Surprise was the overwhelming sentiment for Samuel Úria when his name was announced at the latest Golden Globes ceremony, leading him to the stage to accept the award for Best Song.
‘2000 A.D.’, the winning track, is described by the artist as “a somewhat dystopian reflection of the current socio-political reality.” Perhaps this, and the song’s “renouncement of the present,” made the victory so unexpected.
“I feel surprise, above all. The thematic choice relates to the urgency of all these factors we’re submerged in, and in that sense, it was unexpected to win with a song that offers more discomfort than escape,” the musician admits in an interview with Notícias ao Minuto.
Samuel Úria does not have “any conscious relationship with the ‘mainstream’.” When he writes songs, this does not “enter the equation” for him. “If ever a composition of mine becomes absurdly popular, it will be for reasons beyond my understanding. I even believe that if I tried to achieve a more generalized or even generic appeal, success would not be guaranteed by that conscious effort,” he highlights.
‘2000 A.D’ uses the turn of the millennium as a starting point to discuss the current reality. “A quarter-century has passed since 2000, a good time for retrospection. In the quarter-century before 2000 (50 years ago), the first steps of democracy were taken in Portugal – more retrospection is justified. Additionally, there are all the symbolic, imaginary, and idealized questions surrounding the year 2000, the turns of the century and millennium,” Samuel Úria explains in the same interview.
In his Golden Globes speech, the musician, born in 1979 in Tondela, reiterated that “the present isn’t great,” that “it stinks.” Asked about these issues and the ideals that are “fading,” Samuel Úria talks about manipulation, projects that “excite” him, “fears and lies” that have been created recently, and the “laxity” that exists.
“Fifty years ago, in Portugal, there were violent ideological disputes and fierce power struggles, but the desire to build a flawless democracy touched the heart of the absolute majority of Portuguese people. We were burnt by the undeniable lack of freedom that preceded that period. Today that burn seems to be felt less, and common goals without flaws are no longer aspired to. The worst is the clear manipulation of truth in any power projects. Of course, some of these projects excite me more, precisely because they rely on manipulative exacerbation of fears and lies. But none of the other sides have been free from falsifications, leniencies, and manipulations. The lack of commitment to truth negates the idea that we’ll be judged by the right and wrong sides of History, but rather by the very dishonest or slightly deceitful sides of History,” he asserts.
Concerts at Coliseums on October 11 and 17
With the Golden Globe in hand, the focus now shifts to two of the country’s most iconic venues. Today, Saturday, October 11, Samuel Úria performs at Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon. On the 17th, he heads to Invicta to delight audiences in Porto (and beyond) with a concert at Coliseu Porto Ageas.
“As soon as my songs are published, the fidelity I owe them is not to reproduce them mechanically. The songs on the albums are presented almost as in a photograph, on a day they may be more made-up, more disheveled, fatter, thinner. On stage, they present themselves in the state they are on that specific day, permeable to the light and the location, to the audience that photographs them. For the Coliseums, they’ll dress according to the expectations of those venues. The setlist, while centered around the album ‘2000 A.D.’, also aims to pull more rabbits out of the hats of special guests,” reveals the artist, who has released seven albums.
Joining Samuel Úria on stage will be “the 12 Ao Todo, Carol, Gisela João, Manuela Azevedo, Margarida Campelo, Milhanas, and the Velhas Glórias.”
As for a future project, it is, for now, a blank page. “My idea for the next album is only in the word ‘next’. Nothing is being drafted yet, except for the notion that I won’t want to stop making subsequent records anytime soon,” he notes.
Tickets for the concerts are available at BOL, Ticketline, and usual outlets with prices ranging from 23 to 35 euros.
