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Saudade, a unique word with Portuguese origin. The feeling of missing someone, feeling nostalgia, melancholy… It can be said that is a word that describes the personality of the Portuguese people. In fact, we are a very sentimental people and over the years we got used to saying goodbye to the people we most love, first because of the Discoveries - when the men set sail for the sea in the hope of finding new lands and riches leaving entire families crying for their departure - and most recently to the financial situation of the country, that obligates a lot of people to emigrate looking for a new quality of life. Saudade is certainly a word that defines us, and you can find this constant feeling in various Portuguese poems and songs. Being an example of that the Fado.
Fado was born in the nineteen Century, in Lisbon. Today, this music genre is considered by UNESCO Heritage of Humanity. Namely, besides one of the main themes being Saudade, you can hear as well about nostalgia, jealousy, small histories of the daily life of the typical neighbourhoods and traditional bullfighting…
Jesika and I really appreciate a good Fado, if you listen carefully you can feel the emotions that the song, and especially the lyrics, transmit. This way, we selected some of our favourite songs so you can admire this Portuguese creation. We first thought about doing a little introduction for each song, however, that is an almost impossible job since in our opinion each person should take his own conclusion, do his own interpretation of the lyrics.
With this said, we hope you like the songs that we chose, and fall in love with them, from the classic Amália Rodrigues to Ana Moura and the Mariza of our times, among many other wonderful artists.
Ana Moura – Dia de Folga
English Translation: Our Day Off
Morning in my little street, the sun shines through the window
The good-looking man stops the drilling for a while
The rooster rests, the child laughs
There's no tantrums today, we say yes to everything
The couple that's always fighting from the second floor
Made up and they're outside now making out
Every day is a hassle
So much work, it makes us want to charge
Our batteries, there are so many reasons
For us to celebrate today with a captivating fado
Today is our day off!
Without the pressure of seeming invincible, skirt, jumps, mascara
I'm going down to the streets, the traffic will have to stop
The guard takes advantage, the inspector doesn't fine me
I pass and the tourist makes sure he doesn't disturb
Madam Laura reads the newspaper today
Her husband's in the kitchen with an apron
Every day is a hassle
So much work, it makes us want to charge
Our batteries, there are so many reasons
For us to celebrate today with a captivating fado
Today is our day off!
A day off of being who we are
And of doing everything because we have to
A day off so for at least this once
Our life can be as we like it
Every day is a hassle
So much work, it makes us want to charge
Our batteries, there are so many reasons
For the sadness to take a day off and the fado to celebrate
Every day is a hassle
So much work, it makes us want to charge
Our batteries, there are so many reasons
For us to celebrate today with a captivating fado
Today is our day off!
This is the fado that captivates
On our day off
On our day off
On our day off
Source: lyricstranslate.com
Amalia Rodrigues – O Senhor Extraterrestre
Mr ET
I’m going to tell you a story that
I can’t take out of my head
For me it was a great event in this spacial era.
The other day I shivered when I opened my door and saw
A huge ufo landed on my backyard.
Immediately I went knocking at its door, opened it a crooked character
I said: «If you don’t mind could you move out,
I have my clothes drying and it’s going to get dirty
If this thing stays here smoking like that”.
Mr. ET became a little flustered
Tried to speak but just said «Pi», was badly tuned
Turned left and right a little button and was able to tell me then
That he had been fined ‘cause he was caught without his driver’s license.
“I am sorry, Mister, I don’t want to sound rude,
But where you are brings me no good nor bad
But I’m afraid about my neighbor, she seems to be able to guess
That I’m home alone with a stranger.
Since you’re standing there, come and have a coffee
You don’t look like a bad guy
I also would like to know if from where you’re coming
Don’t you know anyone who can get me some codfish?”.
And Mr. ET became a little flustered
Tried to speak but just said «Pi», was badly tuned
Turned left and right a little button and told me to take care
‘Cause where he’s coming from there’s no scent of sardines and much less of codfish.
“Tell me now some news: Are you married? Do you miss her?
Already have kids? How old are they?
Only one? Looks like whom?
You have pictures, for sure. Show me.
Oh so precious!
Isn’t he a beauty? So greenish, like his father.
Are you holding the keys, already?
Going back to the plane?
Hold on, there’s some sandwich for the trip.
