She is one of the top-touring artists in Japan, becoming the first female artist to play all five of Japan's largest stadiums in 2004. Misia is famed for her five-octave vocal range and is widely recognized as the first Japanese R&B superstar.
Born and raised in Nagasaki, MISIA moved to Fukuoka at the age of 14 to pursue a recording career. There, she continued her secondary education and briefly attended Seinan Gakuin University before withdrawing to focus on her musical career. She was signed to BMG Japan in 1997, after auditioning for record producer Haruo Yoda.
Since 2001, she has been engaging in environmental and human rights activism. In 2008, she founded Child AFRICA, an organization aimed at supporting education and creating sustainable societies. In 2010, she was named Honorary Ambassador of the 10th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
For the Portuguese fado singer, see Mísia.
Que Fazes Ai Lisboa
MISIA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De olhos fincados no rio
Os olhos não sao amarras
Para prender um navio
Que fazes aí, Lisboa,
De olhos fincados no rio.
O barco que ontem partiu
Chora lágrimas de pedra
Em cada esquina do cais
O barco que ontem partiu,
Partiu e não volta mais.
Lisboa, velha Lisboa,
Mãe pobre à beira do rio
Seja o chaile dos meus ombros
Agasalho do teu frio
Lisboa, velha Lisboa,
Mãe pobre à beira do rio.
In the song "Que fazes aí Lisboa" by MISIA, the lyrics speak directly to the city of Lisbon, with a tone of melancholy and longing. The opening lines "Que fazes aí, Lisboa, de olhos fincados no rio" translates to "What are you doing there, Lisbon, with your eyes fixed on the river." The lyrics don't necessarily imply that Lisbon is doing something wrong, but rather pose a question as to why the city seems stuck in place, staring out at the water. The next line "Os olhos não sao amarras, para prender um navio" meaning "Eyes are not anchors, to hold a ship" implies that the city shouldn't be held back by nostalgia or longing, but rather embrace change and move forward.
The theme of longing and loss continues in the next section, referencing a boat that has left and won't return. "O barco que ontem partiu, partiu e não volta mais, Chora lágrimas de pedra em cada esquina do cais" meaning "The boat that left yesterday, left and won't return, Cries tears of stone on every corner of the dock." The imagery of crying stones adds to the motif of longing and pain.
The final section of the song switches tone slightly, with a more nurturing and protective message to the city. "Lisboa, velha Lisboa, mãe pobre à beira do rio, Seja o chaile dos meus ombros, agasalho do teu frio" essentially translates to "Lisboa, old Lisbon, poor mother by the river, Let my shoulders be your cloak, shelter from your cold." This verse takes on a more caring tone, showing a desire to protect and help the city, which contrasts the opening questioning tone.
Overall, "Que fazes aí Lisboa" is a beautiful song that speaks to the longing and pain that can be found in a city, but also the desire to care for and protect it.
Line by Line Meaning
Que fazes aí, Lisboa,
What are you doing there, Lisbon,
De olhos fincados no rio
With your eyes fixed on the river?
Os olhos não sao amarras
Eyes are not anchors
Para prender um navio
To hold a ship back
O barco que ontem partiu
The boat that left yesterday
Partiu e não volta mais
Has left and will never return
Chora lágrimas de pedra
Crying tears of stone
Em cada esquina do cais
On every corner of the pier
Lisboa, velha Lisboa,
Lisbon, old Lisbon,
Mãe pobre à beira do rio
Poor mother on the riverside
Seja o chaile dos meus ombros
Let me be the shawl on your shoulders
Agasalho do teu frio
A shelter from your cold
Writer(s): arlindo decarvalho
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Silêncio é Canção
Este Fado é um dos meus favoritos de toda a música portuguesa. Como não se emocionar com tamanha beleza singela na sua maior forma e seus tons menores e o lamentar da linda guitarra portuguesa? Eterna rainha que tornou-se estrela!
manuelaantonio abreu
A Eterna ninguém consegue cantar como ela descansa em paz Amália serás sempre recordada como a grande Diva
maria moura
Absolutamente divino
Martim Anttinari
Absolutamente lindo. AMÁLIA DIVA....
Neuza Santos
Lisboa encantadora tanto quanto esta voz
Suelene Silva
Voz com sonoridade inigualável.
Gorete Avelino
Lindo lindo💖💖💖💖💖 Amália sempre 👏👏🙏
Neuza Santos
Lisboa encantadora tanto quanto esta voz
leandro pedrosa joaquim
aqui nao ha artificios nem gestos inadequados ha simplesmente amalia
Esmeralda Palhares
Saudades , mas muitas. Inigualável.