"Fado with them"

Some of the most extraordinary voices of fado compiled in this double cd. Now I know what I really want for Christmas! :)

Lisbon tour : irresistible!!

A friend of mine sent me this amazing video and I just can´t help to post it here. Fado was born in Lisbon so this is a "must visit" city for fado lovers. All about the way of living of the "Lisboetas" here:

Madredeus: the end

After 21 years of total dedication to Madredeus, Teresa Salgueiro is leaving. I couldn´t believe when I read in the news and I was expecting it to be a misunderstanding but it was proven correct and that angelic, ethereal voice is really leaving and so putting an end to one of the most beautiful and portuguese (very portuguese!) bands that ever existed.

Quoting from wiki:

"Madredeus (pron. IPA: [ma.dɾɨ.'ðewʃ]) is a Portuguese band. Their music combines fado influences with modern folk music.

The band's founding members were Pedro Ayres Magalhães (Classical guitar), Rodrigo Leão (keyboard synthesizer), Francisco Ribeiro (cello) and Teresa Salgueiro (vocals). Magalhães and Leão formed the band in 1985, Ribeiro joined in 1986. They'd been searching for a female singer, and found Teresa Salgueiro in one of Lisbon's night clubs. Teresa liked their music and agreed to join, so in 1987 Madredeus recorded their first album, Os dias da Madredeus ("The days of Madredeus").

The first album was recorded in their rehearsal space, a disused abbey in Lisbon. The recording was especially strenuous due to deafening interruptions every 5 minutes from Lisbon's tram service, which ran directly above. In honour of this unavoidable presence in their every performance, they named themselves after the line's nearby terminus, Madre de Deus (Mother of God), shortened to the vernacular Madredeus.

In 1993, Pedro Ayres Magalhães left the band temporarily and was replaced in live concerts by José Peixoto (Classical guitar). Magalhães rejoined the group later, making it a sextet with two guitarists.

They released several albums and became very popular in Portugal, but remained relatively unknown outside the country. This changed in 1994 when Wim Wenders, impressed by their music, asked Madredeus to perform in his movie Lisbon Story - the soundtrack gave the band international fame. Thanks to that, Madredeus spread their wings to the world and conquered fans from all over Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.

In 1994 Rodrigo Leão left the band to start a solo career, being replaced by Carlos Maria Trindade (keyboard synthesizer).

In 1997 Francisco Ribeiro and Gabriel Gomes left the band as Madredeus' style started abandoning its fado roots with the release of O Paraíso. At this time Fernando Júdice (Acoustic bass guitar) was invited to join them, to form the current line-up, again a quintet. Madredeus has sold over 3 million albums worldwide."

From their site we can read on the biography

"(This music's long journey) found a definitive form when the voice was found. Teresa Salgueiro was the perfect heart for the group's melodies and words. When the first album -- 1987's "Os Dias da Madredeus", recorded at the Xabregas Convent church -- was released, many realised they were witnessing something unique and universal. Serene, ethereal songs, carrying a whispering, almost secret "Portugueseness", songs we all knew but whose shape we'd never been able to imagine (...)

The Portuguese received them warmly and spontaneously; the opinions were split evenly between passionate fascination and quasi-religious reverence. It was then understood the extraordinary journey of Madredeus had begun.

From "Existir" (1990) onwards, Madredeus traveled with their music to other lands, lands that recognised easily and applauded the emotions and stories the group conveys. The language may not always be understood, but Madredeus have a strange alchemy that manages to make unique feelings universally shared.

1993 was the year the group went truly global, with concert appointments spreading throughout the world. Madredeus were no longer Portugal's own, but remained stubbornly Portuguese through and through."

Here is a video with one of my favourite songs Haja o que houver" [Come what may (I wait for you)"] from the album Paraíso

All the good things come to an end. And Teresa has now other projects such as this (I post here) with the polish composer Zbigniew Preisner - Silence, Night & Dreams



And once again we lost a voice of fado...for the world!
I am sad and proud at the same time.
...
Very sad.

