Light of Many Colors

Listening Post 348. Lúcia de Carvalho has a friend who coaches people in writing personal testimonies designed to increase self-esteem. At the end of a project in Angola the friend asked the women farmers she had worked with to pose for a photo and noticed that no one smiled. A translator advised her to reassemble the group and ask, in Chokwe, “Pwanga ni puy?” (Light or darkness?)—and the women all responded “Pwanga!” as their faces lit up. This is the story behind Phowo (Women, video 1), the key track on Carvalho’s third album, and it also illuminates her own eventful life. In 13 songs the artist explores her multifaceted music through polar forces that challenge everyone: Doubt and confidence, kindness and power, complexity and harmony, chaos and tranquility, mystery and clarity. There’s a magnificent unity to the whole, quite amazing considering that she sings in six languages and blends myriad styles—including samba, semba, Afrobeat, rap, rock, reggae, funk and Latin pop. All of this flows from Carvalho’s making sense of her own identity out of so many pieces: Born in Angola, placed in a children’s village in Portugal at age six and adopted by a French family at 12; at 16 she joined a Brazilian ensemble and performed with them for 10 years, becoming lead vocalist, before launching her solo career as a singer-songwriter. The self-portrait she ultimately composed displays Angolan roots, a Portuguese stem and Brazilian flowers, nurtured in French soil. Her album streams good vibrations through world turmoil in Yallah (Let’s Go!, video 2), highlights the wonder and beauty of childbirth in Saeli (video 3), and offers a carnivalesque take on Tristeza (Sadness, video 4). And in Desperta (Wake Up, video 5) she recognizes those who dance to their own drum. With Pwanga, Carvalho creates sound and light in an abundance of colors. (Zamora)

Note: A good name for one who illuminates roots and branches: Lúcia is from the Latin lux, meaning “light.” Carvalho is Portuguese for “oak.”

Lúcia de Carvalho: Pwanga / Light
Lúcia de Carvalho: Lead vocals
Edouard Heilbronn: Guitar, bass guitar
Betinho Feijo: Guitar
Galiano Neto: Percussions
José Luis Nascimento: Percussions
Anna Tréa: Guest vocals
Chico César: Guest vocals
Sañaelle: Guest vocals

Phowo / Women
Lyrics: Lúcia de Carvalho/Music: Lúcia de Carvalho, Edouard Heilbronn

From the album notes: A friend of mine went to Angola for a project in which she had farmer women from the village of Mumanga write short texts in Chokwe about their value in order to restore their self-esteem. Here are some of their inspiring words.

(From the lyrics in Chokwe and French)
I am a woman farmer, hard as iron
Being a woman, I am strong and kind
I give life to many children who are today great men

God made me patient
….and generous through hardships.
I deserve the respect of humanity.
I am a source of life because without me there would be no future for the human race.

I am a woman, protective and hardworking
Tireless, persevering
Through my unnoticed work, I water the flowers of my house and my community
I can laugh
When I feel like crying
Because my beauty is resplendent and strong

I am the one that many
Devalue because I am humble
Seemingly weak
But in me I have all the strength of humanity hiding

I am a rural woman from Mumanga, Mumanga

Yallah / Let’s Go! (feat. Anna Tréa)
Lyrics: Lúcia de Carvalho/Music: Lúcia de Carvalho, Edouard Heilbronn
Spanish introduction lyrics: Sergio Martin Gonzalez

Album notes: I was visiting friends in Tenerife and we decided to do a song together, for fun. The rap singer wrote a beautiful, engaged text about things going wrong in society: climate, immigration, capitalism…. The Arabic word Yallah means “Let’s go,” just to remember that there have always been horrible things in our world… but LOVE has always been here too, so… Yallah!! Let’s keep spreading it!!

(From the Spanish and Portuguese lyrics)
All power resides in four cats
Clean shoes, pockets full of deals made between them
And nothing changes, no one regrets it, they won’t even say they’re sorry
But they are taking their flag across the border
Fighting for their country…
The country is an invention, for all of us are the people
And to those who are at the front, they must be consistent, then,
we are so alike that they want us different

They make wars and love keeps on shining – oya, oya
They draw boundaries and love keeps on shining – oya, oraia
They create flags and love keeps on shining – oya, oya
That’s our earth, smiling to the moonlight – oya, oraia

And Nature, our treasure
Amazon, heart of purity
I want to see your green blooming – oya, oya
I went to the hillside for the party
Diversity, what a beauty thing!
Humanity united and singing joyfully

Oya oro Yallah!

