Eurovision 2019: Translation & Analysis of "Telemóveis" by Conan Osiris

Someone brought to my attention the Portuguese contribution to the Eurovision 2019. The song is called “Telemóveis” (cell-phones) and I decided to post its Translation because many people are intrigued by the performance and want to know what “Telemóveis” is all about. I also decided to share my analysis of the lyrics since it’s the first time Portugal sends such profound yet modern and sophisticated material to the Eurovision. Congratulations, Osiris!

Lyrics and Translation

Português [Verso 1] Eu parti o telemóvel A tentar ligar para o céu Pa' saber se eu mato a saudade Ou quem morre sou eu [Refrão 1] E quem mata quem Quem mata quem mata? Quem mata quem? Nem eu sei Quando eu souber, eu não ligo a mais ninguém [Verso 2] E se a vida ligar Se a vida mandar mensagem Se ela não parar E tu não tiveres coragem de atender Tu já sabes o que é que vai acontecer Eu vou descer a minha escada Vou estragar o telemóvel, o telelé Eu vou partir o telemóvel O teu e o meu E eu vou estragar o telemóvel Eu quero viver e escangalhar o telemóvel E se eu partir o telemóvel? Eu só parto aquilo que é meu 'Tou para ver se a saudade morre Vai na volta, quem morre sou eu [Refrão 2] Quem mata quem mata? Eu nem sei A chibaria nunca viu nascer ninguém [Outro] Eu partia telemóveis Mas eu nunca mais parto o meu Eu sei que a saudade 'tá morta Quem mandou a flecha fui eu Quem mandou a flecha fui eu Fui eu

English [Verse 1] I broke the cell-phone Trying to call Heaven To know if I kill this homesickness Or if I’m the one dying [Chorus] And who kills who Who kills who kills? Who kills who? Not even I know But when I do, I won’t call anyone else [Verse 2] And if Life calls me If Life texts me If she won’t stop & you don’t have the courage to pick up the call You already know what will happen I will come down my staircase I will damage the cell-phone, the cell-ell-ell I will break the cell-phone Mine and yours And I will damage the cell-phone I want to live & break the cell-phone into pieces And so what if I break the cell-phone? I only break what is mine to I want to see if this homesickness dies But maybe, the one dying is me [Chorus 2] Who kills who kills? I don’t even know Ratting never gave birth to anyone [Bridge] I used to break cell-phones But I’m never breaking mine again I know this homesickness is dead I was the one who shot the arrow I was the one who shot the arrow I was the one…

Analysis

Conan Osiris hinted the main message is the power of cell-phones to call those who no longer are among us (possibly a reference to his Grandfather who passed away last year, hence the use of the word “saudade” – homesickness, longing, nostalgia) but he also referred to the fact that, nowadays, people spend too much time on their cell-phones. And it’s on this last point that my analysis will focus on: the social-political criticism behind the theme.

Social-Political Criticism

Human interaction has been affected by the excessive use of Social Media apps:

• People go out on dates: they announce it on Facebook or Twitter
• People take pictures of themselves in bed with their partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, and post them on Instagram, Facebook etc
• People sit around the table for meals and family members take pictures of the food to post on Social Media
• A family communicates through DMs right inside the house
• People walk in the streets and commute in public transportation with their face glued to their smartphones
• People go to the bathroom with their phone in their hand. Sitting on the bowl, they are on Facebook gossiping, stalking or bullying others…

Sadly, the “cell-phone” has taken over people’s lives.

So, if one wants to break away from that vice, he will have to break the cell-phone before the device takes his life away (i.e. life just passes him by while he wastes time on Social Media). Society is slowly dying (spiritually, intellectually and morally). He is homesick, but of what? Of those days when life was simple, when he had face-to-face conversations with relatives, with neighbours, with folks from the neighbourhood, when he listened to stories told by the elderly at the corner store; when everybody in his neighbourhood knew him and said “Hello” enthusiastically. But in the era of “cell-phones” he is slowly dying along with society.

Accountability

But whose fault is it: the cell-phone’s or his own (“Who kill who kills”)? He has always the option to disconnect, to break away from the social decay, to stop sticking his head in the gutter – so he breaks his cell-phone. And if the addiction keeps calling him back (If life calls, if life texts, if she won’t stop), then Help will come down the staircase (a Guardian Angel) to break the cell-phone, to make him break away from the hell which is the addiction to Social Media Apps.

He unconsciously acknowledges his role in the crisis and admits that once he allows himself to bring that acknowledgment to his conscience he will stop using the phone all together.

Awakening

He wants to experience Life through real relationships, not through the virtual world. He wants to appreciate those who stand closer to him, instead of making connections with people who stand thousands of kilometres away (NB: but this also means a wish to move on from the past, from the longing of those who passed away – he is ready to move on before he dies while living).

“Ratting never gave birth to anyone” – Make Love not Facebook. 

People spend too much on Social Media ratting on others, murdering them with words, exposing people to ridicule, gossiping, bullying, trying to escape their own reality rather than dedicating themselves to reflection. All this has affected Human sexual behaviour: on one hand it is good because we may see a decrease in STIs, but on the other hand we may see a further decline of birth rates – and for countries like Portugal, Germany and Japan (three examples of the oldest nations on earth) the excessive time spent on Social Media can be catastrophic for the future of Human Species.

Now, he no longer has the need to break cell-phones for he finally has cured himself of the disease. He made a decision. He has been rehabilitated. He has grown up.

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Telemóveis is a very deep song, with many interesting interpretations, and delivered in a very refreshing and totally unexpected way. I wish Conan Osiris all the best in Tel Aviv, and I hope Portugal wins big time at the Eurovision 2019. Make us proud.

Boa Sorte, Conan!

Good luck, Portugal!

!בהצלחה פורטוגל

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