Quimera translates to "chimera" or "fantasy." It's a beautiful and somewhat rare word that evokes a sense of an elusive dream or an impossible ideal.
In the song, Ana Moura sings about a "rosa e quimera que me encravam na memória que inventei" (rose and chimera that get stuck in the memory I invented). This suggests a longing for something imagined or unattainable, adding a layer of poetic depth to her reflections on past seasons and emotions.
In "Até Ao Verão," Ana Moura sings from a place of restless surrender. She opens with "Deixei" ("I left"), then traces what she left behind "na Primavera" ("in Spring") — the scent of a rose and a chimera that got away from her, a fantasy she couldn't hold onto. She walks on like someone bracing for failure, dragging an old wound through streets full of disdain, and settles into a kind of fatalism: "E a mim que importa, se é bem ou mal, se me falha a cor da chama, é-me igual" ("And what do I care, if it's good or bad, if the flame's color fails me, it's all the same to me"). There's no going back for her — "Vim sem volta" ("I came with no turning back") — and no real choice in it either, since life will do with her as it pleases "até ao verão" ("until summer"), an ending she can only wait out, not control.
It's a fado in the truest sense: not despair exactly, but a weary, almost defiant acceptance of fate, dressed in imagery of seasons turning and fire fading rather than plain complaint.
Ana Moura is a celebrated Portuguese fado singer born in Santarém, Portugal, in 1979. Known for her hauntingly beautiful voice, she has been a prominent figure in modern fado since her debut album Guarda-me a Vida na Mão in 2003. Ana quickly rose to international acclaim, becoming the youngest fado artist nominated for a Dutch Edison Award.
Her 2012 album Desfado, produced by Larry Klein, marked a high point in her career, topping charts and earning 6× Platinum status in Portugal. Ana Moura’s music blends traditional fado with contemporary influences, captivating audiences worldwide with songs full of deep emotion and rich storytelling. She has collaborated with notable artists including Mick Jagger and Omara Portuondo, further extending her global reach.
With a career spanning over two decades, Ana Moura remains a powerful voice in Portuguese music, continuing to enchant new generations with her passionate interpretations of fado.