Bem Que Se Quis
Marisa Monte
The Longing for Lost Love in 'Bem Que Se Quis'
The song 'Bem Que Se Quis' by Marisa Monte, a renowned Brazilian singer known for her smooth voice and blend of pop, samba, and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), is a poignant expression of longing and unfulfilled desire. The lyrics speak to the universal experience of wanting to reclaim happiness after a relationship has ended, and the realization that there is no path to return to what once was. The song's title, which translates to 'Wished It Could Be,' sets the tone for a narrative of reminiscence and yearning.
The recurring question 'O que que a vida fez da nossa vida?' which means 'What has life done to our life?' encapsulates the feeling of looking back at a shared past and wondering how it all changed. The song delves into the sacrifices made for love and the difficulty of moving on, as the singer admits to having forgotten to forget their former lover. This paradox highlights the complexity of human emotions when dealing with loss and attachment.
The latter part of the song shifts to a more intimate plea, as the singer invites their past love to return and be close once again. The desire for physical closeness and the act of forgetting the pain through love's embrace suggest a deep-seated need for connection and the healing it can bring. The imagery of the singer's road running towards the sea, which symbolizes the other person, illustrates the magnetic pull of a love that, despite its end, continues to define one's destiny and desires.