News - Fado earns UNESCO recognition

The Portuguese most traditional music genre - the Fado - was added today to UNESCO’s list of World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. These intangible heritages includes traditions and skills passed within cultures.

As said a few weeks ago by me on a post:
Fado is a music genre traditional and original from Portugal. In this type of music the Portuguese guitar is very used and the songs and lyrics are fatalistic. Amália Rodrigues, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, Mafalda Arnauth, and Cristina Branco are amongst the most famous individuals associated with this genre.


Fado songs are usually performed by a solo singer accompanied by an acoustic guitar and the Portuguese guitar (a twelve wire string guitar).

The request was submitted on July 2010 and it was an initiative of Portuguese Parliament.

The committee that took this decision was chaired by the Ambassador of Indonesia to UNESCO, Aman Wirakartakusumah, and consisted of 24 countries, including Spain, Kenya, Japan and Venezuela.

Mariza, one of the most known comtemporary Fado singers, and the ambassador of Fado’s UNESCO candidacy said that should Fado be honored “perhaps we Portuguese may take greater pride in who we are, especially in the so very grey times we currently live in.” - it's actually true. Because I feel that everyone is now proud of something that is ours. Maybe we are not that bad we just need to focus on what we are good at.

Recently, the Fado Museum was created in Lisbon to preserve Fado’s heritage.

More than a different type of music it's a portuguese symbol and part of our identity.

I'm now going to show several Fados from our most known "Fadistas" (those who play Fado):

Amália Rodrigues - Gaivota



Mariza - Chuva



Carlos do Carmo - Lisboa, menina e moça



And to end, what we call "Fado de Coimbra" a type of Fado original from Coimbra (the city of the students).

Deolinda - Não tenho mais razões

Today I'm going to share a well known Portuguese band called Deolinda.
Almost everyone in Portugal know them so mainly this post is for our non-portuguese readers.

Deolinda are a Portugese band founded in 2006 by 4 musicians with different different musical experiences. Ana Bacalhau is the lead singer and one of the best portuguese singers. The band's name is also a fictional 40 year-old older, childless woman who observes her neighborhood from her window.

The band's style is very familiar with fado* but it has some differences from that traditional Portuguese music genre. The lyrics are not serious and they usually use humor, irony and a fast rithm.

They've alread released two albums and their second one Dois Selos e Um Carimbo (Two Stamps and a Seal), released in April 2010, hit the Portuguese charts at #1. The other album was released in 2008 and it's called Canção ao Lado.

The current members of Deolinda are:

• Ana Bacalhau (vocals)
• Luís José Martins (classical guitar, ukulele, cavaquinho, guitalele, viola braguesa and vocals)
• Pedro da Silva Martins (composition, lyrics, classical guitar and vocals)
• José Pedro Leitão (double bass and vocals)

The song I share with you is Não tenho mais razões (I have no more reasons) and it's one of my favorite songs.

As minhas muletas deitei-as fora

A minha marreca já não me dobra

Ó senhor doutor

esta doença só me dá para dançar

A dor já não maça e eu não me canso

É cada guinada que eu até canto

Ó senhor doutor

esta doença só me dá para dançar

Faça qualquer coisa,

que eu não tenho mais razões p'ra me queixar

Já não emagreço nem fico gorda

E qualquer excesso deixa-me em forma

Other music from Deolinda:

Fado Toninho

Passou por mim e sorriu

Movimento Perpétuo Associativo

Parva que sou

Há dias que não são dias

Um contra o outro

A.


P.S: Fado is a music genre traditional and original from Portugal. In this type of music the Portuguese guitar is very used and the songs and lyrics are fatalistic. Amália Rodrigues, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, Mafalda Arnauth, and Cristina Branco are amongst the most famous individuals associated with this genre.