Fado is Portugal’s main traditional music. Folk music and dancing, however, also remain as this country’sfundamental forms of musical expression.
The word fado means fate in Portuguese, however given the sad nature of the music, we think that the word lament is more appropriate. The fado is Portugal's pride and joy, and the country's national musical treasure.
It is also the least accessible form of Portuguese music. When done properly, it is beautiful and touching, when done poorly it can be pompous and self serving. It is a lyrical and sentimental music, and is thought to have its roots in African Slave music.
The music has come to be identified with a general sense of frustration and a unique Portuguese fatalism.
There are two versions of the fado. One from Alfama and Mouraria, districts of Lisbon, and the other from Coimbra. The Lisbon fado is more personal and full of feeling, and the Coimbra fado is more academic and reflects that cities ancient university traditions.
The theme of any fado is usually love, albeit unrequited, but there are fados written in other subjects.
In the fado, the singer - the fadista - stands dressed in black in front of the audience, and behind the fadista are the musicians. When the fadista sings a hush falls over the room, and no food is served.
Those who love the fado have an almost worshipful relationship with it.
As you might expect the fadista gets all the glory. The most famous, and the best, fadista was Amália Rodrigues, who died in 1999, and is famous worldwide. Other famous names are Carlos do Carmo, Alfredo Marceneiro, Hermínia Silva, Rodrigo, Maria Alice and Tristão da Silva. More recently the most sounding name in the fado music is Mariza, a young and dynamic fadista that has moved the hearts of thousands of people around the globe. Portugal is proud of its music and it is best heard in the fado houses.
To listen to fado in Lisbon, visit our
What’s On in Lisbon guide.
