Sérgio Godinho launches book of short stories. "A subject that gives rise to many narratives"

At almost 80 years old, Sérgio Godinho has released another book of short stories. This time, the artist has brought together 15 stories related to the theme of suicide, with characters "drawn to the abyss".

'As if there were no tomorrow – suicide stories' has arrived in bookstores, just in time for summer holiday reading.

Notícias ao Minuto spoke to the artist, who confessed that he "does not have any suicidal impulses", but that he finds the topic "interesting and important".

But you'd be wrong if you thought that Sérgio Godinho has spent his recent years just writing these stories. In addition to this "undertaking", the musician is also thinking about a new album and continues with live concerts.

He will soon be honored at the Porto Book Fair, where he will also present his new book and give a concert with his band, Os Assessores.

You recently released the book 'As if there were no tomorrow – Suicidal Stories'. Why did you want to write short stories about suicide?

I want to make it clear from the outset that I do not have any suicidal impulses, but I think it is a theme that is interesting in terms of drama and, in terms of life stories, it is not only interesting but also important. It is a decision about our own lives. In two of the stories, the suicides are not even carried out, but it is a subject that is present. I think it is a subject that gives rise to many narratives, insofar as it is also a solitary solution, often final and often not understood by others. I was interested in this as a theme that unites the stories, although they are very different from each other. And they are not morbid or depressing stories.

And the last story is a reflection of this…

Yes, maybe I shouldn't even be saying this [laughs] but, curiously, the last story is about a hope that is rekindled. There is no suicide. Anyway, I wanted to go back to writing short stories. I already had a book of short stories and then three novels in a row – I would finish one and then start working on another – and I wanted to go back to short stories because I needed to develop very different characters, who wouldn't make sense in a single story. They are independent stories, they have nothing to do with each other, except for this common theme.

We all want our work to be well received, and rejection can often be traumatic. I try not to let it be, but it can be for some people. It can make a dent.

You studied psychology before entering the world of art. Did this experience influence you to write about these types of topics?

No, no. I don't think these stories are very psychological. Often, these suicidal impulses are inexplicable. It's the person's own. A kind of attraction, an attraction to the abyss. But I didn't really want to go for a psychological explanation. I'm not talking, for example, about unhappy loves, which can lead to suicide or things like that. It's less explainable and I like it that way. There's a story in which the female character says, precisely, that no one around her, not her friends, not her son, would understand, but she had to do it.

I've already said that you don't have any suicidal impulses, but did you seek inspiration from any case you know? There are several recorded cases in the world of arts...

Yes, there are two or three that may have been indirectly influenced. There is one that tells of a very successful actor who is always afraid that his next work will be a failure. This anguish is real. It's not that anyone would commit suicide because of it, but we all want our work to be well received and rejection can often be traumatic. I, for my part, try not to let it be, but it can be for some people. It can make a dent. There is also a short story called '17 stabs in jealousy'. I think that very young people, young adults or those in their late teens, often have a hard time dealing with rejection. When someone ends a romantic relationship, this rejection is very hard to take, even leading to crimes - which is the case in this short story - because it is unbearable to experience this rejection. I think we have to learn to live with this rejection too. Life is so complex, made up of moments and contradictions. Of new paths that open up. It is difficult, but necessary.

For a long time now I have been trying to write almost every day

Do you think there is a lack of support in Portugal to take care of our mental health?

I think that nowadays there are beginning to be structures for this. But it is always insufficient.

Did you write all these stories in one sitting or were some of them already in the drawer?

There was nothing in the drawer, but they weren't all written in one sitting, they were written in several sittings. It was an undertaking [laughs]. It wasn't all in one sitting because it didn't come out all at once. There's work involved, I revise a lot. For a long time now, I've tried to write almost every day. It can't be every day because I have shows too. And other things that I like, but I try to write frequently and, in that respect, it was a continuous effort.

When do you feel most inspired?

At night, late afternoon, if I already have something else going on. I like to sit in front of the computer and know that there will be no more interference. There might be a phone call but... I mean, at that time, I don't have to go to the bank, go shopping [laughs]. The night is something that seems to never end, although I'm not a night owl, I don't work hours and hours in a row.

I like to change my 'chip', although I never want to leave music and I'm starting to work, slowly, on a new album.

You will soon be honored at the Porto Book Fair for your contribution to Portuguese culture. This is your hometown, and in August, the month in which you celebrate your 80th birthday. How does this tribute bring you?

I don't think it was because I'm turning 80 that they wanted to pay tribute to me [laughs]. But I'm happy to be honored in my city. Well... I don't even know which city I'm from, to tell the truth. I lived abroad and have lived in Lisbon for so many years [laughs]. No, I do know, I know that my roots are in Porto. The fact that I'm turning 80 at the end of August, I think it was a coincidence in relation to this desire to pay tribute to me, which they had and which makes me very happy.

On August 23rd, I will be given a lime tree, with a phrase of mine, which I chose, from a song. On the 30th, there will be a presentation of this book, 'Como se não haver amanhã' (As if there were no tomorrow), and on September 7th, the closing day of the Book Fair, there will be a show with me and my band. But there may be something else.

So, almost 80 years, more than 50 dedicated to the arts. From music to literature, including film scripts and plays, is there anything you still need to do?

That's a classic question [laughs]. And I don't have much of an answer for it. I don't know if I'd like to write something for the theater, but I'm not sure I could. I did a children's play many years ago. It even won an award and was performed a lot. But I don't know if I'd like to do that again. I don't know. I've done a lot of things. I like to change things up, although I never want to give up music and I'm slowly starting to work on a new album.

Look at this story about Joana Marques and the Angels. This shows how humor can unintentionally be a throwing weapon, because I think this is nonsense on the part of the Angels.

And is there already a date for this new album?

Next year. I'm starting to write, but it's still going to take a while. It's too early to talk about it.

Your first albums, released in France, were banned in Portugal by censors. 50 years later, do you think we run the risk of seeing some songs (and not only) being 'crossed out' by the blue pencil again?

There was one that was removed after winning an award, but they weren't removed all of a sudden. There was a time, during Marcelismo, when the censorship itself didn't know what to do with itself [laughs]. They didn't have the coherence. But no, I don't think we're running that risk. We don't know what the future holds. Look at this story of Joana Marques and the Anjos. It shows how much humor can unintentionally be used as a weapon, because I think this is nonsense on the part of the Anjos.

Finally, what are you listening to and reading at the moment? Is there anyone you would like to highlight?

A few days ago Ana Lua Caiano came here – whose work I already knew – but she brought all her albums. She is someone with an original vision. I have also worked a lot with Garota Não, who is very talented and brings her own vision.

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