When the gymnasium where she worked as a swimming teacher closed, a friend suggested that she attend the Hot Club of Lisbon Jazz School. Maria João knew nothing about jazz but she decided to go to an audition at the Hot Club out of curiosity.
Despite having no musical background, and no knowledge of written music, Maria João's audition was successful and from then on she began to learn how to sing.
In 1983 João learnt to "listen" and progressed rapidly. She sang songs by Billie Holiday, Elis Regina, Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter.
She soon began performing with a band of her own. Her debut was at the opening of a restaurant where she forgot everything she had rehearsed and had toimprovise.
The gig was a huge success, and her career began to take off. She recorded a record with Jorge Palma before going on to work on solo projects.
In 1984 she became the presenter of the Portuguese Television Jazz Show, thanks to which she was given the "Revelation of the Year" award. In 1985 she performed at the Cascais Jazz Festival and to great acclaim.
She then recorded her first albums, Quinteto Maria João e Cem Caminhos, and went on to tour Germany, where one of the concerts was broadcast on radio and television. After winning 1st prize at the San Sebastian Jazz Festival, completing a European tour and receiving "Nova Gente" award for best female artist of the year she recorded her third album, Conversa (1986).
In the same year she was "discovered" by free-jazz pianist Aki Takase who invited her to sing with her. Their musical relationship lasted five years. They toured Europe regularly, often supported by bass player Niels Henning Orsted-Pedersen. They released two live albums Looking for Love and Alice, recorded at the festivals of Leverkusen (1987) and Nuremberg (1990). After giving birth to her son, João Carlos, she decided to get involved with different projects and different people.
In 1991 she released the album Sol with the band Cal Viva, featuring renowned musicians such as José Peixoto, Carlos Bica and Mário Laginha. On this album Maria João mixes Jazz with traditional Portuguese music. With the release of the record she toured again with Cal Viva. In 1992 she worked with Lauren Newton and with Christof Lauer, Bobo Stenson and Mário Laginha.
Finally, in 1994 she signed a contract with the prestigious jazz label Verve. In that same year she released another great album, Danças, featuring her loyal and long-time music companion and friend Mário Laginha. This one was produced by German brothers Reinhard and Wolf-Dieter Karwatky (who produced all of Maria João's Verve records). In 1995 she was the guest singer on an album by António Pinho Vargas also featuring saxophonist José Nogueira.
Two years after Danças, she released her second Verve album, Fábula, featuring Ralph Towner, Dino Saluzzi, Manu Katché and Mário Laginha amongst others.
In 1998 Maria João and Mário Laginha released the album Cor, commissioned to mark the commemoration of 500 years since the arrival of Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama in India. The album was inspired by and dedicated to the Indic cultures, especially those of India and Mozambique (where Maria João has roots).
The album featured Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu and guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel. The artists involved performed a series of concerts at Expo98 in Lisbon and were again acclaimed by critics and audiences. In November 1999 they released the record Lobos, Raposas e Coiotes, recorded with the Radio-Philharmonic Orchestra of Hanover. This is considered by many to be their best record so far.
2000 saw the release of another album for Maria João. Chorinho Feliz was commissioned to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the "Discovery" of Brazil. The recording features Brazilian singers Gilberto Gil and Lenine and other artists including Helge A. Norbakken, Toninho Ferragutti and Nico Assumpção.
In 2001, Maria João, Mário Laginha, Helge Norbakken and Toninho Ferragutti formed the Mumadji quartet. Mumadji means "Portuguese-European" in Xangana, a language from Mozambique. The group recently released a live album.
(this is a copy from http://mariajoao.oninet.pt/english/bio.html, 2007-10-26)
Lately
Maria João Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With no vivid reason here to find
Yet the thought of losing you's been hanging 'round my mind
Far more frequently you're wearing perfume
With you say no special place to go
But when I ask will you be coming back soon
You don't know, never know
Well, I'm a man of many wishes
But what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide
'Cause they always start to cry
'Cause this time could mean goodbye
Lately I've been staring in the mirror
Very slowly picking me apart
Trying to tell myself I have no reason with your heart
Just the other night while you were sleeping
I vaguely heard you whisper someone's name
But when I ask you of the thoughts your keeping
You just say nothing's changed
Well, I'm a man of many wishes
I hope my premonition misses
But what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide
'Cause they always start to cry
'Cause this time could mean goodbye, goodbye
Oh, I'm a man of many wishes
I hope my premonition misses
But what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide
'Cause they always start to cry
'Cause this time could mean goodbye
The song "Lately" by Maria João is a heartfelt ballad about the fear of losing someone you love. The lyrics convey a sense of uncertainty and anxiety by describing the singer's premonition of a looming breakup with their partner. The first verse begins with the singer expressing their strange feeling, unable to find any reason to explain it. They then talk about how their partner has been wearing perfume more than usual, despite having no special place to go. When they ask if their partner will be back soon, they don't get a definite answer. The singer is aware that something is off and fears that this time, it could mean goodbye.
The second verse is even more revealing. The singer admits to scrutinizing themselves in the mirror, doubting whether they are good enough for their partner. They reveal that they overheard their partner whisper someone's name in their sleep, only to be told that nothing has changed when they ask about it. The singer's inner turmoil intensifies as they are torn between hope and despair, aware that their premonition could come true. The chorus repeats the singer's desperation to hold onto their relationship despite the fear of losing it.
The song is a manifestation of the fear of loss and the anxiety it brings. The lyrics capture the feeling of being torn between wanting to hold on and the realization that sometimes love is not enough. The emotion-laden delivery of the lyrics elevates the song to a poignant portrayal of human emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately, I have had the strangest feeling
I have been feeling unusual emotions recently
With no vivid reason here to find
Without any clear explanation
Yet the thought of losing you's been hanging 'round my mind
I have been worried about losing you and cannot stop thinking about it
Far more frequently you're wearing perfume
You have been wearing perfume more often than usual
With you say no special place to go
You have not mentioned any particular place you are going
But when I ask will you be coming back soon
When I inquire if you will return shortly
You don't know, never know
You always answer with uncertainty
Well, I'm a man of many wishes
I am someone with a lot of hopes and desires
Hope my premonition misses
I hope my feeling of impending loss does not come true
But what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide
My true emotions are visible in my eyes
'Cause they always start to cry
I often cannot help but cry
'Cause this time could mean goodbye
This time, the possibility of saying goodbye is very real
Lately I've been staring in the mirror
I have been looking at myself in the mirror more frequently lately
Very slowly picking me apart
Gradually dissecting my own emotions
Trying to tell myself I have no reason with your heart
Attempting to convince myself that I do not have any doubts about your feelings
Just the other night while you were sleeping
Just recently, while you were asleep
I vaguely heard you whisper someone's name
I heard you murmur another person's name, but it was not clear who
But when I ask you of the thoughts your keeping
When I inquire about what is on your mind
You just say nothing's changed
You insist that nothing has changed
Oh, I'm a man of many wishes
Once again, I am someone with a lot of desires and hopes
I hope my premonition misses
Again, I hope my feeling of impending loss does not come true
But what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide
As before, my true emotions are visible in my eyes
'Cause they always start to cry
As always, I have trouble keeping my tears at bay
'Cause this time could mean goodbye
Again, there is a real possibility of saying goodbye
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind