For a few years, Mariana strayed from her native tradition in a search for other musical worlds, discovering everything from Nougaro to Jonasz, Piaf to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan to Rickie Lee Jones. However, she finally returned to her island roots when she met Teofilo Chantre and Nazalio Fortes, two young Cape Verdean songwriters. She naturally combined her newfound international influences with Cape Verdean tradition and this set her on the artistic course that would lead to her first album, "Di dor em or", released in April 2000. During this period, she regularly appeared in concert at the New Morning, the Bataclan, the Cafe de la Danse and on tour in Africa, Italy and Greece, also performing on stage with Tito Paris and Teofilo Chantre, and filling a support slot for Souad Massi.
Her sensual voice and body language won her a special place in the rainbow of Cape Verdean music. Based on her hybrid heritage, her repertoire bridged tradition and modernity in a subtle blend of jazz notes, Brazilian music and African sounds.
Mariana celebrated morna (Cape Verdean blues), coladera, mazurka and funana (a highly original dance for couples locked tight in a torrid embrace) in her own individual fashion. Her stage presence won her a singing and acting role in the play "Oye Luna", first performed in Cape Verde.
Filha Minha
Mariana Ramos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A gente casa ou namora
A gente fica ou enrola
O que eu mais quero é que você me queira
Se você quiser
A gente casa ou namora
A gente fica ou enrola
O que eu mais quero é que você me queira.
Se quer me ouvir
Vou te dizer
A verdade de tudo que você queria saber
Não sou culpado pelo seus erros
Quem diria que um dia os papéis iam se inverter
E não toque mais no nome dela, não tem nada a ver
Suas coisas já deixei lá fora, já pode ir embora
Vou dizer o que ela tem que não tem em você
Então senta e escuta calada, e vê se não chora
Ela quis o amor que um dia você jogou fora.
Oh ohhh
Cê que sabe amor
Se a gente fica junto ou da um tempo
Mesmo assim eu te espero, te espero
Oh ohhh
Cê que sabe amor
Nossa relação tem tudo pra dar certo
Nós já estamos tão perto, tão perto.
The lyrics of Mariana Ramos's song "Filha Minha" speak about the desire to be wanted by someone, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to be with that person. The song opens with the singer expressing her openness to various types of relationships with the person she desires: "If you want, we can get married or date / We can be together or just fool around / All I really want is for you to want me." The lyrics repeatedly stress the importance of the other person's desire and willingness in the relationship, indicating that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to be with them.
In the bridge of the song, the singer addresses a person who has come to hear the truth about something. The lyrics seem to suggest that this person may have been wrong about something in the past, and that the singer is there to set the record straight. The singer absolves themselves of any wrongdoing and points out that the tables have turned, indicating perhaps that the person who has come to hear the truth has been in the wrong all along. The song ends with the singer once again expressing their willingness to be with the person they desire, with the final line indicating that they are already so close to getting what they want.
Overall, "Filha Minha" is a song about love and desire, and the lengths one is willing to go to be with the person they want. The lyrics emphasize the importance of mutual desire and willingness in any relationship, and suggest that the singer is fully committed to making things work with the object of their affection.
Line by Line Meaning
Se você quiser
If you want to,
A gente casa ou namora
We can get married or date,
A gente fica ou enrola
We can be together or take it slow,
O que eu mais quero é que você me queira
All I want is for you to want me,
O que veio fazer aqui
What did you come here for,
Se quer me ouvir
If you want to listen to me,
Vou te dizer
I'll tell you,
A verdade de tudo que você queria saber
The truth about everything you wanted to know,
Não sou culpado pelo seus erros
I'm not responsible for your mistakes,
Quem diria que um dia os papéis iam se inverter
Who would've thought that one day the roles would reverse,
E não toque mais no nome dela, não tem nada a ver
And don't mention her name again, it's irrelevant,
Suas coisas já deixei lá fora, já pode ir embora
I've already put your things outside, you can leave now,
Vou dizer o que ela tem que não tem em você
I'll tell you what she has that you don't,
Então senta e escuta calada, e vê se não chora
So sit down and listen quietly, and see if you don't cry,
Ela quis o amor que um dia você jogou fora.
She wanted the love that you once threw away.
Oh ohhh
Oh oh,
Cê que sabe amor
You know, my love,
Se a gente fica junto ou da um tempo
Whether we stay together or take a break,
Mesmo assim eu te espero, te espero
I'll still wait for you, wait for you,
Oh ohhh
Oh oh,
Cê que sabe amor
You know, my love,
Nossa relação tem tudo pra dar certo
Our relationship has everything to succeed,
Nós já estamos tão perto, tão perto.
We're already so close, so close.
Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.