Fado was born in the humble neighbourhoods of Lisbon like Mouraria and Alfama, and they are many theories about its origins.
It`s status was very different from now a days. It was
sang in doubtful reputation bars, were regular customers where prostitutes and sailors.
Fado has a melancholic melody and dramatic singing, but
there are many different types of Fado
like: Fado de Coimbra, Fado vadio,
Desgarrada and also cheerful Fado
as for example Sr. Vinho by Amália, our greatest Fado Queen.
The singer (Fadista,
is normally accompanied by a Portuguese guitar,that sounds like a guitar crying
(trinar de uma guitarra), and during
many years lady Fado singers used a
black cape around their shoulders.
Usually songs speak about lost loves, sadness and saudade, the Portuguese word without
direct translation but meaning something like nostalgia.
In the 90 became part of the circuit of world music,
and since then has been captivating people all around the globe.
Since November 2011, is heritage of Humanity, for
delight of Portuguese people.
The new generation of Fado with names like, Mariza,
Ana Moura, Carminho, Cuca Roseta, Joana Amendoeira among others, have been
captivating more and more people.
I was born in one of the most famous neighbourhoods of
Lisbon, Bairro Alto, and I remember walking
on the streets after school and seeing Tabernas
(popular bars for working class men), full of man, and listening Fado being
sang without guitar with all man silent to listen to it. Because in Portugal
before any one sings someone says: Silencio que se vai cantar o
Fado (silence that Fado will
sang)!!!!