I stopped posting just as things were getting exciting! I'm embarrassed to say that I've let so much time pass by that I even forgot my user name and password to this blog. But I'm back up and running, just in time to wish you all a happy, healthy and safe transition into 2013!
My new years resolution is to keep up with this blog. I can't believe how many people actually enjoy reading my posts! I'll be sure to fill you in on what you've missed. Sorry for the break but I'll make it worth the wait. Thanks for your continuous support!
On May 10th, I graduated Rider University with a bachelor's degree in Accounting... Finally! It was tough jugglingg my Fado and college careers at the same time but it helped to teach me how to manage my time wisely. Although I was a bit overwhelmed at times, I can't picture doing it any other way. I plan to work in accounting but of course continue with Fado. There's no reason why I can't do both at this point. I feel this has been my biggest accomplishment since i released my debut album, "Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias."
Ever search for Fado on the Internet and run into a promotion of an Irish Pub called Fado'? Since it's not what I'm looking for, I usually just ignored it, but last weekend at a performance for a private event in Connecticut, I met an Irish man who asked me the meaning of Fado and I explained it translated to fate or destiny, but after recognizing his accent, I asked him the same but what was its meaning in Gaelic and he told me the meaning was "long ago" usually said while starting an old Irish story... So there you go, now you know!
On April 29th, I spent my 23rd birthday singing at Alfama Restaurant in New York City and I can't think of a better way to have spent it. My closest friends and family came out to celebrate with me at the elegant restaurant and I even got a couple of surprises...
Michael and Diogo sang a "desgarrada" for me and it was wonderful! It was especially meaningful because I wasn't expecting it since Diogo is usually shy to sing, but they explained to me that they had planned it prior. I was very grateful and felt like the luckiest girl in the city!
Shortly after, Denise, the restaurant manager and friend, brought me a beautiful caramel/chocolate cake, courtesy of the restaurant, that I was not expecting. Everyone sang me happy birthday while the guitarists accompanied them. At that point I felt like the luckiest girl in the world! Michael and Diogo topped it off by buying a bottle of champagne and I blew out my candles and wished for my dreams to keep coming true. I was extremely spoiled but appreciative for my supportive family, amazing friends, and the outstanding staff at Alfama Restaurant...
My father turned 52 years old on the first day of spring, March 20th. Almost 23 of those years have been dedicated to motivating and supporting me in whatever it is that I enjoy doing. He is my greatest inspiration of all in Fado and life in general. No one supports or believes in me more than my father. Happy Birthday Papá and thanks for everything!
* Click on the article above for a clearer image.*
Of all the newspaper clippings I have, this is my favorite... My father and I singing together at the age of 3 in 1989. I'm proud of being a "Filha De Peixe Que Sabe Nadar!"
Not to long ago, while performing at Alfama Restaurant, I was taken by surprise when, just in time for my last Fado session for the evening, Tim Ries, the Saxophonist for the Rolling Stones walks in the restaurant to enjoy some Fado. I had seen Tim Ries perform with Ana Moura back in March. Tim Ries worked with Ana Moura and many other successful world musicians in "The Rolling Stones Project," so imagine the pressure I felt when I performed in his presence!
After I performed, I sat down with him and his lovely daughter and we spoke of Fado in the United States. He was surprised to know how many guitarists we have in the United States and how big the Portuguese community is throughout the U.S. and how much they enjoy and support Fado.
My friend Carlos Ferreira, correspondent for the newspaper "24 horas," happened to be there that night and took the opportunity to write about it. (Thanks Carlos!)
That evening was truly special and Tim Ries was so awesome and down to earth. I can't believe I was sitting at a table with a man that has traveled the world with one of the biggest rock bands in history and that has worked with some of the biggest names in world music. This kind of thing doesn't happen very often!! Definitely one of the coolest things to happen to me during my Fado career; Yes, a simple conversation with Tim Ries!!
On November 11th, I received the following message on my myspace page from Jacinta, a young lady I met in Gilroy, California back in April:
Hey Nathalie! How are you doing? Well I am taking a graphic design course and one of my assignment was to make a music poster...So I did one of you from the pictures I took when you performed in Gilroy and thought I would share :)
I hope that you will get return to Gilroy soon and perform for all of us again.
Hope all is well and take care! Um Abraco -Jacinta
Thank you so much Jacinta!! It's beautiful!! I hope you got an A!! =)
Isn't she beautiful!?! I don't know how to play much yet, (Diogo just taught me Marcha Marceneiro) so for now she serves as a decoration in my studio. It was purchased on Ebay of all places!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Mom and Dad, I mean Santa!!