And put on that flannel shirt
So you won’t catch cold from the fresh air when you open the window.”
And Mr. ET became a little flustered
Tried to speak but just said «Pi», was badly tuned
Turned left and right a little button and was able to tell me then
That he wants me to visit him, he finds me funny when I talk
Or, at least, I could write to him.
And Mr. ET became a little flustered
Tried to speak but just said «Pi», was badly tuned Turned left and right a little button just to tell me: «God bless you.»
I gave him a glass of wine and he left on his way, a little bit zigzag way.
Source: lyricstranslate.com
Ana Moura – Desfado
Fado of opposites (Un-fado)
It's my destiny's wish that I don't believe in destiny
My fado song is to have no fado song to sing
It's to sing it without having even felt it
To sense it like no one else, but being senseless at the same time
Oh how sad this joy that I have is
Oh how glad, this deep sadness!
To wait that someday I won't be waiting one more day
For someone that never arrives and that has been present here
Oh how I long
To have something to long for
To have longings for someone
That has been here and does not exist
To feel sad
Just because I'm feeling so well and happy
To feel happy
Just because I'm feeling so sad
Oh If only I could sing no more "if only I could"s
And feel sorry just for not having anything to be sorry about
Maybe I could hear, then, as I fell silent,
A voice of my own here inside me, singing about someone
Oh what misfortune, this good luck befallen on me!
Oh what good luck to live in such an unfortunate manner
With the incertitude that no thing is more certain
Than the great incertitude of being certain about nothing
Source: lyricstranlate.com
Mariza – Rosa Branca
White Rose
With a rose at my breast on the dance floor
I danced with whoever was there
I danced so much
That the rose fell to pieces
Whoever has, whoever has
The gift of love
Picks the white rose
Puts it at their breast
Oh rose bush, little rose
Rose bush in my garden
If you love roses so much
Why don't you love me?
Whoever has, whoever has
The gift of love
Picks the white rose
Puts it at their breast
Puts it at their breast
Source: lyricstranslate.com
Mariza – Gente da minha terra
People of my land
Is both mine and yours this fado
destiny that tides us (together)
no matter how much it is denied
by the strings of a guitar
whenever one hears a lament
of a guitar singing
one is instantly lost
With a desire to weep
Oh people of my land
Now I understand
This sadness which I carry on
Was from you that I received
and it would seem tenderness
If I let myself be soothed
my anguish would be greater
my singing (would be) less sadder
Oh people of my land
Source: lyricstranslate.com
Carlos do Carmo- Lisboa, Menina e Moça
Lisbon girl and gal
In the castle I place an elbow
On Alfama I ease a glance
And so I untie the knot
Of blue and sea
At Ribeira I lay my head
Pillow for the bed of the Tagus
With embroidered sheets in a rush
Of a kiss on the white linen
Lisbon girl and gal... girl
By the light that my eyes are ... so pure
Your breasts are the hills ... fishwife
Your cry that brings me to the door ... tenderness
City of light ... embroidered
Towel along the shore ... stretching out
Lisboa girl and gal ... beloved
City woman of my life.
In Terreiro I pass you by
But in Graça I see you naked
When a pigeon looks at you, it smiles,
You are a woman of the street
And in the highest neighbourhood of the dream
I place a fado that I created
Brandy of life and medroneiro berries,
That makes me sing
Lisbon girl and gal... girl
Of the light that my eyes are ... so pure
Your breasts are the hills ... fishwife
Your cry that brings me to the door ... tenderness
City of light ... embroidered
Towel along the shore ... stretching out
Lisboa girl and gal ... beloved
City woman of my life.
Lisbon in my love ... lying down
City by my hands ... undressed
Lisboa girl and gal ... beloved
City woman of my life.
