Cesária Évora: Google pays tribute to 'Queen of Morna' on her 78th birthday


Devdiscourse News Desk | Praia | Updated: 26-08-2019 22:56 IST | Created: 26-08-2019 22:55 IST
Cesária Évora: Google pays tribute to 'Queen of Morna' on her 78th birthday
Cesária Évora got the nickname “Barefoot Diva” for performing without shoes. Image Credit: Google doodle
  • Country:
  • Cape Verde

Happy Birthday, Cesária Évora!!! Google has created a mind-blowing doodle to celebrate the 78th birthday of the great Cape Verdean vocalist and recording artist on August 27.

Google’s doodle dedicated to Cesária Évora is designed in such a way that seems the Queen of Morna is intoxicating not only the people living in Cape Verde, but the entire world with her mesmerizing voice. Born on August 27, 1941 in Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde, she was the cousin of another renowned Cape Verdean singer named Hermínia da Cruz Fortes (quite popular as Hermínia d'Antónia de Sal).

Cesária Évora was just seven years old when she lost her father, Justino da Cruz Évora, who was a part-time musician. Her mother Dona Joana was unable to financially support all her six children after her father’s demise and she was placed in an orphanage at her age 10. A friend of her persuaded her to sing in a sailor’s tavern when she was 16. Her speciality was morna, the bluesy national music of Cape Verde that fetched her many international audiences and she started winning many accolades including a Granny Award.

Cesária Évora got the nickname “Barefoot Diva” for performing without shoes. She commenced singing on Portuguese cruise ships during the 60s stopping at Mindelo including the local radio. She went to Portugal in 1985 after receiving an invitation from another her contemporary popular Cape Verdean singer Adriano Gonçalves (popularly known by his stage name Bana). A renowned producer José da Silva recognized her talent in Lisbon and invited her to record in Paris. She recorded the track “Ausência” that was composed by Yugoslav musician Goran Bregovic. This was released as the second track of the soundtrack of the 1995-comedy-drama-movie “Underground” by Emir Kusturica.

Her fifth album titled “Cesária” was released on July 18, 1995. This album brought global acclamation and international success to her and made her the first Grammy Award nomination. Her album titled “Voz d’Amor” was awarded a Grammy in the World Music category in 2003. The “Voz d’Amor” album reached number 3 in Poland, the first Cape Verdean and West African artist to reach the Polish Top 10 charts and number 2 in the Billboard 200 World Albums Chart. Due to the success of this album, she became the first singer to win from Cape Verde and West Africa such prestigious award.

Cesária Évora was awarded for the last time at the 2010 Kora All African Music Awards for the “Merit of the Jury” for the second time. The great singer and vocalist died on December 17, 2011 at the age of 70 in São Vicente in Cape Verde. She suffered respiratory failure and hypertension. The airport on her home island of São Vicente was named in her honor. Google pays tribute with a touchy doodle to such a great soul whose entire life was totally dedicated to music.

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