Souzana & Eleni Vougioukli , Greeks singing fado...

A famous Portuguese Fado song, Solidão (Canção do Mar) [Solitude, (Song of the Sea)]
performed live at Mylos, Thessaloniki on May 2006.

Here is the original http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7482IMhknnU
sang by Amália Rodrigues

As you can see, surprisingly!, there is not much of a big difference between the two interpretations!! ok, Amalia speaks Portuguese a lot better! :D but in terms of "feeling" the Greeks really got the picture... :)

Congratulations!!

Definitely, Fado was made for the World!***

and I feel proud for that!

Magdi Ruzsa, Hungarians singing fado...

very well done! It is always a wonderful surprise to listen to people from other nationalities singing the music of Portugal. There are parts on the song were I can really understand good articulated Portuguese ;) and the most fascinating thing is that she understood the feeling of fado!

And btw, the fado is called "O fado [the fate] de ser fadista [of being a fado singer]" and there is a part where she says "Fado is madness, is saudade, is uncertainty and it is for sure the most Portuguese of the songs of my country"...and she does it with passion!!! Like if she was Portuguese (I wonder if she knows the real meaning of what she is saying...ouf!!)!! Anyway....

Congratulations!!! From now on Magdi I am officially your fan! :)

Yes you did!

"As you can see I did well to stay here with the people of my homeland"

This was the reaction of Mariza, yesterday evening, during the concert in Lisbon, when she was told that the prize was for the Colombian group "Gaiteiro de San Jacinto" [congratulations! but no videos available on youtube].

12 000 persons sold out the concert and many invitees were on stage for the delightfulness of the audience. One of the most special guests was Carlos do Carmo who sang alone two fados «Canoas do Tejo» and «Lisboa Menina e Moça» and had the first stand up applause of the evening. There were also the participations of Tito Paris (cape-verdean), Filipe Mukenga (angolan) and Ivan Lins (brazilian) in a night Mariza called it "a celebration of lusophony"

By the way, Portuguese language it's spoken by over 210 million people over the world (the 6th most spoken language), mainly in Brazil, Portugal and other old Portuguese colonies and Spanish author Miguel Cervantes once called Portuguese "the sweet language", while Brazilian writer Olavo Bilac poetically described it as "the last flower of Latium, wild and beautiful"

She also invited the famous Portuguese singer Rui Veloso with who she sang «Transparente», «Jura» e «Não Queiras Saber de Mim» in a "softer" style (more pop) [the video I link here is very good, it is very relaxing ballad...It is not from yesterday´s concert but I believe that the duet was more or less like this; and I really like this song which means "Don´t you wanna know ´bout me/tonight I´m not here/ When sadness "knocks"/ there is no one worse than me....today I don´t recommend myself...lalalalalala.....one day maybe I ll translate because this is not fado! :P]

Congratulations to my dear Mariza! I am looking forward to listen to her new upcoming album!!!
And I just wonder if the Colombians had ever performed on the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where the renowned architect Frank Gehry built a 'Taverna' especially for her. It is just a thought...
:P

Loucura/Madness :The opening of the live concert

Loucura/Madness
Written by Carlos do Carmo

I was made for song (fado),

How do I know I live a poem sung

From a ballad that I wrote

To speak of it,

I cannot do

But let my soul sing out

And souls know how to hear me

Cry out, cry out

Poets of my country

Trunks of the same root

Of life that does unite us

And as for all of you

If you were not beside me

Th ere would be no song

Nor singers such as I

Th at my voice

Is so mournful

Is the fault of all of you

Th e poets in my life

It’s madness

I have heard it said

But blessed is the madness

To sing and to live

Will Mariza win the grammy tonight?
:)

Chuva: reason for the Grammy 3

Chuva/ Rain
written by Jorge Fernando


As coisas vulgares que ha na vida / (The usual things in your life)
Não deixam saudades / (won't make you miss them)

