and rewards of love and how sometimes the pain of letting go can be too much to bear.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't stand too close
Please keep a physical distance from me
I might ask you to stay forever
Being close to you makes me feel like I never want to let you go
Don't hold my hand
Please don't offer me any romantic gestures
I might never, ever let it go
If you hold me tight, you might be stuck with me forever
´Cause no one told me not to fall in love
I never received any warnings about the risk of falling in love
No one gave me such advice
Nobody taught me how to protect myself from heartbreak
And now as I'm packing my bags
I'm preparing to leave and move on
I'll have to send my tears in oversize
My sadness and heartbreak are too big to fit in a small package
Don't dream with me
Please don't get your hopes up and imagine a future with me
I might never wake up again
If you dream with me, I might be trapped in a false reality
Don't think of what this could be
Please don't speculate about what our relationship could become
If for you this is the end
If you're ready to move on, please do so
Goodbye
Farewell forever
Contributed by Hailey F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.