Sara Tavares (Lisbon, 1 February 1978 - Lisbon, 19 November 2023) was a Por… Read Full Bio ↴Sara Tavares (Lisbon, 1 February 1978 - Lisbon, 19 November 2023) was a Portuguese singer-songwriter. Second-generation Portuguese of Cape Verdean descent, Sara was brought up by an elderly matriarch in her community after her father left for the States in search of a better life, her mother having traveled south in pursuit of the same ends. Sara showed great musical promise from a young age, a potential that was cultivated and bore fruit while Tavares was still in her teens. Winning the Endemol song contest Chuva de Estrelas, followed by a victory at the Portuguese Television Song Contest in 1994, earned Tavares a slot on the Eurovision Song Contest, all at the age of 16. Her winning song, "Chamar a Música," was featured on her debut single release, Sara Tavares & Shout (1996), where Tavares mixed gospel and funk with her native Portuguese influences. Performing and writing songs in a mix of Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, and English, Tavares spoke to her own lost generation of Cape Verdeans and Afro-European immigrants who searched to define their unique culture. Her sophomore effort, Mi Ma Bô, released by RCA in 1999, marked a noticeable change in direction toward Afro-pop. The record went gold in Portugal, announcing Tavares' arrival as a national star. After a five-year wait, eager fans were treated to Tavares' third album, released independently in 2006. On Balancê, Tavares penned all of the repertoire and added percussion to her list of credits, in addition to guitar and voice. Full of messages of hope and self-worth, Tavares' Balancê established her as one of the diaspora's most distinct and influential artistic voices.

Eurovision Song Contest 1994 - Dublin
Entry for Portugal

Performer: Sara Tavares
Song title: Chamar A Música
Song writer(s): Rosa Lobato Faria
Song composer(s): João Carlos Mota Oliveira

Sang in Position: 8
Final Position: 8
Total Points: 73

For the second consecutive time, Ireland hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, this time in its capital Dublin. Due to the fact that so many countries wished to participate in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union decided to adopt a relegation system. For the 1994 contest, it would mean that the seven countries that finished at the bottom of the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest were relegated and couldn't participate in the 1994 edition of the show. Instead, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia made their debut. However, Italy and Luxembourg withdrew voluntarily, so only the bottom five countries of the 1993 contest in Millstreet - Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Denmark and Belgium - were relegated. That meant that the total amount of participating countries was 25, just as in the preceding year.

Poland's debut at the Eurovision Song Contest was very successful when their representative Edyta Gorniak came in second with 166 points. However, the Polish song was almost disqualified as Edyta sang her song To Nie Ja! half in English in one of the dress rehearsal which violated the rule that every entry had to be sung in the native language. Nevertheless, even the talented Gorniak wasn't even near to this year's winner, which once again, was Ireland.
About the winner

Never before in the history of the song contest, a country had won three times in a row. The Irish entrants Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan sang Rock 'n Roll Kids, which in the end was 60 points ahead of the runner-up and was the highest score ever at a Eurovision Song Contest to date. This overwhelming victory for Ireland would not be the last in this century, as just two years later in 1996, Ireland would win again.
Facts & figures

The biggest commercial success of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest was none of the songs though, but the interval act Riverdance. The Irish dance sensation went on to be a world famous stage show, which would be seen by millions of people all around the world.

Tavares died in 2023, after a 14-year battle with cancer.

Mana Fé
Sara Tavares Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Quando acordares, pensa logo positivo
Não deixes de dizer bom dia com um sorriso
Não deixes de dizer bom dia com um sorriso
Aiê, ê-iê

Ponha alegria em tudo aquilo que fizeres
Não vale a pena viver a vida como um castigo
Não vale a pena viver a vida como um castigo

Aiê, ê-iê, oh

Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, iaiá
Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, ioiô
Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, iaiá
Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, ioiô

Na na na na
Oioioioi oioioi

Amanhecendo celebrando, vou cantando
Vou dando graças ao papá por tudo aquilo que me dá
Vou dando graças ao papá por tudo aquilo que me dá

Oiaiá iaiá

Encontrei minha liberdade na doce verdade
Eu vou pra terra prometida viver eterna vida
Eu vou pra terra prometida, ai, viver eterna vida

Aiaiai
Oieiei

Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, iaiá
Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, ioiô
Nana nanana nana

Um bom dia, iaiá
Nana nanana nana
Um bom dia, iaiô

Mana maninha, ela é poderosa fé
Mana maninha, acredite o amor é bué
Mana maninha, faz do amor teu finca pé
Mana maninha, acredite o amor é bué

Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, iaiá
Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, ioiô

Nana nanana nana
Um bom dia aiaiaia
Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, ioiô
Nana nanana nana

Um bom dia iaiá
Um bom dia ioiô...

Overall Meaning

The song "Mana Fé" by Sara Tavares is an uplifting, positive message about living life with a good attitude and finding joy in the small things. The song begins with the suggestion to wake up with a positive attitude and start the day with a smile. It emphasizes the importance of finding joy in everything we do and not living life like a punishment. The chorus repeats the message that today could be a good day if we choose to make it one. The song also touches on themes of gratitude, finding freedom in the truth, and finding eternal life in a promised land.

Throughout the song, Tavares uses phrases like "aiê, ê-iê" and "na na na na" to create a catchy, upbeat rhythm that adds to the positive tone of the lyrics. The use of the phrase "mana maninha" adds a sense of camaraderie and sisterhood, as though she is speaking directly to a friend or loved one. Overall, "Mana Fé" is a song that encourages listeners to live their lives with joy, positivity, and faith.

Line by Line Meaning

Quando acordares, pensa logo positivo
As soon as you wake up, try to think positively.

Não deixes de dizer bom dia com um sorriso
Make sure to say good morning with a smile.

Ponha alegria em tudo aquilo que fizeres
Put joy into everything you do.

Não vale a pena viver a vida como um castigo
It's not worth it to live life as a punishment.

Hoje poderia ser um bom dia, iaiá
Today could be a good day.

Amanhecendo celebrando, vou cantando
I'm celebrating as I wake up and singing.

Vou dando graças ao papá por tudo aquilo que me dá
I'm thanking my father for everything he gives me.

Encontrei minha liberdade na doce verdade
I found my freedom in the sweet truth.

Eu vou pra terra prometida viver eterna vida
I'm going to the promised land to live an eternal life.

Mana maninha, ela é poderosa fé
Sister, she is a powerful believer.

Mana maninha, acredite o amor é bué
Believe, sister, love is plenty.

Mana maninha, faz do amor teu finca pé
Sister, make love your anchor.

Writer(s): Sara Tavares

Contributed by Alexandra T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@AnaSotnas64

22w↑5

Descansa em paz "minina bunita".🤍

@aderitosilva1720

21w↑1

"Eu vou pra terra prometida, viver a eterna vida" Sara e já foste, que estejas com Deus.✨

@Lena-id3kr

21w

Ty i Twoja muzyka otwiera na dobro, piękno, otwiera na Boga ... Mam nadzieję, że jesteś już z Nim szczęśliwa na wieki .. modlę się za Twą duszę i do zobaczenia "Mana Sara" ...