Só as lembranças que doem / (only the hurting memories )
Ou fazem sorrir / (or those which make you smile)
Há gente que fica na historia / (there are some people who stay in history)
da história da gente ( our life's history)
e outras de quem nem o nome ( and other who we don't even remember)
lembramos ouvir / (hearing their names)
São emoções que dão vida / (it are the emotions that bring life)
A saudade que trago (to the "saudade" that i bring in me)
Aquelas que tive contigo /(those i had with you)
e acabei por perder /(and i've just lost)
Há dias que /(There are days that)
marcam a alma e a vida da gente /(that leave marks in your soul and in our life)
e aquele em que tu me /(and the one that you've)
deixaste não posso esquecer /(left me i can not forget)

A chuva molhava-me o rosto /(The rain felt in my face)
Gelado e cansado /(frozen and tired)
As ruas que a cidade tinha /(the streets that the city had)
Já eu percorrera /(i've went along through them)
Ai... meu choro de moca perdida /(ohh... my young lost girl cry)
gritava a cidade /(I screamed to the city)
que o fogo do amor /(that the fire of love)
sob chuva /(under the rain)
há instantes morrera /(died moments ago)

A chuva ouviu e calou /(the rain listenned and silenced)
meu segredo a cidade/(my secret to the city)
E eis que ela bate no vidro (and there she knocks on the window glass)
Trazendo a saudade (bringing with her the "saudade")

Ó gente da minha terra : reason for the Grammy 2

Oh People of my Land

Lyrics by Amália Rodrigues

É meu e vosso este fado (This Fado is both yours and mine)
destino que nos amarra (The destiny that unites us)
por mais que seja negado (No matter how much it is denied)
às cordas de uma guitarra (By the strings of a guitar)

Sempre que se ouve um gemido (Whenever one hears a lament)
duma guitarra a cantar (Of a guitar's song)
fica-se logo perdido (One is instantly lost)
com vontade de chorar (With a longing to weep) [believe it or not it happens exactly this to me! and to all the portuguese that really have the fado soul]

Ó genta da minha terra (Oh people of my land)
agora é que eu percebi (It is now that I have perceived)
esta tristeza que trago (This sadness which I carry)
foi de vós que a recebi (Was from you that I received)

E pareceria ternura (It would seem a kindness)
se eu me deixasse embalar (If I left myself be soothed)
era maior a amargura (The greater the anguish)
menos triste o meu cantar (The less sorrowful my song)

Ó genta da minha terra (Oh people of my land)


Ó genta da minha terra (Oh people of my land)
agora é que eu percebi (It is now that I have perceived)
esta tristeza que trago (This sadness which I carry)
foi de vós que a recebi (Was from you that I received)

This beautiful Fado is a tribute to the portuguese people. It was written by the great Amalia and it is a deep insight of the portuguese soul. You can translate "this sadness which I carry" as a feeling of nostalgia, of saudade that actually makes us long to weep when we hear the guitar and the first lines of this poem; we really know what it means and believe me, it means a lot. And pay attention to the guitar...she says it all about the song!!

And of course, the warm reaction of the Portuguese audience to the interpretation of Mariza... First everybody remains quiet and in silence (in Portugal we say "silence! fado is about to be sang" which shows respect) and then, the emotion grows up in such a way that Mariza starts crying and even turns the back to audience like she couldn´t stand the emotion...and finally everybody applauds loudly for a long time! What an unforgettable moment... I always get the goose bumps and feel very privileged to have such a powerful singer to sing for me, to my heart, to our hearts! She sings about us and she does it astonishingly...

Magnificent!

The Grammy is not enough :P

And here is another video with Mariza´s fado and some pictures I found interesting; It is kind of an "illustration" of the song itself. Hope you like it!

Primavera: reason for the Grammy 1

Primavera / Spring

Lyrics by David Mourão Ferreira

Music by Pedro Rodrigues

All the love that seized us

As if made of wax it was

Was broken and undone

Ah, fatal spring! [funesta Primavera!]

