Today her value is recognized, not only in Portugal but also in many foreign countries, where her presence is regularly requested.
Mafalda Arnauth, her first album released in 1999, was immediately acclaimed by specialists and won the Prize for Best Upcoming Voice by the weekly magazine Blitz, a sign that new generations are back into fado.
After a year filled with concerts and important invitations, that took her to the most important concert halls in The Netherlands, the Louisiana Centre (Denmark) and to Italy, to perform in the festival Sete-Sois, Sete-Luas, an important Mediterranean folk event, she sang at Centro Cultural de Belém (Lisbon), where she was warmly acclaimed by the press.
Mafalda's second album, Esta voz que me atravessa (This voice that goes through me) was reelased in 2001 and it was produced by Amélia Muge and José Martins. Her album Encantamento was self-produced. She feels it "leaves fatality, disgrace, and nostalgia behind. Hope is fed on sadness; inspiration on suffering; strength and courage on diffculties."
Sem Limite
Mafalda Arnauth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deixei o rio correr
E fiz tudo o que eu bem quis
A meu contento
E a voz correu, que o rio sou eu
E o que eu quiser, e ao que me der
" Que a vida só se dá p'ra quem se deu "
No espelho em que me vejo
Não vejo mais nem sombras, medos
Eu só vejo o que eu desejo
E habito assim, o mais de mim
Na claridade, da realidade
Que o medo, de ter medos, tem seu fim.
E abri as asas
E fui voar
E fui ser tudo o que eu sempre quis
Que o meu limite
Sou eu quem traço
E eu que desfaço
Sempre que eu assim quiser.
In Mafalda Arnauth's song Sem Limite, the lyrics describe a sense of liberation and empowerment. The singer releases their voice to the wind, allowing the river to run free, and doing everything that they want without any restrictions or limitations. They declare that their voice is the river, and they have control over everything that they want to do. With the belief that life can only be lived fully by giving oneself completely, the singer asserts that they have let go of any shadows and fears that may have held them back as they focus solely on what they desire. They claim ownership over their life in a way that allows them to create their own boundaries, and then break them down when they want.
As the song continues, the singer speaks about seeing themselves clearly in the mirror and only seeing what they want to see. They no longer feel afraid and only focus on their desires, living in the light of reality. The singer uses the metaphor of opening their wings and flying to represent the freedom they have gained by making their own rules and living life on their terms. They declare that they are in control of their own limitations and can break them whenever they feel like it.
Line by Line Meaning
Soltei a voz ao vento
I released my voice to the wind
Deixei o rio correr
I let the river flow
E fiz tudo o que eu bem quis
And I did everything I wanted
A meu contento
To my satisfaction
E a voz correu, que o rio sou eu
And the voice ran, saying that I am the river
E o que eu quiser, e ao que me der
And what I want, and what I'm given
" Que a vida só se dá p'ra quem se deu "
"That life is only given to those who gave"
No espelho em que me vejo
In the mirror where I see myself
Não vejo mais nem sombras, medos
I no longer see shadows or fears
Eu só vejo o que eu desejo
I only see what I desire
E habito assim, o mais de mim
And I live like this, with the most of me
Na claridade, da realidade
In the clarity of reality
Que o medo, de ter medos, tem seu fim.
That the fear of having fears has its end.
E abri as asas
And I opened my wings
E fui voar
And I went flying
E fui ser tudo o que eu sempre quis
And I became everything I always wanted to be
Que o meu limite
That my limit
Sou eu quem traço
Is traced by me
E eu que desfaço
And I am the one who undoes it
Sempre que eu assim quiser.
Whenever I want to.
Contributed by Allison E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.