Fado Portugal

In seven years, Mariza won by force of soul and voice, discipline and work, the status of the great singers universal – Amalia, Piaf, Elis Regina, Ella, Garland and another handful of women who have just one name for immediate recognition and enthusiastic.

Fado is the central trunk of the music that gives voice Mariza, the sap that runs it is a continuous renewal, the sound experiences already tested in previous albums – “Fado em Mim” (2001), “ Fado Curvo “(2003),” Transparente “(2005) and” Concerto em Lisboa “(2006), plus the DVD” Live In London “(2004), all blessed with a plethora of awards Platinum – or the authors and selected producers. The Portuguese are always orphans of Amalia and choose, by popular acclaim and critical distinction, a new reference, a new standard, also with six little letters just …

In 2004, she was awarded with the “European Border Breakers Award (prize sponsored by the EU) for international sales of” Fado em Mim “, a vote by the Foreign Press Association in Portugal as Person of the Year 2003 and is nominated Ambassador of the application of Fado Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

In 2005, new “embassy”, she is nominated Ambassador Hans Christian Andersen in connection with the celebrations of the bicentenary of the author and Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF. In addition, the Foundation Amalia Rodrigues awarded her the “International Award” as “the artist who has released more Portuguese music beyond borders.” In 2006, the President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio, distinguished her with the Order of Infante Dom Henrique, musical Comendador.

In Portugal, receives the “Golden Globe” for “Best Individual Performer. There on the outside, is nominated for the Australian Helpmann Awards 2006 Awards in the category of Best International Comtemporary Concert, “performances by the Sydney Opera House, while” O Gente da Minha Terra” (from the album” Fado Em Mim “) is the main theme song from the film “Isabella” by Pang Ho-cheung, who won the Silver Bear at the 56th Film Festival in Berlin for best soundtrack. Already in 2007, is nominated for the awards Finnish “Emma Gaala” in the category of “Best International Artist”, alongside names like Robbie Williams, Andrea Bocelli, Basshunter, Iron Maiden and Red Hot Chili Peppers. At the invitation of renowned German photographer Bettina Flitner, part of the project “100 most important women in Europe”, in cooperation with the German government entities, presented at the European Parliament. The Institute of Tourism of Portugal appoints its Ambassador, the spread of the values of Portuguese culture and embody the image that Portugal wants to convey to the world as a nation. It is the first Portuguese artist nominated for the Grammy Awards, considered the highest honor in the music: the Latin Academy of Recording & Sciences named “Concerto em Lisboa” in the category of traditional albums (best folk record).

In May 2008, was awarded the Medal of Vermeil of the Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters in Paris, with a presence “in the pantheon of greats, for the services rendered to the arts and cultures.”

If there was doubt, all these expressions of recognition, national and international, would have to be considered and weighed in the legitimacy of an artistic journey that our being so, turns out to be a common good.

The word fado means destiny or fate.

The fado is a Portugal’s typical music genre. It is characterized by its mournful tunes and lyrics, originally about the sea, tragic stories of love and jealousy, and saudade, which is a Portuguese word that has no translation to any other language, but it can be described as feeling nostalgia while missing someone. 

Fado was probably born in the quarter of Mouraria in Lisbon, with origin in Moorish songs. There are many songs that refer to this part of Lisbon, and the songs are so melancholic as the ancient the Morrish songs.

The first famous fado singer is Maria Severa Onofriana who lived in the beginning of the 19th Century.  In the 1920s and 1930s, Fado de Coimbra became very popular. The pioneers of this genre of fado, and masters of the Portugueses guitar were Carlos Paredes and his father Artur Paredes. One of the great ambassadors of Fado de Coimbra is the Orfeon Académico de Coimbra, which is internationally recognized by its chorus.

Amália Rodrigues was the greatest fado diva ever. She died in 1999. After she died, a new generation of artists introduced some changes in traditional fado’s style and export this music to the rest of the world. Mariza, Ana Moura, Camané, Misia and Mafalda Arnauth brought a new look to fado, but kept the essence of the tradicional Fado in their songs.

There are some musicians that added new instruments and themes to the original Fado, like Madredeus and Cristina Branco.

Nowadays, Mariza seems to be the ultimate fado diva of the new generation.