How I wish,

how we wish

To have died that day

And condemned I was

To have weeping living with me

To live, to live, to live, to live

To live and without you

Living and not, however,

Forgetting that enchantment

That day

I lost

The dry bread of solitude

It's the only thing we get

The only thing to be fed on

What matters if the heart

Says yes or says no

If it keeps on living

All the love that seized us

Was broken, was undone

In fear was converted

Let no one speak of spring

How I wish,

how we wish

To have died that day

(...)

Simply outstanding!

Mariza presents her album in NYC

In the live disc, Concerto em Lisboa Mariza's powerhouse vocals find themselves backed by a traditional band and a string orchestra and we can hear this legacy being played out. Imagine that in just the course of a few years, less than a decade, Mariza has grown from a BBC (Charlie Gillette) darling to an international fado sensation. And you can hear that rise to fame on this recording, from the masterful vocal phrasing, the silence in between the words and the Portuguese audience's hearty response. In fact, this CD marks one of the most electrifying live recordings I have heard in a long time (Ghazal's Rain was the last one). Although the fados fall mostly into that melancholic realm, the experience feels nostalgic and cathartic. From the show stopping Primavera to the tear drenched Hà Uma Mùsica Do Povo and the lilting Menino Do Bairro Negro, Mariza aims to pleasure our hearts.

She was the first Portuguese artist ever nominated for the most important music worldwide awards which are the GRAMMY.

Mariza was nominated for the 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in the category of “Best Folk Album”. “Concerto em Lisboa” was live recorded in 2005 and it’s platinum in Portugal for both CD and DVD version.

Being one of the protagonists of the main director Carlos Saura new movie “Fados”, Mariza is now preparing herself for the new album which she intend to release in 2008.

Here is a video of her talking about t "Mariza, Concerto em Lisboa" in the Alfama Restaurant, NYC, March 27, 2007.

Visit her web site!

Mariza is bringing the Grammy home!

"We are proud to announce Mariza has been nominated for a Latin GRAMMY Award! Mariza's album Concerto Em Lisboa has been selected by the judges in the category of 'Best Folk Album'.

The album is a live recording of Mariza with the symphonic orchestra Sinfonietta de Lisboa, conducted by Jaques Morelenbaum in the lush gardens of Belém, Lisbon. It was released in Europe in November 2006 (EMI/World Connection) and in March 2007 in North America (Times Square Records/ World Connection).

Mariza is the first Portuguese artist ever nominated for the Latin GRAMMY Awards!

The 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 8 and will be broadcast on the Univision Network at 8 p.m./7C. http://www.grammy.com/latin/8_latin/"

Taken from mariza´s my space

Mariza is going to perform a live concert in the biggest portuguese show room Pavilhão Atlântico in Lisbon on the 8th November, in the same day of the ceremony of the Grammy Awards. This will be the only public concert in Lisbon on the year 2007. On stage will also be Carlos do Carmo, Ivan Lins, Rui Veloso and Tito Paris. It is going to be a memorable night! ;)

Live Portugal to Understand Fado

This might seem propaganda (and maybe it is in fact! :P) but I can´t help to place this videos here because they are so beautiful that you will want to visit the homeland of Fado for sure. Hope they are useful for you to get an idea of the place where Fado grew up and the influences it had! :)

Mariza at David Letterman's Show 11.10.07

Don´t forget I am talking about Carlos Paredes!! ahah but I really had to post this video immediately! Mariza, the greatest fado singer of all times (my humble opinion! ahah I really have to try hard not to go in a sort of delirium that would make this blog more about Mariza than Fado :P I AM FANATIC ABOUT HER!!) anyway... just one more evidence that Fado is conquering the World!
Mariza is in NYC to promote her new Cd "Live in Lisbon" and Saura´s movie "Fados". She is going to make 13 live performances; here is the video (uploaded 14 hrs ago!!!) of her in David Letterman´s Late Show. Yesterday night she gave a concert at the Carnegie Hall, Manhattan.

This video is sooo "fresh" that I can´t help to put here NOW!

