Saudades is one of the most famous and unique words in the Portuguese language, often considered untranslatable with a single English word. It describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for something or someone that is absent.
In the song, David Carreira sings, "Sinto saudades do teu perfume" (I feel longing for your perfume). This line beautifully captures the essence of missing someone so intensely that even their scent evokes a powerful sense of yearning, making it a truly captivating word for learners.
Feel the chill of a mint-flavoured kiss and the heat of a tropical night. “Menta” pairs Portuguese pop star David Carreira with Cape-Verdean singer Djodje for an irresistibly fresh love song where every beat celebrates a dizzying crush. One touch of her lips “congela” the heart, yet the music is pure summer warmth, an addictive blend of kizomba, pop and Afro-beat that makes you want to sway till sunrise.
Beneath the catchy hook lies a simple but powerful story: a man so smitten he can’t think of anything else. He dreams of waking up beside her, dancing by the ocean on Sal Island, and planning a lifetime together. Mistakes and doubts melt away; her perfume, her smile and that minty kiss make him a willing “refém” (prisoner) of love. “Menta” is a reminder that the right person can freeze time, spark goosebumps and turn an ordinary night into an unforgettable escapade.
David Carreira is one of Portugal's biggest pop stars. Born in Dourdan, France, in 1991 and raised in a famously musical family as the son of the singer Tony Carreira, he broke through in 2011 with the album "N.1", which went straight to number one at home. Since then he has moved easily between radio pop, ballads and dance rhythms, and in 2019 he became the youngest Portuguese artist ever to sell out the Altice Arena in Lisbon.
On "Menta" he shares the microphone with Djodje, a Cape Verdean singer, songwriter and producer born in Praia in 1989 and now based in Lisbon. Djodje grew up surrounded by music, started out as a teenager in the group TC, and has become one of the leading voices of kizomba and Afropop across the Portuguese speaking world. His warm, laid back delivery, part of it sung in Cape Verdean Creole, is what gives this song its island heat.