À Deriva Porto Rico

Fausto Bordalo Dias' song 'À Deriva Porto Rico' is a vivid and surreal exploration of disorientation and escapism. The lyrics paint a picture of a place where conventional norms are upended, and the inhabitants indulge in various forms of intoxication and madness. The opening lines set the tone by describing a place where tobacco is served instead of wine, and the air is filled with the scent of 'erva santa' from Santo Domingo. This imagery suggests a world where traditional pleasures are replaced by more exotic and perhaps illicit ones.

The song continues to describe the inhabitants' behaviors, which are marked by a sense of chaos and delirium. They consume substances in various forms—smoke, powder, and more—leading to a state of collective euphoria and confusion. The use of musical metaphors, such as 'música de búzios' and 'atabalinhos,' adds to the dreamlike quality of the scene, evoking a sense of otherworldly celebration. The repeated refrain of 'Escarabulha, salta, pula, pincha' emphasizes the frenetic and unrestrained nature of their actions, as if they are trying to escape their reality through sheer physicality.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that this state of disarray is not just physical but also mental. The lyrics describe a 'chusma de gulosos' who have lost their way, both literally and metaphorically. They are 'ao pairo sem norte nem sol,' adrift without direction or purpose. The imagery of islands floating and dancing on the water further underscores the sense of instability and lack of grounding. The song's conclusion, with its repetition of the chaotic refrain, leaves the listener with a lingering sense of unease and contemplation about the nature of escapism and the human condition.