This song is definitely one of my favourites "Oh people of my land" and I will tell you everything about it in the right time (it is beautifully beautiful). I will tell also about Mariza, who she is and what she means to me, and to all portuguese in general, her work, my favourite videos, the meaning of the songs, my favourite videos on the astonishing live performance in Lisbon, everything!!! I will dedicate a big time of this blog to her. By now, just a video. Maybe I shouldn´t...It´s too much, I know!!! Too emotional and intense...You might even be scared! ahah Its ok! Relax... with the time, and I hope this blog helps, You will understand it and LOVE it! I am sure.
:P

oh! and here is a funny comment I found on Youtube

"i saw her concert in new bedford, front row and everything! plus i got to talk to the guitarist with the long black hair a little bit after. lol he came up to the car asking for a good place to get a drink, and we didn't even think of inviting him to the place we were going. she's such an amazing singer, i wish i knew how to speak portuguese = ( lol thank god she gives english translations of the songs." isdcdancer (8 hours ago)

(proud, proud, proud eheh)

Universal Language

Understanding the lyrics of Fado would be like putting a cherry in the top of the cake! They are beautiful, of course, but so intimately related to “being Portuguese”, to a whole collective imaginary, a legacy of meanings, that translating is often a dull and deceiving task. We all know a word is not just a word: it has a value inside of each culture.

So, after this, enough of words! I will leave you with the most important Portuguese guitarist of all times: gentleman Carlos Paredes. He called this song “Discurso” (Speech) to show that the guitar can talk by itself. And this sonority is soooo Portuguese; it is the basis of Fado. I believe that for the beginners in this “fado issues” this should be the first composer to listen (making your ears used to this remarkable sounds).

Hope you like it.

In the introduction we hear some words in portuguese; It is Paredes himself saying something like “ I don´t like public speeches; after them always comes a punishment, a reprimand, a hard critic [for something that we said and it was wrong]. This is the reason I shall use the guitar to say my “Discurso”.

He ends his "played speech" with the funny words "And I´ve said it!"

And here is one of my favourite ballads performed by Carlos Paredes : "Verdes anos" or "Tender Years ", for you! :)

Listen carefully and feel privileged

There is so much to tell about this fascinating man and the Portuguese guitar...And I will!

***

Fado through the eyes of a foreigner

“A friend of mine insists that you have to be Portuguese to understand fado. In one sense she's right—fado is intimately associated with poetry, and you pretty much have to be a native speaker to grasp that part. And the feeling of the music is also intimately associated with saudade. The fact that saudade has no direct translation into English is an important point (close ideas include nostalgia, loneliness, yearning, and missing). My Portuguese friend's eyes immediately glaze over when she hears that word.

But words are just one form of language. Music is another. You don't have to be Andalusian to appreciate flamenco, and you most certainly don't have to be African American to dig the blues. Folk music is the music of the people, passed down the generations by ear. And needless to say, it goes quite well with dance.

But then I'm not Portuguese, so what do I know.

A quick rundown of informative words from the English translation: silence, fire, happiness, grief, kiss, weeping, suffering, sadness, soul, bitterness, hurt, live, ashamed, peace, smiles, fury, exile, lost, learned, know, destroyed, dead, enchantment, nearness, turmoil, madness, emotion, discovery, immensity, escape, free, love, broken and undone, fatal, spring, died, condemned, weeping, forgetting, enchantment, fear, distress, freedom, alliance, secrecy, solitude, fun, dancing, truth, passion, the heart, happiness.

And don't forget saudade. That one couldn't be translated.”

Nils Jacobson Managing Editor, All About Jazz, 2001 to 2007; Contributor Since 1999

note: the picture above is from José Malhoa, portuguese artist that was born on the 28th April 1984 and dedicated his whole life to painting the People, their joys and sufferings and their daily routines and spirituality. This picture "Fado" is the most emblematic of all .