The Portuguese guitar is a plucked string instrument with twelve steel strings, strung in six courses comprising of two strings each. It has a distinctive tuning mechanism. It is most notably associated with fado, although it has and is being used in a broader context.
History
The Portuguese guitar is presumed to be the localization of what is commonly known as the English guitar. Some researchers argue that a kind of cittern was being played in Portugal prior to and after the introduction of the English instrument and that the modern Portuguese guitar is a combination of both instruments. Although this possibility is not without credit more research needs to be done on the subject.
The English guitar (or guittar) was a small cittern that was fashionable between 1750 and 1790, most notably in the British Isles, closely related to other citterns that were being made in western Europe at the time (such as the instrument the French called the guitarre allemande) but with several particular specifications introduced by the English luthiers. The English cittern was brought by the English to Portugal, possibly circa 1750, through the trading activity held between the two countries at the time. This fact is observed by António da Silva Leite in 1786, who remarks in his method for the instrument the following: “The guitar, of which they say has its origins in Great-Britain...”; “Of the guitars from England, Mr. Simpson is the best maker.”. The local luthiers then proceed to imitate and copy the foreign instruments. Eventually, the instrument was subject to modifications and improvements through the years and it remained popular in Portugal long after the fad died in the remaining European countries. By as early as 1820 the English already referred to it as the “Portuguese guitar”.
Throughout the 19th century the Portuguese guitar was being made in several sizes and shapes and subject to several regional aesthetic trends. For instance, the guitars made in northern Portugal bore a greater similarity to the English guitars than the guitars made in southern Portugal. Circa 1870 the commonly used watch-key tuning mechanism, inherited from the English guitars, was replaced by the fan tuning mechanism which was an improvement on the former. A sizeable guitar making industry flourished in Coimbra by the late 19th century, propelled by the Portuguese guitar's popularity among the students of the city. Eventually the developments of the local luthiers led to the modern model, named after the city.
Over the first half of the 20th century the Portuguese guitar underwent standardization into two distinct models and enjoyed several technical improvements, such as the refinement of the tuning mechanism and the revision of its dimensions, retaining throughout the process, however, its overall appearance and distinct sound.
Coimbra VS Lisbon:
There are two distinct kinds of modern Portuguese guitar models — the Lisboa guitar and the Coimbra guitar.
The differences between the two guitars are their scale, body measurements and other finer construction details. Overall, the Coimbra guitar is of simpler construction than the Lisboa guitar.
Visually and most distinctively, the Lisboa guitar can be differentiated from the Coimbra guitar for its larger soundboard and scroll ornament above the tuning machine in place of Coimbra's teardrop shaped motif. The Lisboa guitar has a narrower neck, smaller string spacing and a slightly shorter scale.
Both guitars have a very distinct timbre - the Lisboa guitar has a resonant bell-like sound that the Coimbra guitar lacks; the Coimbra guitar has a more accentuated bass sound.
Technique
The technique employed to play the Portuguese guitar is what is historically called dedillo or dedilho. This technique comprises playing solely with the thumb and the index fingers. On the Portuguese guitar the strings are picked with the corner of the fingernails, avoiding contact of the flesh with the strings. The unused fingers of the picking hand rest below the strings, on the soundboard. Nowadays most players use synthetic materials in place of natural fingernails; these fingerpicks are usually made of plastic or tortoiseshell.
On December 14, 2008, I sang at a hall to about 200 members of Long Island's Academia de Bacalhau without amplification while battling a cold and losing my voice. Luckily the audience understood my struggle and even assisted me during my performance by singing along with me. Sometimes, its performances like these, where I doubt myself and the ability to go on, that makes me stronger and appreciate the Portuguese community that has supported me and cheered me on since day one through thick and thin. I'm guessing a member of the Academia de Bacalhau posted the following video of my performance on Youtube:
Nathalie Pires torna-se artista exclusiva para a California da VIP AUDIO PRODUCTIONS, INC.!!
Nossa Missão
Baseados no princípio de oferecer sempre a melhor qualidade e satisfazer as necessidade dos nossos clientes, em qualquer tipo de projecto, dispomos de meios, tanto no regime de prestação de serviços ou aluguer de equipamentos, como palcos, camarins, som e luz, contando para isso com uma equipa de profissionais nas diversas áreas da produção de espectáculos e montagem de equipamentos.
