I've written previously about FADO, or fate, the traditional, soul music of Portugal, first popularized globally by the late Amalia Rodrigues and today by the incredible Mariza (see 4/22/09 and 3/8/09 posts). Before I experienced Mariza, my favorite fadista was a young woman named Ana Maria Bobone. Always on the hunt for fado, perhaps 12 years ago, I went to the beautiful NJ Performing Arts Center for a "fado package show" and there she was. I was mezmerized by her hauntingly beautiful voice and her beauty. I had never heard a voice like that and it stuck in my head. I saw her again live there a year later and then she hosted a program on fado on RTP, Portuguese television for a year or so. Surfing YouTube, I chanced upon some clips of Ana Maria Bobone and wanted to share them with you. They do not fully showcase her artistry, but they will give you a sense of how well-suited she is to fado. Her star is somewhat overshadowed by Mariza and a host of other fado singers today. Regardless, Ana Maria Bobone is a true artist and I hope we'll be hearing more from her.
"Nome De Mar"
"Azenha"
"Que Deus Me Perdoe" (very strangely, a guy is painting pidgeon sculptures; try to ignore him!)
"Fado cannot be explained, it must be felt and experienced." What is fado? The "soul music" of Portugal. Fado means fate and destiny and its songs are filled with despair, mourning, unrequited love, death. Yes, there are many which are cheery and positive, but most of fado, in my view, is centered on lamentation--a longing for something or someone you cannot have. I've long maintained that, in addition to Portuguese and African influences, fado is largely informed by what was formerly called Arabia. The Moors ruled Portugal for a few hundred years and left an imprint on the culture. Whatever the roots, I love fado, good fado, and the embodiment of this musical genre is Amalia Rodrigues, or simply, Amalia. From 1939 to 1999, the year of her death, there was only one "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado") and that was Amalia. Her catalogue of masterpiece recordings is unequalled by any artist and her collaboration with the leading Portuguese composers is nothing less than historic, including Alain Oulman of France, who took Amalia to a new height by putting music to the poems of Camoes for her. She was also an exceptionally talented songwriter. As achild, I saw Amalia perform live in the U.S. at least twice, but it is her landmark concert at Town Hall in 1990 that was simply overwhelming for me. There she was, 70 years old and not at her best voice, but she took the stage in her black gown, with a group of guitarists behind her. For the next 90 minutes or so, she ran through 50 years of Portuguese history via fado. A second highlight for me was seeing, three times, a musical in Lisbon based on her life which I hope will eventually make it to the States. While there, I visited her tomb at the National Pantheon, where she lies alongside the great historical figures of Portugal. Following are some videos, few of which do her justice. The inheritor of Amalia's crown is MARIZA, whom I wrote about on March 8. Like Amalia before her, MARIZA is bringing fado to the world.
My favorite singer, MARIZA. Inheritor of Amalia Rodrigues' crown as the QUEEN of FADO, the ethereal MARIZA is reenergizing the folk music of Portugal. She is the Seurat of Fado...and the Portuguese guitar was crafted by the gods for her voice and visage...
Gente da minha terra... The people of my country, my land... On the Letterman Show, more stripped down, the way FADO truly shimmers...
Medo... Fear... With full orchestra...
Locoura... Insanity, crazy mad... With full orchestra...
Second version... Gente da minha terra... The people of my country, my land... With full orchestra ...Demonstrates the love audiences have for MARIZA
I've written previously about FADO, or fate, the traditional, soul music of Portugal, first popularized globally by the late Amalia Rodrigues and today by the incredible Mariza (see 4/22/09 and 3/8/09 posts). Before I experienced Mariza, my favorite fadista was a young woman named Ana Maria Bobone. Always on the hunt for fado, perhaps 12 years ago, I went to the beautiful NJ Performing Arts Center for a "fado package show" and there she was. I was mezmerized by her hauntingly beautiful voice and her beauty. I had never heard a voice like that and it stuck in my head. I saw her again live there a year later and then she hosted a program on fado on RTP, Portuguese television for a year or so. Surfing YouTube, I chanced upon some clips of Ana Maria Bobone and wanted to share them with you. They do not fully showcase her artistry, but they will give you a sense of how well-suited she is to fado. Her star is somewhat overshadowed by Mariza and a host of other fado singers today. Regardless, Ana Maria Bobone is a true artist and I hope we'll be hearing more from her. 
