Portuguese Music

by Sarah Brummet

Mariza: Fado's new Ambassador

If you take a look across the breadth of human society, you might notice that each individual culture seems to have a style of music peculiar to it.  Indeed, over time, these sounds become recognizable to the ears of people from almost any culture, so much so that when the sound is heard it can conjure vivid images of rolling green hills, vibrant flamenco dancers, snake charmers or native shaman.  And so too do the Portuguese have such a sound: fado.

            It is believed that fado was first introduced as a dance by African slaves in 19^th century Lisbon. Sung by both men and women, fado is usually accompanied by one Portuguese guitar and one classical guitar, and has evolved into being "quintessentially Portuguese," reaching its height of popularity in the middle part of the 20^th century.

            Fado's sound is highly emotionally charged, reminiscent of the blues, tango, or its next-door neighbor, flamenco.  Unfortunately, in the last 30 years fado has lost much of its appeal to the younger generation, possibly because it conjures memories of the dictatorship of Salazar; however, in recent years a new ambassador of fado has emerged: Mariza.

            Mariza is said to evoke the memory of famed fadista Amália Rodrigues, and has been showered with critical acclaim—the greatest of which was the "Voice of Fado" award in 2000—since her first major national performance in 1999.  Mariza has become such an icon of fado that she was invited to introduce the style to rock legend Sting on the Portuguese television program Hermansic.  Furthermore, many believe that Mariza is the bridge between the traditions of Fado and modern popular music; says Portuguese composer Nuno Nazareth Fernandes: "Mariza is…someone sent by the Great Creator to reinvent the fado."

            Interestingly enough, the reinventor of fado, the quintessentially Portuguese sound, was actually born in Mozambique.  Mariza did, however, move to Portugal with her family when she was a baby.  During fado's heyday, Salazar forced the performers to perform only in fado houses, and it was there that Mariza was introduced to the unique sound.  It is said that Mariza began singing fado even before she could read, and she's been singing ever since.  Mariza describes fado this way: "[it] is an emotional kind of music full of passion, sorry, jealousy, grief and, often, satire."

            The sound of fado is certainly unique, combining the passion of flamenco or tango with a more bluesy tone.  To those who don't know Amália, listening to Mariza is reminiscent of a Portuguese Edith Piaf perhaps, and her youthful interest in a classic genre may remind some of American Nora Jones.  Regardless of tastes, however, anyone with an interest in Portugal or world music should definitely sample the unique and powerful sounds of fado, and who better to hear than the one and only Mariza.

Link with sound bites: http://www.ritmoartists.com/Mariza/audio_mz.htm

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