President of VIP Audio Productions, João Manuel Dias and his wife Adelaide Dias.
Back in October I took my 3rd trip to California for another performance. This time to one of the biggest festivals in the state, Thornton. This festival includes a huge Fado night on Friday night and a bullfight on Saturday night along with live entertainment. Before the show, I got to visit the beautiful city of San Francisico once more!! I had a lot of fun with my dad, a fellow Fadista Jeremias Macedo and his daughter Chelsea, and Jose Machado and his wife, who were nice enough to take the time to show us around before the show.
When it was time to finally time to perform, I got to meet up with "os 7 Colinas" again, HelderCarvalheira, Manuel Escobar, and JoaoCardadeiro. There were between 700-800 people in the hall, completely silent and appreciative of Fado. The stage was beautifully set up. Everything was done professionally and with class.
* Click on the article above to see a clearer image of it.*
During my performance, I experienced one of the most fulfilling moments in my career. While I sang "Festa Brava a Portuguesa," an original Fado from my album that my father wrote, there were people from the audience singing along with me. It just goes to show how much the radio stations support me on the West Coast. It was the best feeling in the world!
I had a great time and met so many people including some who I had previously met in my show at Gilroy back in April. Unfortunately I was only in California for the day and I had to fly back immediately the next morning. I was a little upset I didn't get to see the bullfight but hopefully I'll have another opportunity to come back to the festival.
(A special thank you to "Os 7 Colinas" and VIP Audio Productions!!)
Lately, I have had the pleasure of singing at Alfama Restaurant in the City every so often. I can't explain how much I enjoy performing on their Fado nights (Wednesday nights). It makes the week go by so much faster and the ambiance is awesome. It's close to home, I get to perform with a team of guitarists I consider family (Francisco Chuva, Antonio Mendonsa, Michael DaSilva, and Diogo Arsenio) and I get meet some of New York's most talented and successful people. I usually only know about a week in advance when I will perform at Alfama, but there have been a couple of people that have been interested and keep asking me when my next performance will be. As soon as I find out when I will be performing next I will post it here on my blog and it will also be update immediately on my website so stay tuned!!
Alfama Restaurant is a special spot in the unique city of New York that not only serves great Portuguese meals but also succeeds in sharing our culture to the most diversified crowd. Come out any night, but preferably on a Wednesday night, Fado night, for some of the Tri-State area's most successful Fadistas!
Jimmy "Jam" Ferreira, founder of Lusobeat.com, has supported luso artists at the max. Not only does he include us constantly on his website but he personally attends as many performances as his schedule permits. But now, he has taken it to a whole other level...
Lusobeat.com presents its debut compilation CD including artists such as Eratoxica, Michelle Pereira, Nelia, Marc Dennis, and myself amungst others!
I am honored to be a part of this album and extremely proud of Fado's presence in this cd. Thank you so much Jimmy and to the lusobeat community.
If you are interested in purchasing the album please visit lusobeat.com or you can buy it on itunes!
Something I'm really excited about and can't wait to see is the Amalia movie I previously mentioned in an earlier post. It was finally released around the holidays in Portugal. The controversy surrounding the movie didn't stop fans from watching. The movie has had an overwhelming success and has been receiving positive reviews from both critics and movie goers. Here's a quick synopsis from film.com and the trailer for the movie...
Follows the life of Portuguese singer Amalia Rodrigues, whose successful international career was marred by a series of romantic mishaps.
Right before the holidays, a tribute to Amalia Rodrigues' last performance in the Olympia du Paris was celebrated in Campo Gande, Lisbon and transmitted worldwide on RTP. Fadistas performing included Carminho, Mariza, Ana Moura, Celeste Rodrigues, Carlos Do Carmo, Ricardo Ribeiro, and Camane. It was wonderful to see such powerful names in Fado share the stage. Amalia died in what will be 10 years on October 6th, 2009. Carminho, or Carmo Rebelo de Andrade, did an amazing job!! I couldn't wait until it was her turn to sing again amungst all of those huge Fadistas.
I fell in love with her style since I first saw her in the Casa de Fado scene from the movie Fados, by Carlos Saura. Here's a quick bio (in Portuguese) from Artistas e Espetaculos:
CARMINHO
Carmo Rebelo de Andrade tem 24 anos, nasceu e cresceu no Fado, por isso lhe é tão espontâneo como respirar.