Povo que lavas no rio

Literally this song is called You People who wash (clothes) in the river. Sounds a bit weird but it is intrinsically related to our country: some years ago it was quite common to see dozens of "lavadeiras" (ladies) that were washing their clothes in the river. And, of course, you can imagine these ladies, were not rich. Washing in the riverside was something "reserved" for the poor. So the river was not only the place were clothes could be washed but also the meeting point of these ladies to chat about their lives: their families, the rural work, their joys and, of course, their loves.
And there was singing!! Some of the most expressive and funny songs we know were created in this special ambience. Here is an example of how it was in 30´s (this video was taken from the movie "Aldeia da Roupa Branca" (Village of the white clothes, 1938)


"Oh river don´t complain
the soap doesn´t kill
Even washes the fish
Leaves them like silver!
...
Cold water from the river
Cold water that the sun made warm
seeing the village, brings to the idea
White clothes that we hung to dry"

For you to have an idea of how it was! :)

So...inspired on this scenario, filled up with humble and generous people, Pedro Homem de Mello wrote in Povo que lavas no rio (I will try to find a translation), a fado that was first performed live by Amalia in 1963. But it is not a joyful song like those sang by the "lavadeiras". It is a song that talks about these people, their simplicity, their light hearts, heir hopeless destiny based on a lifetime of hard work; there are no metaphysical concerns on their minds just the resigned certainty that the next day of work would come and that God would be there for them no matter what.

Here is a video of this song performed by Mariza on the Royal Albert Hall in November 2006, London

Sempre Sempre Amor, 1953

The movie Anna of 1951 [directed by the Late Alberto Lattuada] was a masterpiece of the Italian cinema (I must confess I didn´t see it) . What is interesting here is that the song "Non dimenticare", performed by Silvana Mangano was later sang by various artists under the same title; however, Amalia Rodrigues sang it under the title "Sempre e Sempre Amor" (Always and Always Love) in 1953. It is the only version of the song having the title [sempre e sempre amor] and has become nowadays exceptionally rare, largely unknown among most people. An example of a simple song that can be adapted to Fado. It also shows the beautiful crystalline voice of young Amalia and the characteristic sound of the time (it was released as shellac 78 rpm by Columbia an Odeon).

Its rare and it is here

Thank you for the user who uploaded it!

Saudade

On that sad 6th of Ocober

When Amalia Rodrigues died in 1999, the Portuguese prime minister declared three days of national mourning. During her life, Amália was the queen of the Fado and she not only become the iconic singer of the genre, but she broadened the scope of the music, and popularized the fado in Europe and South America.

Here is a Dvd Amalia Rodrigues: The Spirit of Fado (2006) documentary that examines the life of the remarkable singer, the history of the fado, and includes footage of Amália performing some of her timeless songs.

We all miss you.

IMDB.com

Fados...a compilation of the traditional Portuguese Fado music sung by international singing stars

I was able to view Fados at its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The only thing truly impressive was the presence of Carlos do Carmo - Portugal's king of Fado music. The film itself spends too much time showing us the offspring of traditional Fado - the "Fado Hip-Hop", "Fado Flamenco" and so on. Compiling as many or more non-Portuguese singers as it did local talent. The few minutes spent in a homage to the one person that will always be the soul of Fado - Amalia Rodrigues, was wasted in a short video of Amalia practicing a new song. Carlos do Carmo cannot sing anything that is not impressing and beautiful and Mariza, Portugal's most popular Fado singer of modern times, also comes through with two delightful songs. Where are Tony de Matos, Herminia da Silva and all the other singers that made Fado popular around the world? Too much time was spent showing us artsy shots of modern dance choreographed to the music that was supposed to be the focus of the film. No narration was included to allow the viewer that is not a connoisseur of Fado music to follow along with the rest of us. How many people will know who Severa is after the credits roll? A much better choice would have been to fill the 85 or so minutes with traditional Portuguese singers bringing this beautiful, soulful song to the screen. After all, who wants to see Brazilian and African singers, who can barely speak the language properly - sing this music that must be as much sung from the heart as it does from the soul?

in IMBD user comments

Haven´t seen the movie so far but somehow I feel this will be the sound of my opinion. You see...kind of "purist" in what concerns Fado and seeing it side-by-side with hip-hop and flamenco reminds me a little like the Oporto wine mixed with orange juice or tonic water (I am scratching my head now!). About the influences of Africa and Brazil they are undeniable. In fact theories exist whether they are "an influence" or the cradle itself. This I will leave to another post.

