Portuguese Music "Fado"

I am a bit melancolic today...I put on christmas music to listen too while doing my household task but it did´nt help now im homesick, missing my family and friends back home....

Then I heard Mariza singing "Gente da Minha Terra" ( people from my hometown),made me feel worse.Below is a song entitled "Chuva" (Rain) by Mariza,the most famous Fado singer among the newest generation of modern Fado.You can also listen to her other songs by clicking any of the frames below that will appear after this song.

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Lisboa Fado

Fado probably arose from the taverns and popular squares of working-class city sectors (Alfama, Castelo, Mouraria, Bairro Alto, Madragoa), being sung and heard by the people until the well-to-do began frequenting those places to join in the enjoyment of the music. The first fado singer of renown was Maria Severa.

The most popular themes were saudade8sentiment), nostalgia, the small stories of everyday life in the traditional sections of town (bairros típicos) and Bullfights: these were also the themes for songs that were permitted by the Salazar dictatorship, and these themes pushed aside the tragic fado, which dealt with lovers’ jealousy or passion, often leading to violence, with lots of blood, repentance and remorse. The lyrics that were concerned with social or political problems, or which featured any complaint about the establishment, were repressed by the regime's censorship.

The Lisboa fado that is known throughout the world today can be (and often is) accompanied by violin, cello, or even by a complete orchestra, but the Portuguese guitar is always an essential element.

Amália Rodrigues introduced the best-known variety of fado. Still today, after her death in 1999, Rodrigues is considered to have been the greatest fado diva ever. After she died, a new wave of performers added stylistic changes and brought more international popularity to the traditional Portuguese music. In the last few decades there has also been some successful experimentation with fado by mixing it with electronic music

The traditional fado or ”típico” today is sung mainly for tourists in “fado houses” (casas de fado), with the traditional instrumentation. The best fado houses are found in the traditional or bairros típicos of Alfama, Mouraria, Bairro Alto and Madragoa. It maintains the characteristics of the tradition: singing past and present sorrow with bitter sadness. But fado can also tell a funny story with irony, or provide a way for two singers to battle, improvising the verses – this is called the "desgarrada"