“Nunca vi a Música como uma coisa especial, sempre esteve tão presente na minha vida que seria como querer distinguir um braço mais importante do que o outro” afirma Carminho.
Poucas palavras podem descrever tamanha naturalidade, salvo a emoção que sentimos ao ouvi-la cantar.
Foi distinguida com o Prémio “Revelação Feminina” pela Fundação Amália Rodrigues (2005) e entre colaborações e participações especiais já se apresentou ao vivo em países como Espanha, Argentina, Malta ou Suíça.
Participa no filme “Fados” de Carlos Saura em 2007 e em Junho passado actuou já em nome próprio no Pavilhão de Portug al da Expo Zaragoza.
Já no final de 2008 é convidada especial de Carlos do C armo para o concerto comemorativo de 45 anos de carreira, no Pavilhão Atlântico. Participa também no espectáculo de Homenagem a Amália Rodrigues “Olympia”, realizado no Campo Pequeno em Lisboa, ao lado de nomes como Mariza, Ana Moura ou Camané.
2009 é o ano da sua estreia em disco.
I can't wait for her album to be released!! I'm already a huge fan and all I have to hear are her videos on youtube...
I can't get enough of her so here's another video =)
Ana Moura has released a DVD of her concert no Coliseu, one of Ana's highest and most prestige points in her career to date! I bought this DVD and have been watching it on repeat! During her concert, she has special guests which include Jorge Fernando, Maria Da Fé, and Beatriz Da Conceição. This DVD (which also includes a cd with the live recording of the concert) as an amazing celebration of her overwhelming success since the release of her latest album "Para Alem da Saudade." Ana Moura has just recovered from a common throat surgery which forced her to cancel some of her scheduled concerts for the month of February. But she's back and currently working on a new album while still performing around the world! I also heard Ana Moura will be returning to the United States later this year...
Along with the Ana Moura DVD that I mentioned earlier, I also purchased the album of an amazing young and beautiful Fadista, Filipa Cardoso. Sound familiar? I had stumbled across a video of her on youtube (that is no longer available) a while back and instantly became a fan without having heard much else from her. Last month, she released her latest album "Cumprir Seu Fado" (produced by the one responsible for the launching of the careers of Mariza and Ana Moura, Jorge Fernando.) I have been anticipating this album since its release date and I haven't stopped listening to it. The guitars are brilliant, with Jorge Fernando na viola and Jose Manuel Neto on the Portuguese guitar. Her effortless tone and modern personality stays true to the traditional Fado while still being approached in a new extraordinary light. Its tracks include brilliant lyrics she wrote herself adapted to Fado Tango, a Fado dedicated to her daughter "Beatriz" adapted to Fado Margaridas, as well as a strong interpretation of Fado Corrido called "Meu Amor", Fado Pierrot with Argentina Santos, and my two favorites, Magala, "Suplica Perdida" and Fado Isabel "Meus Labios Beijam o Fado". Jose Manuel Neto and Jorge Fernando did a superb job on Magala, making it their own by including an intro that reminds my of the "flight of the bumblebees" and strong punches on the viola. Fado Isabel is one of my favorite styles of Fado and I was surprised when I saw Filipa recorded it. Not too many people have recorded it lately and I actually have that style of Fado lined up for my next album. I was really excited to hear her interpretation of it. When I hear this album, I feel her emotion and hear Lisbon in her voice. In my opinion, she is what a Fadista is all about! I can't stress enough how much I love this album. It was definitely worth the extra $35 for shipping. =)
About Filipa Cardoso
Perdoarão a arrogância, mas logo para início de conversa, a teoria: o Fado é a arte de bem dizer o silêncio. Na verdade, e se tempo houvesse, diria que toda a grande arte caminha para o que não se diz, simplesmente porque não existe maneira de o dizer. Uma pintura, um poema, uma voz – tudo isto, no seu melhor, diz o que não conseguimos dizer. E é isso que o Fado faz quando nos devolve sem defesas nem remédio o que se sente e qu
e muitas vezes – sempre? – confundimos com esse mistério que resolvemos chamar de alma.
Essa magia é transmitida há muito tempo através de gerações dos seus praticantes: nas casas de Fado, nos retiros, nos bairros, homens e mulheres são iniciados nesta misteriosa disciplina de ir para além das palavras e cortar direito ao coração de quem ouve. Uma dessas eleitas é Filipa Cardoso.
