Portuguese Blues or the soulful melodies of Fado

Folk tunes Portuguese music is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. This music has absorbed the romance of the Greek ballads, the Brazilian temperament, and the ancient Arabic motifs. Fado melodies come straight from the heart, these are songs-confessions, songs-memories.

Fado performer

This musical genre originated in the early nineteenth century. First in Coimbra, and later in Lisbon. Today, many Fado melodies are recognizable in different parts of our planet. They are called songs of the Portuguese poor, and sometimes cruel romances, tearing the soul.

Although the very first music center originated in one of the universities in Portugal and it is considered to be an academic tradition. Sincere, sensual melodies and songs arose in poor neighborhoods of small towns, and sang them not only men, but also women to the accompaniment of guitarists.

In those days the first guitar had 10 strings (and earlier were single string and dual), current models can be found embedded strings.

guitar for Fado

Guitar, singing the tune of "Saudade", is inseparable from the melodies of Fado. Words and music represent an irresistible longing for unrealized dreams of love, sea and stepfather home. If the contractor is not convinced of the openness of his feelings, his performance is perceived as very bad. That is why the audience often gets tears in their eyes.

I really like singing the great , Ricardo Ribeiro. His performance touches the soul, even if you do not understand Portuguese words, you feel the heart of the experience and pain experienced by a person who has lost his loved ones.

This song was born in the heart of a sailor. He didn't want to leave his home country, his close ones, he promised to return, although doubts have haunted him every day, and one day, the sea became his resting place...

Fado-a kind of "crying people" whose destinies are scattered around the world and lost in the past. Such songs you know and sing all the generations of the Portuguese. Well, the greatest prosperity of this genre reached at the beginning of the XX century. In those days, they were so popular that even the dictator Salazar banned their performance. In the songs of the people called for decisive action, they rallied to fight against the hated regime.

This musical genre embodies the most unadulterated and passionate music. And apparently, it is no coincidence that in Portuguese "fate" and "urban romance" are called the common word "Fado". A few years ago, Carlos Saura Atares made an interesting film about the singers performing unforgettable soulful songs. Take a look at a small fragment from this film.

It has everything that characterizes the Portuguese. Their craving for melancholy, a tendency to grieve, to yearn for irretrievably gone love, reflections on loneliness.

A good performer is often referred to as — "fadista" and he must be able to Express Saudade (sound), which is similar to the complex emotions that causes the students to have a bright nostalgia of youth or irretrievably lost man.

But this picture is almost always present in homes or clubs where Fado is performed. Many Portuguese believe that it depicts the first performer of this genre - Maria Severa.

picture of Jose Malhoa "Fado", (1910)

Probably it was her sad fate became the basis for a touching legend about a girl who long ago fell in love with one influential young man, but it was just a passing fad. And challenging fate and unrequited love, in the end, turned to her tragedy.

Of course, when you get acquainted with this genre, it seems to many sad, others do not consider it so. Fado is compared to the Portuguese temperament, which changes at any moment. So, most of the tunes are sometimes unpredictable and rapid. Having heard them once, you will never forget these songs again.

But, and the most popular performer is considered to be Amalia Rodrigues, she is the first and put on that famous black shawl as an indispensable attribute and symbol of the soulful musical genre. It was Amalie that was popularly called Portugal's national voice.

She was born in one of the Metropolitan areas of Alcantara, in a poor and large family (the family had 9 children). The mother refused to raise the baby and had it taken care of grandma. From the age of 14 the girl was forced to look for any job: she sold wine, starched clothes, carried goods to feed herself and her grandmother, who sewed and sold finished products on the streets. With early childhood, working, Amalia constantly something hummed. Singing and dancing girl loved the most.

Once at a charity evening where she accidentally, she was asked to sing with a guitar on stage "Marcha de alcântara". Her strong voice and unique voice was liked by all.

And the film of the French Director * * Henri Verneuil* * "Lisbon lovers" (1955) brought the artist a real popularity.

In addition to Amalia, there are other popular artists of this genre, such as:** Dulce Pontes, gorgeous Cesaria Evora (I have already told about it), Christina Branco **and a very bright performer of this genre — Carlos do Carma.

Fado songs are like the noise of an oncoming wave, they creep into our souls and live their lives. In Russia, Fado is no less popular, and recently known melody "Song of the sea" — Cancao do Mar performed duet Pelageya and young Tatar singer Elmira Kalimullina.

Yes, today Fado is experiencing a new rise in popularity, there are bright performers of this genre: Marisa, which is now called Princess Fado, and Carminho, I think, soon there will be other artists...

As you can see, these songs are not just sung, they are experienced, and despite the fact that they are performed most often in restaurants, no one will ever allow themselves to chew or chat during such singing. Under these songs are dreams and sorrows, empathize and shed tears, in these tunes there is something strange and fascinating, penetrating into the soul.

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