Great Portuguese singers
From the Portuguese singers I've listened to, my favourites (and for sure not only mine :-) ) are Carlos Paião, António Variações and José Afonso. The first two of them lived unfortunately such a short time - 31, respectively 39 years, but they managed to express their genius and to delight with so many songs, loved also today.
Carlos Paião proved his talent very early, being a very prolific songwriter. In 1978, at only 21 years old, he had composed more than 200 songs. It's hard to say, which of his songs I like the most...they are many...Here are 3 of them:
In 1983 he had sung with Cândida Branca Flor, interpretating a very patriotic duet, called "Vinho do Porto, Vinho do Portugal".
Carlos Paião proved his talent very early, being a very prolific songwriter. In 1978, at only 21 years old, he had composed more than 200 songs. It's hard to say, which of his songs I like the most...they are many...Here are 3 of them:
In 1983 he had sung with Cândida Branca Flor, interpretating a very patriotic duet, called "Vinho do Porto, Vinho do Portugal".
Vinho do Porto, Vinho do Portugal - Carlos Paião and Cândida Branca Flor
Cinderela - Carlos Paião
Among many love songs, Paião has also songs with amusing tones in which he satirizes most of the times the minuses of the habbits or way of being of the Portuguese. A satire on mother-in-laws is "Prás sogras que encontrei na vida" ("For the mother-in-laws that I've met in life"), song interpretated together with Herman José, a very known Portuguese comedian.
Prás sogras que encontrei na vida - Carlos Paião and Herman José
António Joaquim Rodrigues Ribeiro, despite his short career as a singer and songwriter, due to his premature death at the age of 39, under the stage name of António Variações, become one of the most culturally significant performing artists of recent Portuguese history. His songs blended contemporary music genres (pop, rock, jazz, blues, new wave) with traditional Portuguese rhythms and melodies, creating music which for many is symbolic of the liberalization that occurred in Portuguese society after the Carnation Revolution of 1974. The original and provocative nature of his recorded works has led to him being widely recognized as one of the most innovative artists in the recent history of Portuguese popular music.
Even if he didn't have a formal musical training, Variações had a deep sense of rhythm and a keen mastery of the written word. His lyrics are often a mix of proverbs, popular wisdom and personal experiences. The popular character of his words made it easy for most of his listeners to identify with the themes of the songs, which often speak about restlessness, feelings of escapism or the deceitful nature of love affairs.
A few of his songs have an autobiographical resonance (such as "Olhei P'ra Trás", where he describes the sorrowful but hopeful departure from his small village or "Deolinda de Jesus", dedicated to his mother).
António Variações was a fervent admirer of the great Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, and some of his lyrics share similarities with the feelings expressed on some of Pessoa's poems. Another of the artist's major influences was Amália Rodrigues, the Fado singer of international renown, a national symbol of Portugal, to which he dedicated an ode, "Voz-Amália-de-Nós", in which Variações sings "All of us have Amália in our voice and we have in her voice the voice of all of us".
José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as José Afonso or Zeca Afonso (1929-1987), is among the most influential folk and political musicians in Portuguese history. He became an icon among Portuguese left-wing activists due to the role of his music in the resistance against the dictatorial regime of António Salazar, that triumphed with the democratic Carnation Revolution in 1974. After the revolution, Zeca was a very active musician and continued composing political and folk songs, often criticizing the post-revolutionary changes. Years after his death, José Afonso is still widely listened to, not only in Portugal, but also abroad.
António Joaquim Rodrigues Ribeiro, despite his short career as a singer and songwriter, due to his premature death at the age of 39, under the stage name of António Variações, become one of the most culturally significant performing artists of recent Portuguese history. His songs blended contemporary music genres (pop, rock, jazz, blues, new wave) with traditional Portuguese rhythms and melodies, creating music which for many is symbolic of the liberalization that occurred in Portuguese society after the Carnation Revolution of 1974. The original and provocative nature of his recorded works has led to him being widely recognized as one of the most innovative artists in the recent history of Portuguese popular music.
Canção do Engate - António Variações
Even if he didn't have a formal musical training, Variações had a deep sense of rhythm and a keen mastery of the written word. His lyrics are often a mix of proverbs, popular wisdom and personal experiences. The popular character of his words made it easy for most of his listeners to identify with the themes of the songs, which often speak about restlessness, feelings of escapism or the deceitful nature of love affairs.
Erva Daninha Alastrar - António Variações
A few of his songs have an autobiographical resonance (such as "Olhei P'ra Trás", where he describes the sorrowful but hopeful departure from his small village or "Deolinda de Jesus", dedicated to his mother).
Olhei Pra Trás - António Variações
António Variações was a fervent admirer of the great Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, and some of his lyrics share similarities with the feelings expressed on some of Pessoa's poems. Another of the artist's major influences was Amália Rodrigues, the Fado singer of international renown, a national symbol of Portugal, to which he dedicated an ode, "Voz-Amália-de-Nós", in which Variações sings "All of us have Amália in our voice and we have in her voice the voice of all of us".
José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as José Afonso or Zeca Afonso (1929-1987), is among the most influential folk and political musicians in Portuguese history. He became an icon among Portuguese left-wing activists due to the role of his music in the resistance against the dictatorial regime of António Salazar, that triumphed with the democratic Carnation Revolution in 1974. After the revolution, Zeca was a very active musician and continued composing political and folk songs, often criticizing the post-revolutionary changes. Years after his death, José Afonso is still widely listened to, not only in Portugal, but also abroad.
Traz Outro Amigo Também - José Afonso
Natal dos Simples - José Afonso
A Morte Saiu à Rua - José Afonso
posted by Diana @ 12:54
Comments: 0
