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.
Xico
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E do Xico nem sinal
Há quem diga que emigrou
Há quem diga que encontrou
Uma brasileira que não esta nada mal
E a Dolores todos os dias o espera
Com a sopa ao lume e o prato do costume
E pede a Deus um pouco mais de esperança
Ó Xico, Ó Xico
Onde te foste meter?
Ó Xico, Ó Xico
Não me faças mais sofrer
Desde pequena Dolores sonha em encontrar
Um português com olhos cor de mar
Ninguém entendia o porquê da maluqueira
Que tinha pelo outro lado da fronteira
Conheceu o Xico em Almerimar
E logo ali decidiram casar
Dolores levou o essencial
A velha caixa de costura e o avental
Ó Xico, Ó Xico
Onde te foste meter?
Ó Xico, Ó Xico
Não me faças mais sofrer
Viveram dez anos sem igual
Ninguém previa tal final
Agora diz Dolores com lamento
"De Espanha nem bom vento
Nem bom casamento"
Ó Xico, Ó Xico
Onde te foste meter?
Ó Xico, Mi chico
Não me faças mais
No me hagas más
Não me faças mais sofrer
The song "Xico" by Luísa Sobral is a story about a Portuguese couple - Dolores and Xico - who moved to Spain and lived there for ten years before Xico disappeared without a trace. Two years have passed since then, and Dolores still waits for him every day, cooking soup and preparing his favorite meal. Despite her neighbors' talks, she refuses to lose hope and prays for Xico's return.
Throughout the song, there are hints that Xico might have left Dolores for a Brazilian woman. However, these suggestions remain vague, and it's not clear whether there is any truth to them. The lyrics also paint a picture of Dolores as a dreamy and romantic person who always had a fascination with Portugal, even as a child. She finally found her dream man - Xico, a guy with "eyes the color of the sea" - in Spain, and they built a life together until it was suddenly shattered.
Overall, "Xico" is a touching and melancholic song about love, loss, and hope. It tells a story that many people can relate to - the pain of separation, the power of love, and the importance of holding onto hope even when things seem bleak.
Line by Line Meaning
Já passaram dois anos e tal
It has been more than two years now.
E do Xico nem sinal
And there's no sign of Xico.
Há quem diga que emigrou
Some say he emigrated.
Há quem diga que encontrou
Others say he found someone.
Uma brasileira que não esta nada mal
A Brazilian girl who is quite attractive.
E a Dolores todos os dias o espera
And Dolores waits for him every day.
Com a sopa ao lume e o prato do costume
With the soup on the stove and his usual plate ready.
Finge não ouvir a vizinhança
She pretends not to hear the neighbors.
E pede a Deus um pouco mais de esperança
And she prays to God for a little more hope.
Ó Xico, Ó Xico
Oh Xico, Oh Xico,
Onde te foste meter?
Where have you gone?
Não me faças mais sofrer
Don't make me suffer anymore.
Desde pequena Dolores sonha em encontrar
Since she was little, Dolores dreamt of finding.
Um português com olhos cor de mar
A Portuguese man with eyes the color of the sea.
Ninguém entendia o porquê da maluqueira
Nobody understood her obsession.
Que tinha pelo outro lado da fronteira
For someone from the other side of the border.
Conheceu o Xico em Almerimar
She met Xico in Almerimar.
E logo ali decidiram casar
And soon after, they decided to get married.
Dolores levou o essencial
Dolores brought the essentials.
A velha caixa de costura e o avental
The old sewing box and her apron.
Viveram dez anos sem igual
They lived for ten years without equal.
Ninguém previa tal final
Nobody predicted such an end.
Agora diz Dolores com lamento
Now Dolores says with regret.
"De Espanha nem bom vento
"From Spain, no good wind.
Nem bom casamento"
Nor a good marriage."
Ó Xico, Ó Xico
Oh Xico, Oh Xico,
Onde te foste meter?
Where have you gone?
Ó Xico, Mi chico
Oh Xico, My boy,
Não me faças mais
Don't make me anymore
No me hagas más
Don't hurt me anymore
Não me faças mais sofrer
Don't make me suffer anymore.
Contributed by Sophia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mig189189189
Cool!
A minha Belinha .Béinha
Isto não tem nada a ver com música portuguesa. ...pouoem-me...
Maria Alves
E tem que cantar em português?? Estamos em ditadura é? 😂
Francisco Santos Valagão Chico
Chico sou eu tou aqui
Francisco Santos Valagão Chico
Foi a brincar a cançao de o xico e boa
Augusto Mochila
veio tentar ter piada no sitio errado!!