Periodically when you review, a lot of CDs come in that you've never heard of. To me part of the fun is getting to discover and listen to new performers and either send up big warning signals for people not to buy, or hear someone truly wonderful for the first time and tell people all about it.
Sure, like anybody else, I like to review my old favourites, just because it's nice to see what they're doing with themselves this year. However, I don't think anything quite matches listening to someone for the first time and being blown away at your good fortune in finding something wonderful.
Such is the case with the CD Balancê by Sara Tavares. While 80 percent of the lyrics were incomprehensible, being sung in the language of Cape Verdeans living in Lisbon, Portugal, the spirit of the singer shines through unblemished and at least communicates the passion behind the music.
"We speak Portuguese slang, Angolan slang, some words in Cape Verdean Crioulo, and of course some English. In Crioulo there are already English and French words. This is because slaves from all over the world had to communicate and didn't speak the same languages. We are a Matisse (mix blood) culture" Sara Tavares
So the songs are something only a polyglot could feel comfortable with in terms of language. The moment you think you hear a familiar sound, it vanishes into a swirl of seemingly incomprehensible unconnected words and phrases. Take the title track "Balancê" for example.
In Portuguese the word refers to the sensation of being in the groove when you're dancing to music, Lusophone (Portuguese speaker) Africans use it as a verb to describe good food that you are eating, and then of course there is the English word balance and all that it means.
The best thing to do in these types of situations is treat the voice as an additional instrument. Although each song comes with a two or three-line English summation, they don't get near the emotional or spiritual heart of the material.
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
I'm like you. I like listening to international music in languages I don't understand for the very reasons you stated. It makes you go deeper, and you notice every little nuance. Great review, I'm going to have to check this CD out.
2 - Mark Saleski
me too! i reviewed a cd a while back by a woman (last name Yannatou, i think) who did almost every song on her disc in a different language. completely mesmerizing.
nice review.
3 - Bliffle
Tavares? Wasn't that a pop group that had a one-time hit about 20 years ago?
4 - Richard Marcus
Bliffle: Yeah I know the name rang bells for me but I can't think why (save for my dyslexic mind hearing Travis) but I know that can't be it. Thanks Mark and Connie, she's much better than what's passing for soulfull music on the market right now.
Richard Marcus
5 - Bliffle
"A Penny For Your Thoughts". Cute song, dynamite girlfriend who liked it. Oh well. Sic transit.
6 - Connie Phillips
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