Fado: The Musical Soul of Portugal
So, I promised to write about a little-known musical art form in my last post, and although fado doesn't exactly qualify as little-known, I've found that it isn't widely known outside of Europe. It's also a style of music that absolutely captivates me--lyrical, textured, and soul-stirring, I just can't get enough.
Fado ("destiny" or "fate") is the national music of Portugal, and although its origins are uncertain, it most likely evolved out of African, Moorish, and/or Brazilian musical traditions. Fado in its current form can be traced back to early 19th century Lisbon. It was adopted by Lisbon's working class, and by the early 20th century, fado singers (known as "fadistas") could be found performing in brothels, taverns, and town squares.
Steeped in melancholy, fado is intended to evoke what the Portuguese call saudade--a term which is almost impossible to translate, but is often described as bittersweet nostalgia, or the longing for something precious which has been irrevocably lost.
Fadistas sing of despair, betrayal, unrequited love, and the challenges of daily life. Despite these dark themes, fado isn't depressing--not to me, at least. Rather, I find it earthy and intense and cathartic, like a good cry. Check out a performance by modern fadista Mariza (credited with helping to revive fado's popularity) and let me know what you think.
-Bri Nguyen
Vanessa on April 26, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Chuva happens to be one of my favorite songs. I'm so glad you wrote about fado, and picked Mariza's "Chuva" for your blog post. Dulce Pontes is another wonderful fadista; O Primeiro Canto is a splendid album.