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.

Paspalhão
Luísa Sobral Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Já te dei mais que um sinal, paspalhão
P'ra tu saberes que sim
Pus o meu ar mais patal tu não
Tu não reparas em mim

Vesti a saia rodada e passei à tua rua
Ou tu não deste por nada
Ou esperas que eu passe nua

Já te dei mais que um sinal, paspalhão
Não ouves o que eu digo
Ou andas a ouvir mal ou então
Não vais à bola comigo

Já bebi pelo teu copo
Deixei os lábios marcados
Não entendeste o piropo
Que é coisa de namorados

Já te dei mais que um sinal, paspalhão
Sabe Deus o que tu queres
Será que tu afinal ainda não
Lês os sinais das mulheres?

Já te dei mais que um sinal, paspalhão
Não ouves o que eu digo
Ou andas a ouvir mal ou então
Não vais à bola comigo

Já bebi pelo teu copo
Deixei os lábios marcados
Não entendeste o piropo
Que é coisa de namorados

Só me apetece chamar-te
Nomes que não chamo a um cão

Mas tu és um caso à parte
És só paspalhão, paspalhão

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Paspalhão" by Luísa Sobral express frustration and disappointment towards a person who is oblivious and non-responsive to the singer's attempts to catch their attention. The term "paspalhão" is a colloquial Portuguese word that can be translated as "fool" or "clueless." The singer emphasizes in the chorus that she has given numerous signals and indications, but the person in question seems to ignore or misunderstand them.

The lyrics depict the singer's desperate attempts to get noticed, such as wearing a flared skirt and passing by the person's street. However, the person does not seem to notice or is waiting for something more explicit, even suggesting that the singer should pass by naked. The frustration intensifies as the singer mentions drinking from the person's glass, leaving lipstick marks, and the person not understanding the flirtatious banter that is typical of couples in love.

The lyrics convey a mix of humor, exasperation, and a sense of disbelief at the person's lack of comprehension. The song reflects the singer's desire for the person to finally understand her signals and engage in a romantic relationship, but also acknowledges that this might never happen. The term "paspalhão" is repeated throughout the song as a way to emphasize the person's cluelessness and to release some of the singer's built-up frustration.

Line by Line Meaning

Já te dei mais que um sinal, paspalhão
I have given you more than one signal, fool

P'ra tu saberes que sim
So you know it

Pus o meu ar mais patal tu não
I put on my most flirtatious expression, but you didn't notice

Tu não reparas em mim
You don't notice me

Vesti a saia rodada e passei à tua rua
I wore a flared skirt and walked by your street

Ou tu não deste por nada
Either you didn't notice at all

Ou esperas que eu passe nua
Or you expect me to walk naked

Não ouves o que eu digo
You don't listen to what I say

Ou andas a ouvir mal ou então
Either you're hearing wrong or

Não vais à bola comigo
You don't get along with me

Já bebi pelo teu copo
I already drank from your glass