Filipa cresceu no bairro do Alto do Pina, em Lisboa, entre amadores do Fado, no sentido mais nobre da palavra. As suas memórias de infância têm acordes de guitarra portuguesa e lembranças de vozes como a de Fernando Maurício. Aos 10 anos, num casamento de uma familiar, pedem-lhe para cantar um Fado; no final tinha uma oferta de emprego e correspondente cachet. Cinco anos depois volta a encantar por acaso, num aniversário, o que lhe valeu a contratação para actuar em duas casas de Fado.
Só que havia um problema: a adolescente feliz não conseguia sentir o repertório triste que a faziam cantar – o que no Fado é pecado maior e infelizment
e comum. Nessa altura tomou uma decisão corajosa e sensata: parou. Voltaria nove anos mais tarde, depois de um período intenso em que ganhou vida e encheu a alma das emoções boas e más de que a vida é feita. Não é de estranhar que quando o Fado voltou, já chegou cheio de verdade. Resu
ltado mais visível: a sua vitória na Grande Noite do Fado de 2004.
É convidada a integrar o elenco da casa de Fados Sr.Vinho, onde continua a sua aprendizagem. Até que um dia o destino – personagem inevitável nesta história – lhe dá a conhecer Jorge Fernando, que além de ser um brilhante músico, autor, compositor e cantor é também alguém com um raro dom para perceber as almas de diamante em bruto: foi assim com Mariza, foi assim com Ana Moura, é assim com Filipa Cardoso. A todas Jorge Fernando produziu o primeiro disco. No caso de Filipa, assina também a maior parte dos poemas e alguns Fados originais.
Quem ouvir com atenção Cumprir Seu Fado compreende que,
mais do que um disco de Fado, é uma inevitabilidade para Filipa Cardoso. A voz e a alma estavam há algum tempo prontas a ser partilhadas. E são-no da maneira mais bonita: quer cante o ciúme, o desengano, o amor impossível e o amor maternal, o desejo cru e poético e claro, a saudade, Filipa Cardoso diz a verdade. Percebeu-o Argentina Santos, que com ela colabora no “Fa
do da Herança”. Porque o que Filipa traz é a herança da mudanç
a, uma voz que carrega todos os fadistas e poetas do passado para desaguar numa alma só dela. E que ao escutar-se o primeiro Fado, garanto: é também a nossa alma.
(Nuno Miguel Guedes, Fevereiro d e 2009)
Helder Moutinho has just returned to Portugal from a mini U. S. t our, where he performed and promoted new Fados from his latest album "Que Fado é este que trago?" I was upset he didn't come to the East Coast this time around but I'm excited to hear his lastest work.
Fados, By Carlos Saura is now showing in New York and I've been reading some of the reviews being written by New York news papers and magazines and find them to be very entertaining, sometimes even brutally hilarious. It is currently showing at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, NY, NY, 10023 212-757-2280
Review by the Village Voice: The Fado is a dolorous folksong tradition from Portugal, first sung in the early 19th century by barefoot peasants mending nets and contemplating a roiling black Atlantic. It has survived to the present day, providing MP3 succor to middle-class professionals on antidepressants (lyric: “It was God’s will that I live with anxiety”)—and now it’s the subject of a film revue by the venerable Carlos Saura. Contemporary celebs appear (superstar fadista mewlers Mariza and Lura), alongside ghosts (Amália “Queen of Fado” Rodrigues). Saura is formally ambitious—a troupe travels through the film, articulating lyrics in dance—but the movie missteps when departing wholly from the intrinsic nostalgia of its subject, as the seventysomething director imposes his idea of contemporary cool: interspersed hip-hop trio NBC, SP & Wilson and Brazilian reggae artist Toni Garrido. The sequestering of performers into warehouse-studio spaces adds a certain chill to the proceedings, but there are happy exceptions. Nonagenarian Argentina Santos fills her single-take frame with stout gravitas. The penultimate scene takes place in the House of Fados, a Freed Unit version of a Lisbon barroom, its walls a graveyard of headshots, where song is passed around like a challenge and teenaged braceface Carminho shuts the place down. — Nick Pinkerton
Here's another review from Rottontomatoes.com: They call it the Portuguese 'blues', but director Carlos Saura livens up the proceedings with some of the best 'fado' singers ever (both living & dead), then blends in a dancers & projections to further heighten his aural potpourri!
