Ms. Tavares' voice is able to communicate emotions without utilizing words. Expressive and emotive it conveys humour, affection, strength, sadness, and joy. Working against a background of varying musical styles, she is by turn upbeat, than uncertain as she's buffeted by the situations that the world can inflict on a person.
She's had her share of the world's unpleasantness, having been abandoned by her parents when very young. It was music that helped discover her cultural roots. Having been abandoned in Lisbon to be raised by a Portuguese woman, her sense of displacement must have been high. An obvious African-looking child being raised by an European in an European country couldn't help but notice that she wasn't like the rest of the kids.
The different styles represented on this disc reflect her desire to understand herself and her background as much as possible. Whether it’s the Afro-Beat and semba (Angolan Music) of Poka Terra or the Reggae of Planeta Sukri (Sugar Planet) or one of her more introspective tunes, she imbues her work with the enthusiasm of some one discovering something for the first time.
That type of exhilaration is infectious; you can't help but be drawn into at least the emotional context of each piece of music. She refers to the songs on the disc as "little lullabies to myself," pieces of music that are helping to define herself within her new context: African – Portuguese.
All socio-political considerations aside, this is simply great music. Fun and infectious on the up tempo numbers; melodic and haunting on the ballads, Sara Tavares proves that you can communicate via music without a common language. Her voice is full of personality and has intimate quality that makes it feel like each song is being sung just for you.
As the third generation of the post-colonial times start to come of age we are starting to see a melding of two worlds musically, the traditional and the new. Sara Tavares is a great example of what a wonderful mixture this can be.
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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