[Behind the Song & Translation] LEMBRA DE MIM – Ivan Lins

“My friends,

‘Lembra de mim’ was written in 1992 in Woodland Hills, L.A., California. It is part of a selection of songs written in that period, which I called ‘Saudades do Rio’ (TORAKO’S NOTE: loosely translated as “Missing Rio”).

I couldn’t bear that city without corners, where you would spend 6 hours or more stuck inside a vehicle.

I was missing my family, friends and that astonishing nature.

Well, the composition came together quite fast, but there was a certain melancholy inside me. When I returned to Brazil, this song remained on the shelf for almost 2 years. In the end of 1994, I started the pre-production of my album “Anjo de Mim” in an aparthotel in São Paulo. That was when I put out 3 songs from my selection, among them was “Lembra de Mim”. It didn’t have lyrics yet, but it was already in Vítor Martins’ hands.

When I received the lyrics, my heart sank. I remembered a passion from my youth – that ended sort of abruptly – and left me heartbroken for almost 2 years. I’d never seen her again. But to be honest, I used to be afraid of seeing her. Which actually happened 10 years ago at the end of a show in the Canecão, closed nowadays. It shook me up at the time, but it’s passed.

Curiously enough, I don’t know if Vítor was thinking of someone when he wrote the lyrics. He is very reserved about those matters.

Still, so many people relate to those lyrics, right?!

All the best,

Ivan”