Teresa Salgueiro (b. 8 Jan 1969, Amadora, Portugal - aka Tereza Salgueiro, … Read Full Bio ↴Teresa Salgueiro (b. 8 Jan 1969, Amadora, Portugal - aka Tereza Salgueiro, she changed first-name spelling), is the former lead singer of Madredeus (1987 to 2007), now pursuing a solo career. As a young girl, Salgueiro sang fado / bossa nova, in Lisbon's streets & taverns. In 1985 (at 16 y/o), she moved to old Lisbon, to live with friends & continued singing. Her latest release is "Você E Eu" ('07, with João Cristal & his septet).

In 1987, Salgueiro met guitarist / producer Pedro Ayres Magalhães & they formed Madredeus, with Francisco Ribeiro (cello), Gabriel Gomes (accordion) & Rodrigo Leão (keyboards). They subsequently played internationally & released eleven albums (through Blue Note, Nettwerk & EMI).

Teresa Salgueiro played a prominent part in the 1994 Wim Wenders' Lisbon Story (Viagem a Lisboa) together with Magalhães. Salgueiro and Magalhães recorded the soundtrack with Madredeus, released as Ainda in 1994.

Salgueiro has sung on albums by Carlos Nuñez and António Chainho released in 2000.

In November 2005 Teresa Salgueiro edited her first CD (Obrigado), with the participation of other musicians such as Caetano Veloso, Carlos Nuñez and José Carreras. She is currently one of Portugal's most acclaimed singers.

Sites: Pt.Wikipedia

Cântico
Teresa Salgueiro Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oculta contemplo
A graça da tua figura

Secreta, calada
Vou compondo um chamamento

Vem comigo ver a noite de luar
O firmamento

O brilho das estrelas, de todos os astros
Em movimento
Quisera eu
Imitar a sua dança, o seu encanto
Desnudar a minha esperança

Vê
No jardim o orvalho fresco já beijou
Todas as flores
Os frutos
Derramam um perfume encantador
Vibrantes cores
À já manhã
Vem por entre o arvoredo
Escutar o canto das aves
O doce segredo

Distante miragem
Do teu olhar um leve aceno

Quando não te tenho junto a mim
Todo o meu corpo é um deserto
Vem
Quero ouvir o som da tua voz
Suave torrente
Vê a Levante
O oásis que desponta
Vamos provar o néctar das romãs
Beber das fontes
E oxalá

Possam vir as minhas mãos a ser o bálsamo
P'ra sarar as tuas feridas

Overall Meaning

In Teresa Salgueiro's song "Cântico," the singer reflects on the beauty of an elusive lover, whom they can only contemplate secretly. The singer yearns for the lover to join them in admiring the nighttime sky, the stars and galaxies in motion, hoping to mimic the beauty of their dance and to bare their own hopefulness. They invite the lover to join them in the garden, where the dew has kissed the flowers, and the fruits emanate a lovely fragrance. The morning brings out the vibrant colors of the garden, and the singer urges the lover to come listen to the birds' song, a sweet secret.

The singer confesses that without the lover, their body feels like a desert. They long to hear the sound of the lover's voice, which they describe as a soft torrent. The singer invites the lover to witness the oasis that is arising in the East and to taste the nectar of pomegranates and drink from the sources of life. They express hope that their hands become the balm to heal the lover's wounds.

Line by Line Meaning

Oculta contemplo
I secretly contemplate

A graça da tua figura
The elegance of your figure

Secreta, calada
Secret, silent

Vou compondo um chamamento
I am composing a summons

Vem comigo ver a noite de luar
Come with me to see the moonlit night

O firmamento
The sky

O brilho das estrelas, de todos os astros
The brightness of the stars, of all the heavenly bodies

Em movimento
In motion

Quisera eu
I wish

Imitar a sua dança, o seu encanto
To imitate their dance, their enchantment

Desnudar a minha esperança
Unveil my hope