Sodade
Sodade is a Capeverdean slow coladeira song written in the 1950s by Armando Zeferino Soares,[1] and best popularized by Cesaria Evora on her 1992 album Miss Perfumado. The name is the Capeverdean variant of the Portuguese saudade.
The authorship of the song was contested between the composers Armando Zeferino Soares, notably by the duo Amândio Cabral and Luís Morais, until a court ruled on December 2006 that Soares was the author.[1]
Background
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Sodade describes with great simplicity the nostalgia experienced by Cape Verdeans emigrants' who have been seafarers and emigrants for centuries. Cape Verdeans have been voluntarily migrating from Cape Verde to every continent, since as early 1800s. The earliest recorded migration of Cape Verdeans was to New England, because they were recruited as whalers for their exceptional seafaring skills as whalers and whale captains. This started the trend of voluntary immigration of Cape Verdeans to New England, as well as opened doors for future migration during periods of drought and following independence from Portugal.
The song "Sodade" refers to the migration of a small part of the population as contract laborers to Sao Tome, which occurred during the authoritarian rule over Portugal and its former colonies by Antonio de Oliveira Salazar.
However, "Sodade" is one of many songs written throughout the history of migration in Cape Verde, including the whaling era. Departures of friends and family, known as "despididas" in Portuguese and Creole, were often accompanied by "mornas" to bid farewell to loved ones and neighbors with a "serenata" or serenade. Songs like "Sodade" are reminiscent of this tradition and represent the nostalgia associated with migration in Cape Verde for more than two centuries. Many songs, like "Sodade", were composed to bid farewell to loved ones.
The history of Cape Verdeans as global migrants (an inherent influence on Cape Verdean culture and music) is why morna lyrics, like the lyrics of "Sodade", are often melancholic and nostalgic.
Lyrics
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Here is the song written in the São Nicolau Creole:
Quem mostró-b' ess caminh' longe? Quem mostró-b' ess caminh' longe? Ess caminh' pa Sã Tomé Sodade, oi, Sodade Sodade, d' ess nha terra di Sã Nic'lau Si bô 'screvê-me, m' ta 'screvê-be Si bô 'squecê-me, m' ta 'squecê-be Até dia qui bô voltâ
(Armando Zeferino Soares, Sodade)
English translation:
Who showed you this distant path? Who showed you this distant path? This path o São Tomé Sodade (see Saudade), oh, Sodade Sodade, of my homeland of São Nicolau If you write me, I'll write you If you forget me, I'll forget you 'Till the day you come back
(Armando Zeferino Soares, Sodade)
Cesária Évora version
Charts
| Chart (2009 ) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French SNEP Albums Chart[2] | 42 |
