The sad news of the death of Sarah Tavares, emblematic figure of Portuguese music, shook the artistic world. At only 45 years old, this artist of Cape Verdean origin died after a long battle against a brain tumor. Born in Lisbon in 1978, Tavares won the hearts of many fans with his exceptional talent and charisma.
His meteoric rise began in 1994, when he won the first edition of the contest it’s raining de Estrelas, catapulting his career to national level. In the same year, his participation in the Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Call Music‘ earned him international recognition, achieving an impressive eighth place. This title became one of Portugal’s best results at Eurovision, a performance praised by juries from several countries.
Tavares didn’t just shine on the Eurovision stage. He also lent his voice to the European-Portuguese version of ‘God help the outcasts“for the Disney movie”The Hunchback of Notre Dame‘ and won a Portuguese Golden Globe for Best Female Vocalist in 2000. Her album ‘Balance’, released in 2005, received a platinum nomination at the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards. His music, an eclectic mix of funk, soul, gospel and pop, spoke of his Cape Verdean roots and his love of artists like Donny Hathaway and Aretha Franklin.
Sara Tavares’ life has not been without challenges. Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009, she was forced to suspend her career and only returned to the stage in 2018. Her courage and determination in the face of the disease has been an inspiration to many. Today, while the music world mourns his death, his legacy lives on through his songs, his performances and the impact he had on Portuguese and world music. Sara Tavares will forever be remembered as an extraordinary artist and inspiration.