Source: lyricstranslate.com
Amália Rodrigues – Gaivota
Seagull
If a seagull would come
Bring me the sky of Lisbon
In the drawing that made
In that sky where the look
Is a wing that doesn't fly
Falters and falls into the sea
What a perfect heart
Would beat in my chest
My love, in your hand
That hand where it would fit
My heart perfectly
If a Portuguese sailor
Wandering through the 7 seas
Would be, who knows the first
To tell me what invented
If a look of a new shine
To my look would enlace
What a perfect heart
Would beat in my chest
My love, in your hand
That hand where it would fit
My heart perfectly
If when saying farewell to life
All birds in the sky
Would give me when I part
Your ultimate look
That look that was only yours
My love that were the first
What a perfect heart
Would die in my chest
My love, in your hand
That hand were perfectly
My heart beat (past tense)
My love
in your hand
That hand were perfectly
My heart beat (past tense)
Source: lyricstranslate.com
Max – Pomba Branca
White Dove
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
I was a child and walked barefoot
Because the earth warmed me
And my eyes were long
When night fell asleep
Ships came from the countries
And I smiled, I dreamed
They wore clothes, happy
The children from the countries
In these boats to arrive
Because the earth warmed me
And my eyes were long
When night fell asleep
Ships came from the countries
And I smiled, I dreamed
They wore clothes, happy
The children from the countries
In these boats to arrive
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
Then later, when I lost
By streets of other cities
I sang my love to the wind
Because I felt Saudades
Saudades of my place
The first love of life
That instant approaching
The fields, from my place
On arrival and departure
By streets of other cities
I sang my love to the wind
Because I felt Saudades
Saudades of my place
The first love of life
That instant approaching
The fields, from my place
On arrival and departure
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
White dove, white dove
I already lost your fly.
In that far land
All covered by the sea
Amália Rodrigues – Canção do Mar
Song of the Sea
Solitude of those who trembled to temptation
From the sky and the stunts that heaven gave me
It will be me on this veil of tears.
From the sky and the stunts that heaven gave me
It will be me on this veil of tears.
Without knowing if I cry some sin
Shaking I beg the closed sky.
Shaking I beg the closed sky.
Sad love someone's love
When another love we have.
Abandoned and I did not abandon myself
For me, no one ever stops on the road.
When another love we have.
Abandoned and I did not abandon myself
For me, no one ever stops on the road.
Sad love someone's love
When another love we have.
Abandoned and I did not abandon myself
For me, no one ever stops on the road.
When another love we have.
Abandoned and I did not abandon myself
For me, no one ever stops on the road.
Dulce Pontes – Canção do Mar
Canção do Mar is a wonderful song, and we feel that we should show you Dulce Pontes version of the song as well because is so beautiful as the original, being really powerful in emotion as well.
Song of the Sea
I went dancing in my boat.
Beyond the cruel sea
And the sea roaring
Says that I went to steal
The unparalleled light
Of your pretty look
Beyond the cruel sea
And the sea roaring
Says that I went to steal
The unparalleled light
Of your pretty look
Come here find out if the sea will be right
Come here and see my heart dance.
Come here and see my heart dance.
If I dance in my boat
I will not go to the cruel sea
And I do not even tell him where I went to sing
To smile, to dance, to live, to dream about you
I will not go to the cruel sea
And I do not even tell him where I went to sing
To smile, to dance, to live, to dream about you
Come here find out if the sea will be right
Come here and see my heart dance.
Come here and see my heart dance.
If I dance in my boat
I will not go to the cruel sea
And I do not even tell him where I went to sing
To smile, to dance, to live, to dream about you
I will not go to the cruel sea
And I do not even tell him where I went to sing
To smile, to dance, to live, to dream about you
Dulce Pontes – Lusitana Paixão
Lusitanian passion
Fado… to cry the sadness well
Fado… to fall asleep with the pain
Fado… only when Saudade comes
Forcing out of my past
A great love
But… I do not condemn this passion
This pain of the words
That the guitar is also moaning
I do not, I will not ask for forgiveness
When enjoying sin
And to come back to give me
Because I want to be happy
And the misfortune is not spoken
I do not want what the Fado wants to say.
Fado… to sob memories
Fado… to revive such a pain
Fado… only when Saudade comes
Forcing out of my past a great love
But, I do not condemn this passion
The pain of the words
That the guitar is also moaning
I do not, I will not ask for forgiveness
When enjoying sin
And to come back to give me
I know that aspect that is in us
Soulful Lusitanian
As the legend of Severa
Because I want to be happy
And the misfortune is not spoken.
The Fado does not make me regret.
Nb: We do not own any of these videos and we are not trying to infringe copyright here.
What is your favourite song?
Have a good day and week!
Jesika & Mariana
Music
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