Fado is a musical expression of Portuguese tradition. It conveys a sense of melancholy, reflected in the very meaning of the word: “fate”.
Quoting Fernando Pessoa, the great Portuguese poet and writer: “Fado is neither happy nor sad. It is an episode of an interval. The Portuguese soul created it when it did not yet exist and longed for everything without having the strength to long for it. Fado is the weariness of a strong soul, Portugal’s contemptuous gaze towards the God it believed in and then abandoned.”
Fado is a symbol of identity, culture and history, and nowhere else in the world can you hear quite the same music.
If “Brazilian Portugal” has choro to make way for better samba, and “African Portugal” has morna to set the rhythm and get hips swaying, why should a sunny country, blessed with so many reasons to celebrate, close its eyes, sing of sorrow and sigh with longing? Yet, more often than not, visitors soon immerse themselves in the atmosphere and even share a furtive tear or two.
Fado originated in the 19th century, emerging spontaneously in the streets and taverns of Lisbon. Initially, it was associated with marginal and bohemian circles.
In recent years, fado has reinvented itself and experienced a revival much like the city where it was born.
Today, Casas de Fado (traditional fado houses) can be found in restaurants across the capital, but beyond Lisbon, in taverns and social clubs, the same fado is still sung.
There is something romantic about the idea that, even today, a stroll through Lisbon’s neighbourhoods might bring the sound of a FADO singer drifting through an open window.
And, of course, to discover everything there is to know about this musical tradition, a visit to the Fado Museum in Alfama is a must. People regularly gather there in silence to listen to these melodies of longing, accompanied by the sounds of the Portuguese guitar. And at night, as tradition dictates, that is when FADO truly comes into its own.
“What matters is feeling fado. Because fado is not sung, it happens. Fado is felt; it is neither understood nor explained,” said Amália Rodrigues.
And until you have the chance to experience it live, here is a specially curated playlist to introduce you to this unique musical genre.