To be fearful is normal, life is full of unknown paths
Let no one say that your brother is a danger to you
Listen to your heart, it has the answer to every entreaty
Love is the light of reason and happiness its brightness, yaya
Oya oro Yallah!

Oya oro Yallah!
Yallah! Yallah! Yallah!

Saeli
Lyrics: Lúcia de Carvalho/Music: Lúcia de Carvalho, Edouard Heilbronn

Album notes: Saeli is the name of my son written backwards. This song is about the mystery and beauty of life, origins, questions, and the explosion of love.  

(From the Kimbundu lyrics)
Saeli! Saeli! Where are you coming from, Dear Son? Where are you from?!?
We are so happy to have you here among us
Saeli! Saeli ! You are our Star of the Desert
That arrives at the right moment
Saeli! Welcome to this world

You bring a lot of joy to your Mother, your Father

With the sun always in our hearts/We will guide you the best we can
Until you can choose by yourself/And make your own way
Welcome Saeli, welcome Saeli/Welcome to this world, Dear Son

You bring a lot of joy to your Mother, your Father

You will have to grow and learn/How to live the present moment
To live your life the way it feels good to live it/In this world full of discoveries
And beautiful adventures as well

Uoi, uoi….

We wish very good luck and successful achievements/May the ancestors keep watch over you
You deserve all the best, Saeli/Today and forever, Dear Son
We are so happy to have you here among us/Your arrival enlightens our hearts

Ahinnnnn, ahiiin
Mother, Father
You bring a lot of joy…

Tristeza / Sadness
Lyrics: Lúcia de Carvalho/Music: Lúcia de Carvalho, Edouard Heilbronn

Notes: Sadness is part of life… Let’s embrace it when needed and then shake it off: Happiness suits us better.

(From the Portuguese lyrics)
Sadness, Lady sadness …she knows how to rule but goes away
When I get into the samba I think of my homeland semba
My ancestors drum in me, they are always there

It’s time to cheer up. Don’t worry: sadness never lasts!
Put your faith in the percussions: The repique commands
Surdo, snare, tamborim, shaker… play just for me

And with the whistle. And with the hug
And with this samba that is the beat of our heart
With just a piece of our axé, you get happy with someone, as much as you want
Sadness against such happiness cannot win!

So get out!

Get, get, get… Get out!
Disillusion… get out!
Bad intentions… get out!
I said out! Out ! …. Because now I am happy!
Lady sadness…

Desperta / Wake Up (feat. Chico César)
Lyrics: Lúcia de Carvalho/Music: Lúcia de Carvalho, Edouard Heilbronn

Notes: Desperta has several meanings:
1- Catarina is a daydreaming girl, always with her head in the clouds. Her friends are waiting for her to wake up, to get ready and go for a dance
2 – Catarina needs time on her own, to take a breath and clear her mind
3 – We all have our inner time. Some may need more time to choose their path, others may feel they would rather do things in another way, their way. Others may be afraid to move on…. Why not be confident and go with the flow? When life tells you “Go!”… Wake up! Just go! 

(From the Portuguese lyrics)
Stop thinking, Catarina! Let’s go for a dance!
Hurry up, the time has come, we are all here downstairs waiting for you
Stop dreaming, Catarina. Time to wake up!
Hurry up, the time has come, we are all here downstairs waiting for you!

They would see Catarina seated under the moonlight
They would say “Catarina always has her head in the clouds”
Actually, Catarina just needs to take a breath
To spend some time on her own, experiment with her soaring consciousness

Aaah! There she goes, Catarina! Always with her head in the clouds
The daydreaming girl 

To remain alone. No words. No thoughts
The clear light mind reflects the light of the moon
To respect the silence in the outside noise
To feel the essence of the here, now

Aaah! There she goes, Catarina. Always with her head in the clouds
The daydreaming girl

Stop thinking, Catarina. Let’s go for a dance
Hurry up, the time has come, we are all here downstairs waiting for you
Stop dreaming, Catarina. Time has come: Wake up!
Hurry up, the time has come, we are all here downstairs waiting for you

Hey, compadre, hey comadre
Hey, compadre comba comba with baião
Aaah! There’s she goes, Catarina
Hey, compadre comba comba with baião