2-1/2 stars (MUST-SEE for Folk & Fado music lovers, there's a rap song too) [(2007)music documentary/Portugal-Spain] - (1 hr 32 min)
Review: This film is basically an aural collection of the many styles of Fados music with each song given a distinctive visual interpretation. Therefore, the best way to review it is not as a whole but as a series of short films with musical accompaniment. And for those familiar with music-oriented movies (aka 'rockumentaries'), don't be put off by the fact that many of the singers perform with their eyes closed, as that is part of the Fado style.
LAST NOTE: This is not my kind of music, but if you like lots of strumming guitars, mandolins, etc., then add this one to your film (or album) list.
1. Opening credits, brief history, and segue to marching song as the (theatricalized) Portuguese arrive in Lisbon (two song sequence lasts 7 min). 2. VARIACOES (3 min) - Acoustic duet (no vocals) - In memory of António Variações (1944-1984), an innovative singer-songwriter who died prematurely. 3. MOCAMBIQUE (5 min) - Mariza sings w/ male dancer (musical accompaniment by sextet). Song was written to honor the Portuguese settlement (aka 'Mozambique') established from 1507 to present. 4. MODINHAS E LUNDUNS (5 min) - Toni Garrido sings w/ pianist & eight female dancers. The song 'Midnight in London' has a racial context with the words "your little Negro" used repeatedly (may seem offensive, but used in context). 5. FADO MENOR DO PORTO (5 min) - Camané sings w/ small band and group of female dancers. 6a. MARIA SEVERA, SEC. XIX (3 min) - Sung by Catarina Moura w/ a small band and a 'sanfona' player (very unique instrument). Dedicated to the memory of one of Fado's earliest known singers Maria Severa Onofriana (1820-1846), also known simply as A Severa. Segment also includes some B&W movie clips from the movie "A Severa," based on her short life. 6b. Homage to A Severa continues (3 min) with new singer Cuca, accompanied by guitarist. 7a. Homage to Alfredo Marceneiro (2 min) - Archive clip of Alfredo performing with two female dancers dancing in front of a rear-screen projection. 7b. Homage continues (4 min) with three rappers (NBC/SP & WILSON) along with several dancers. [NOTE: Very heavy beat that could be disconcerting to older viewers] 8. LISBOA (4 min) - Solo by CARLOS DO CARMO with projected shots of the city around him. Accompanied by acoustic guitar. 9a. Homage to Carlos' late mother and Fado singer, Lucília do Carmo (2 min). Archive song by Lucilia is accompanied by group dance and rear-projection of the singer as a young woman. 9b. Song segues (4 min) to new singer and (2 female-1 male) dancer love triangle. Singer is the very expressive LILA DOWNS. 10. FADO MENOR (3 min) - Sung by veteran Fadista Argentina Santos, a very deeply felt vocal performance. 11. FADO BATIDO (3 min) - Instrumental song with dancers leaping around a bonfire. 12. MORNA (4 min) - Sung by the beautiful LURA w/ sextet and dancers. 13. FADO ALFACINHA (3 min) - Camané's second appearance as soloist. This song was made famous by the Queen of Fado, Amália Rodrigues(1920-1999). 14a. Homage to Amália Rodrigues (3 min) - Archive song w/ dancers in front of rear-screen projection. 14b. Segue to new song (5 min)by singer-guitarist CAETANO VELOSO. 15. REVOLUCAO (3 min) - Male chorus and archive footage of protest rallies.
The film concludes with a tribute to FADO FLAMENCO and and CASA DE FADOS. The latter demonstrates the 'dueling' aspect of Fado music as it emerged from the cafes. Various singers take a song stanza in turn and try to best the previous performer. All in all, this is a very informative depiction of a style of music that is unknown to many Portuguese people (especially myself). Certainly a film that will live forever in music libraries and should be sought out by musical completists. Your mileage may vary (I yawned twice), but it's certainly watchable (& listenable) for all musically inclined audiences.
Another review from thelmagazine.com:
Fados|Directed by Carlos Saura
Runtime: 1:30 (90 mins)
Rating: Reviewed by Benjamin H. Sutton
Spanish arthouse director Carlos Saura’s vibrant portrait of the Portuguese musical style fado is the kind of loving, even-handed and open-minded documentary tribute too few music genres receive. With virtually no talking-head sequences or black and white photomontages, Fados’s stories emerge organically from the two-dozen performances it features.
And yet story being told amounts to much more than The Buena Vista Social Club’s collected concert footage. Fados takes place on a studio soundstage where walls of color and mirrored panels allow Saura to create a kind of minimalist mis-en-scene for singers, musicians and dancers. In numbers choreographed especially for his swooping, pacing camera, narratives of pain, loss, hope and rejection unite cultural memory, personal hardship and political upheaval.
