O Que É o Amor?

Roberta Campos' song 'O Que É o Amor?' delves into the profound and often perplexing nature of love. The lyrics repeatedly ask, 'What is love? Where does it lead?' This repetition underscores the singer's quest for understanding an emotion that seems boundless and elusive. The imagery of a song 'cheirando a mar' (smelling of the sea) evokes a sense of vastness and depth, suggesting that love, like the ocean, is both beautiful and overwhelming. The sea metaphor also implies a natural, almost elemental force that is beyond human control, reflecting the unpredictable and uncontrollable aspects of love.

The song also touches on the pain that love can bring. The line 'O que me dói meu coração, que eu canto pra não chorar?' (What hurts my heart, that I sing so I don't cry?) reveals the singer's attempt to cope with heartache through music. This suggests that while love can be a source of joy, it can also lead to deep emotional suffering. The act of singing becomes a form of emotional release, a way to process and endure the pain that love can inflict.

Roberta Campos' musical style, often characterized by its introspective and poetic lyrics, complements the themes of the song. Her gentle, melodic voice adds a layer of vulnerability and sincerity, making the listener feel the weight of her questions and emotions. The song's cyclical structure, with its repeated questions and phrases, mirrors the endless cycle of seeking and questioning that love often entails. In 'O Que É o Amor?', Campos captures the essence of love as a complex, multifaceted experience that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.