Washington Square News: movie critics

Fados (2007)
Dir: Carlos Saura

Without exaggeration, Carlos Saura’s latest music/dance performance collage is the most stirring and emotionally vibrant of this year’s line-up. “Fados” is an awesome labor of love lyrically constructed with the help of choreographer Patrick de Bana and award-winning cinematographers Jose Luis Lopez Linares and Eduardo Serra. “Fados” is an emotional journey through the present and the history of the culture of the Portugese “fado,” a kind of culture-specific hybrid of blues and folk singing largely accompanied by mandolin and guitar.

Set on a gorgeous lacquered soundstage, “Fados” is a tapestry of various incarnations of the genre, from modern hip-hop to archival footage of iconic singers. Though the last 15 minutes feels like a gauntlet, Saura’s cohesive vision makes it an exhilarating kind of exhaustion. Every performance is impassioned and filmed with a reverence and an intimate understanding that makes “Fados” an unforgettable experience. I must have this soundtrack.

By Simon Abrams

"Fados", The movie

Finally! The movie we´ve been expecting for soooo long! It had to be a spanish director to take the chance. I am ok with that; everyday we try to overcome this rivalry we have with the so-called nuestros hermanos but to be honest It is really a shame that it wasn´t made by a portuguese director. Ok again. Saura is talented and gave Fado the chance (deserved!) to join his filmography and enrich it. But still...why didn´t we have the balls to do it before a spanish? Is there a remaining inferiority feeling about Fado? Are we ashamed of Fado? It´s traditional, of course. But does this make it different? Worse? Low-value? I don´t think so. This stereotype derived from Salazarismo, the time of dictatorship in Portugal when Fado was consired the song of the poor ones; a representation of the regime itself, making a triade along with other two "F´s": Fátima and Football! Dictatorship is gone (well...Salazar, the dictator, was elected the greatest portuguese individuality of the 20th century some months ago....no comment!). It is time to overcome those days and give Fado the importance he must have as a national symbol, a cultural patrimony, a legacy, that gathers and identifies us as being Portuguese. It is time.

The movie came to theaters on October 4th. I didn´t see it yet. Is it because of the director? eheh maybe...I am "afraid" of the "vision" a spanish gentleman may have of something so deeply portuguese. We´ll see.

Intro

Well...here is the thing: I am a Portuguese undergraduated student and a big fan of Fado. Some time ago I went to Belgium to attend a 3-month trainning in Pharmaceutical Technology; it was my first time out of my country and there I could really feel what "saudade" is all about. I missed very much the sea and the sun, the food (the olive oil! and the coffee! very much...ouf!) and of course what I missed the most: the easy going and relaxed way of living of the portuguese people! Thank God I took my laptop loaded with some of my favourite fado songs...I will never forget the emotion I felt everytime , specially in those last days of July (that unforgetable July...), I listened to Mariza singing "Há uma música do Povo"/There is a song of People...I couldnt contain myself; It is wonderful to have this "remedy" for the soul immediately available and with no side effects (but a pair of swollen eyes, if it´s the case, ahah). Aaaaanyway I always ended up feeling better. Relieved!! What more can a People ask for? We are privileged! This is an unique heritage and my will to share it with the world grew a lot during my stay abroad. My pride about Fado fills up my heart like a balloon that is about to burst! Some say you have to be portuguese to understand what Fado really means; and in certain way it is true. But, like I´ve read somewhere "music is what feelings sound like" so...you just have to be human to let Fado touch your spirit. Let yourself go and be embraced by the sound of the portuguese guitar and the spectacular voices of the singers; I promise you won´t regret this journey through the warm sea of "Saudade". This is how it´s gonna be. Welcome to my blog dear friends!***