Fado, music of the world.
Lisbon fado sardine
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It’s the height of summer here in Portugal, but when you step away from the beaches, this small country has so much more to offer.
Portugal is steeped in culture, history, and traditions, and one of the exceptional symbols of Portuguese culture is fado.
This mournfully beautiful music has haunting ballads about lost sailors, broken hearts, and bittersweet romance. The word 'fado' translates to ‘fate’ or ‘destiny’ in Latin and reveals the Portuguese people’s passionate disposition.
Fado can be traced back to the 1820s in Lisbon, but it probably has much earlier origins with its roots in the ancient songs of African slaves. It could also be attributed to the many homesick Portuguese sailors of the 14th and 15th centuries, the Age of Discovery – the golden period of Portuguese maritime exploration, where sailors were away at sea for long periods in the worst conditions imaginable.
Today’s solo fado singer has a stylish way of dressing and sings like no singer from other genres. They are traditionally accompanied by the Portuguese guitar – a pear-shaped cittern with twelve wire strings, unique to Portugal. The most popular theme in the lyrics is ‘saudade’, a word that has no literal translation but means nostalgic longing, love, or a yearning for happier times.
The most well-known fado singers here are Mariza, Ana Moura, Carminho, Carlos do Carmo, and Camané. The unique Amália Rodrigues, known as the Queen of Fado, launched fado to a worldwide audience in 1943.
In 2011, UNESCO considered fado to be worthy of appearing on their list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
If you want to discover this musical genre so typical of Portuguese traditions, then there is nothing better than visiting one of the many existing fado houses, especially in Lisbon, but also in Coimbra and Porto.
To find out more about calling Portugal your home, contact our knowledgeable multi-lingual team here at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Portugal Property – part of one of the world’s most trusted and respected corporations.
Published in: Guide to Portugal / Portugal Property / Portuguese Life