Lisbon Portugal 2019
There are so many things to like (Love) about Lisbon. It’s a city mix of the ancient and the new. A bustling modern capitol city with 15th century shadows and dust. Imagine if you will, San Francisco (with a 3/4 sized Golden Gate bridge), with a San Diego climate and where the people speak Portuguese. They Listen to jazz and hip hop in trendy clubs, while eating McDonald’s and Burger King, and yet they savor fresh seafood and mysterious dishes whose menus date back centuries, They listen to Fado (pronounced: Faah-due ) at FADO clubs/restaurants that open at 8 pm and close well after midnight.
What is Fado ? How can I describe Fado ?. Well, maybe Wikipedia can explain it better than I. ” The word “fado” possibly comes from the Latin word fatum (“fate”, “death” or “utterance”). The word is linked to the music genre itself, although both meanings are approximately the same in the two languages. “
Yes, it IS sad .. at least in its traditional form. Said to have been born over 200 years ago in common taverns and brothels, it speaks of loneliness and loss. Few agree where it came from but most agree that it has bits of Moorish, Jewish, Gypsy and yes, even a touch of old Britain. There are many schools of thought about WHO began it. …
Sad music ? Yes, but there are Fados that sing of love and new beginnings, of hope and joy.
The odd shape 12 stringed guitar that is a central part of the music, has a long history, and now it’s the Iconic instrument of Portugal’s Fado and therefore called the “Guitarra Portuguesa”. The singers (Fadistas, pronounced: Fah-deesh-tah ), stand, close their eyes, often tilt their heads back, and BELT out the words. Some times a whisper, next, at “operatic ” levels.
Fado is why I go to Lisbon, why I wish I had so many years ago. My Fate, while Sad at times, has been magical and joyful as well. Now in the later years of my life,……I have Fado and I have my memories of Lisbon.
One memory is of a beautiful Fadista, Sara Correia . A 20 something woman with incredible skill and talent in Fado. I can’t get enough of her and she IS my friend !
A sample of some lyrics by another Fadista, ”
Fadista , Carminho :
Title: Escrevi-teu-nome-no-vento/ I wrote your name wind
I wrote your name in the wind
Convinced that I was writing it
Upon the page of oblivion,
That was lost in the wind.
And when I saw it still buried
In the dust of the road,
I thought my heart was free,
From the bonds of your affection.
Poor me, I had no idea
That just like me,
The wind would fall in love,
With that name of yours.
And as the wind tosses and turns
So does my torment.
I want to forget you, believe me,
But there is more wind.