Fado’s origins are rooted in Lisbon’s port-side working-class quarters of the 19th century. Musically it bears striking tonal and thematic similarities to jazz and the blues. In fact, Fados’s opening Saint John’s Day performance is the same sort of parade-as-cultural-exorcism that closed Spike Lee’s When The Levees Broke. These are musics of melancholy, born out of poverty, urban blight and marginalization. Fado was also dramatically reshaped by immigrants from Portugal’s colonies, a stylistic shift evidenced by the incredible range of performances in Fados.
Fado was traditionally played in small restaurants or bars by two guitarists (one Spanish, the other Portuguese) and a singer. As Fados shows though, the genre has expanded to incorporate influences from reggae, rock, hip hop and poetry, and accompaniment by ballet, modern dance, flamenco and breakdancing. Similarly, its subjects have expanded from tales of squalor and sex to incorporate post-colonialism, feminism and political activism — as evidenced here by Fados’s only archival footage, taken from the non-violent 1974 Carnation Revolution.
Saura’s storytelling is all the more effective for eschewing the conventional didactic documentary format. Clashes between fado traditionalists, its younger, racially and musically diverse newcomers and the ghettoizing category of “World Music” all gradually come to the fore. Ultimately, Fados doesn’t idealize its subject, offering its musical lens as a window onto Portuguese history and society, one textured by the deep cracks found in the fragmented social landscapes of every contemporary cultural situation. Fado defies the reductive “World Music” label, but Saura still shows how its stories of suffering and injustice stand for common experiences the world over.
This year the Amalia Revelation Award has been awarded to Cristina Nóbrega, who last year launched her album, "Palavras do Meu Fado". I stumbled across her video for "Madrugada Da Alfama" on youtube not knowing who she was not too long ago and thought it was beautifully done. The images in this video makes me miss Portugal so much.
Cristina Nobrega
Cristina Nóbrega nasceu em Lisboa. Descobre o Fado aos 20 anos ao assistir a um concerto que a encanta e lhe traça o futuro artístico. É a discografia de Amália que desperta o gosto por interpretar esta linguagem que a fascina pela sua simplicidade. Desde criança que a música está presente na sua vida, frequentou em permanência escolas de música e dança, entre elas o Conservatório Nacional e a Academia dos Amadores de Música. Percorreu vários géneros musicais mas é no Fado que encontra a forma mais profunda de expressão. Após vários anos de formação por carolice e incursões por vários géneros musicais, sente no início de 2008 que precisa de cantar. Tudo acontece em poucos meses com a apresentação de uma maqueta a uma editora que dá origem à edição do seu primeiro CD de Fados clássicos “Palavras do Meu Fado” (iPlay/2008), com poemas de Vasco de Lima Couto, Pedro Homem de Mello, David Mourão-Ferreira, Ary dos Santos, Luís Vaz de Camões, Linhares Barbosa, Luís de Macedo, entre outros. E músicas de Alain Oulman, José Marques do Amaral, Joaquim Campos, Carlos Gonçalves, entre outros. Interpreta à sua maneira os poetas e as músicas que a encantam. Pela mão do prestigiado cenógrafo e homem da cultura, José Manuel Castanheira, estreia-se no Círculo de Bellas Artes em Madrid a 14 de Setembro de 2008. Deste projecto de amigos fazem parte: Manuel Rodrigues, José Manuel Castanheira - cenógrafo, Inês de Oliveira - designer de moda, Ricardo Reis - fotógrafo e o mestre Real Bordalo - pintor.
The unstoppable Mariza is conquering the world yet again with over 100 shows to promote her latest album "Terra." Since her release back in October, she has achieved double platinum status. I had the pleasure of attending her performance in Long Island, New York in February. I was so excited to finally get to hear Diogo Clemente on the viola. I'm a huge fan of his work with Raquel Tavares as well "Cabelo Branco é Saudade" and he was also a part of Carlos Saura's film, Fados. He is truely amazing and definitely one of the best presently playing Fado. Angelo Friere returned to the U.S. this time to accompany Mariza and he's still playing that Portuguese guitar effortlessly at only 20 years old. After the show my father told me that he was convinced that when Angelo was a baby, his father gave him a guitar instead of a pacifier! He's unbelievable. Mariza once again was mesmerizing. A flawless performance indeed. I must admit however, my favorite part of the show was right at the end when Mariza, Angelo, and Diogo sang Fado Mouraria together!! I was lucky enough to be 2 rows from the stage so I have some really close footage... Enjoy!
I have received many birthday presents in the past but on August 23rd, I was actually someone's birthday present! That someone is Sra. Fernanda Pereira of Pleasanton, California (yup, Pleasanton is as nice as it sounds) who owns a successful printing company, along with her husband Dino. They put together a beautiful party in their amazing home where they turned their jacuzzi into a stage and their backyard into a light show. I was accompanied by the wonderful group of guitarists, Helder Carvalheira, Manuel Escobar, and João Cardadeiro once again, in this relaxed setting. We had a great time with an exceptional crowd. By the end of the night, everyone was dancing! It was a blast and I was so grateful to be a part of the occasion. Thank you so much Pereira family for letting me be a part of an unforgetable celebration. You truely are amazing people!!
On the first weekend of August (Friday and Saturday), I performed at the Madeira Museum's Cafe, one of the many attractions of New Bedford's famous Madeira Feast in Massachusetts, the world's largest Portuguese festival. The event is held outdoors with free admission and live Fado and Folklore.
Both nights were great! Friday night, Sr. Viriato Ferreira and Sr. Jose Silva and I performed 10 Fados we had never previously rehearsed for the first time along with many of the Fados on my album. It felt refreshing to add some new Fados to my repetoir and the audience seemed to have enjoyed it as well.
I got to meet a lot of great people like a young man named Matthew who gave me an LP of the late Fernanda Maria from 1952. He found the record at a local Salvation Army and found out I was performing on Friday night and offered it to me because he wanted to give it to "someone who would appreciate it." He was even kind enough to make a copy of the LP onto a CD! Thank you so much Matthew! I really do appreciate it... I heard it the whole drive home! I really enjoyed the record which was recorded in the early 1950s and includes many Fados that she made famous such as "Lisboa A Noite," "Ribatejo," and "Lisboa Antiga." However, this album was one of the over 50 albums she released, but it was enough to spark my interest on this particular Fadista.
I'm also grateful for the support of everyone else who came out including Ricardo Farias (who stopped by for a little both nights), Jimmy "Jam" Ferreira of Lusobeat.com, and fellow Fadistas Jeremias Macedo, Jose Carlos Azevedo, and Tania Da Silva who were kind enough to treat the audience with two Fados each!
The event was a great success and I owe it all to Sra. Olga Marques for her invitation.
Before my Saturday night peformance, Sr. Viriato Ferreira and his family were kind enough to take us to the Running Brook Winery which is owned by Dr. Jorge Teixeira, Sr. Viriato's brother-in-law, and his wife Manuela. The adega was filled with barrells and barrells of many different types of wines, many of which are award winning. Dr. Teixeira and his wife were proud to share their wine with us.
The acoustics in the adega were phenominal so Sr. Viriato quickly got his viola and we interpreted 2 Fados in this appropriate setting surrounded by wine! Behind the adega, there are acres and acres of a variety of grape vines and even corn. An extension on the adega is currently in progress to add a party hall to their beautiful location.
If you're ever in the area, I encourage you to stop by and check out all of their different wines. Thank you to Ferreira and Teixeira families for the great time!!
*The drawing on the left was made by Julia Ferreira! Thanks Julia!
I had the pleasure of being invited to the private 74th birthday party for the Fadista Natercia Da Conceição at her home on August 3rd. It was the first time I met her and I was nervous because of her prestigious career in Fado. I was very sad to see the unfortunate state she is in. She has been in a wheel chair for some time now and doesn't have feeling in her legs. It really hit me because I met her in her bedroom where she has tons of LPs, pictures of the different highlights of her Fado career, and dozens of plaques and trophies that have been awarded to her throughout the years. I later sang for her and her guests.
This visit really made me realize how lucky I am to be doing what I love the most and have those that I love the most support me. I learned not to take the opportunities given to me for granted and enjoy everything life has awarded me with. That afternoon will be preserved in my heart forever.
Thank you Cinira for your support, kind words, motivation, and invitation!!
I was born and raised in the United States but I am extremely proud of my Portuguese background. I am currently a student at Rider University, studying to be an Accountant and I also sing Fado -- I have just completed my first album!
I stopped posting just as things were getting exciting! I'm embarrassed to say that I've let so much time pass by that I even forgot my user name and password to this blog. But I'm back up and running, just in time to wish you all a happy, healthy and safe transition into 2013!
