– CONFIDENCIAL –

FADOPortugal´s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Prepared by: Pedro Cota Dias

For: Instituto de Empresa – Executive MBA application

Date: June 2013

Part 2. More About You – Express Yourself

K. If all of the world´s cultural heritage (sports, music, fashion, architecture, literature,

painting, etc.) was contained in a time capsule, what would you include to demonstrate

the legacy of your country?

If I had the opportunity to

include in a time capsule

something that demonstrates

the legacy of my country to

the world´s cultural heritage it

would be FADO

FADO is a unique music style developed in the streets of Lisbon

during late 19th Century, as a result from the multicultural afro-brazilian

immigrant melting pot.

During the 20th century FADO became the most popular urban music

gender in Portugal and is recognized today by the majority of the

Portuguese as a symbol of the national cultural identity.

Late 19th century

FADO has gone from a music sung by

vagrants and prostitutes in the streets

and taverns of Lisbon in the late 19th

century…

Late 19th century

FADO has gone from a music sung by

vagrants and prostitutes in the streets

and taverns of Lisbon in the late 19th

century…

… to being classified as a Heritage

for Humanity by Unesco in 2011, and

performed at the greatest world

stages.

Today

FADO was a popular and

spontaneous form of music

transmitting melancholy,

sadness, fear and bitterness

associated to vagrancy and

neglected by the wealthy and

intellectual elites in Lisbon…

Mid to late 1880s

1932 - 1968 1974 2000 20111900s …

The history of FADO reflects the history of Portugal

FADO was a popular and spontaneous form of music transmitting melancholy, sadness, fear and bitterness associated to vagrancy and neglected by the wealthy and intellectual elites in Lisbon…

…But soon FADO entered the halls of palaces, brought by bourgeoisie and aristocrats that mingled in the old streets of Lisbon to hear the FADO. The sound of the piano was replaced by the simplicity of the guitar strings at the noble salons where aristocratic ladies were thrilled listening to FADO.

Mid to late 1880s

1932 - 1968 1974 2000 20111900s …

The history of FADO reflects the history of Portugal

FADO was a popular and spontaneous form of music transmitting melancholy, sadness, fear and bitterness associated to vagrancy and neglected by the wealthy and intellectual elites in Lisbon…

During the dictatorship of Salazar FADO lyrics were subjected to censorship and singers had to obtain professional licenses.

FADO lost its improvisation and spontaneous nature but gained a wider audience and projection featuring widely in theatres, radios and sound films.

A FADO “star system” raised and the Fadistas (FADO singers) became popular idols.

It was FADO´s glorious period.

Mid to late 1880s

1932 - 1968 1974 2000 20111900s …

…But soon FADO entered the halls of palaces, brought by bourgeoisie and aristocrats that mingled in the old streets of Lisbon to hear the FADO. The sound of the piano was replaced by the simplicity of the guitar strings at the noble salons where aristocratic ladies were thrilled listening to FADO.

The history of FADO reflects the history of Portugal

FADO was a popular and spontaneous form of music transmitting melancholy, sadness, fear and bitterness associated to vagrancy and neglected by the wealthy and intellectual elites in Lisbon…

…But soon FADO entered the halls of palaces, brought by bourgeoisie and aristocrats that mingled in the old streets of Lisbon to hear the FADO. The sound of the piano was replaced by the simplicity of the guitar strings at the noble salons where aristocratic ladies were thrilled listening to FADO.

During the dictatorship of Salazar FADO lyrics were subjected to censorship and singers had to obtain professional licenses.

FADO lost its improvisation and spontaneous nature but gained a wider audience and projection featuring widely in theatres, radios and sound films.

A FADO “star system” raised and the Fadistas (FADO singers) became popular idols.

It was FADO´s glorious period.

From the Portuguese Revolution days of 1974 to 1990 FADO went through a crisis. During the 1970s, FADO was connoted to Salazar´s dictator regime and the revolution spirit of progress was not consistent with the nostalgic and traditionalist tone of FADO. After the revolution, during the 1980s, people were enjoying the new regime and considered FADO as retrograde, sad and nostalgic therefore in strong contrast with the festive and futurist spirit of the rock music they were enjoying then.

Mid to late 1880s

1932 - 1968 1974 2000 20111900s …

The history of FADO reflects the history of Portugal

FADO was a popular and spontaneous form of music transmitting melancholy, sadness, fear and bitterness associated to vagrancy and neglected by the wealthy and intellectual elites in Lisbon…

…But soon FADO entered the halls of palaces, brought by bourgeoisie and aristocrats that mingled in the old streets of Lisbon to hear the FADO. The sound of the piano was replaced by the simplicity of the guitar strings at the noble salons where aristocratic ladies were thrilled listening to FADO.

During the dictatorship of Salazar FADO lyrics were subjected to censorship and singers had to obtain professional licenses.

FADO lost its improvisation and spontaneous nature but gained a wider audience and projection featuring widely in theatres, radios and sound films.

A FADO “star system” raised and the Fadistas (FADO singers) became popular idols.

It was FADO´s glorious period.

From the Portuguese Revolution days of 1974 to 1990 FADO went through a crisis. During the 1970s, FADO was connoted to Salazar´s dictator regime and the revolution spirit of progress was not consistent with the nostalgic and traditionalist tone of FADO. After the revolution, during the 1980s, people were enjoying the new regime and considered FADO as retrograde, sad and nostalgic therefore in strong contrast with the festive and futurist spirit of the rock music they were enjoying then.

The crisis started to vanish in the turn of the millennium with a new group of young and more open-minded Fadistas that have innovated aesthetically, musically and poetically.

Mid to late 1880s

1932 - 1968 19741900s

The history of FADO reflects the history of Portugal

2000 2011 …

FADO was a popular and spontaneous form of music transmitting melancholy, sadness, fear and bitterness associated to vagrancy and neglected by the wealthy and intellectual elites in Lisbon…

…But soon FADO entered the halls of palaces, brought by bourgeoisie and aristocrats that mingled in the old streets of Lisbon to hear the FADO. The sound of the piano was replaced by the simplicity of the guitar strings at the noble salons where aristocratic ladies were thrilled listening to FADO.

During the dictatorship of Salazar FADO lyrics were subjected to censorship and singers had to obtain professional licenses.

FADO lost its improvisation and spontaneous nature but gained a wider audience and projection featuring widely in theatres, radios and sound films.

A FADO “star system” raised and the Fadistas (FADO singers) became popular idols.

It was FADO´s glorious period.

From the Portuguese Revolution days of 1974 to 1990 FADO went through a crisis. During the 1970s, FADO was connoted to Salazar´s dictator regime and the revolution spirit of progress was not consistent with the nostalgic and traditionalist tone of FADO. After the revolution, during the 1980s, people were enjoying the new regime and considered FADO as retrograde, sad and nostalgic therefore in strong contrast with the festive and futurist spirit of the rock music they were enjoying then.

The crisis started to vanish in the turn of the millennium with a new group of young and more open-minded Fadistas that have innovated aesthetically, musically and poetically.

The new stance towards FADO began an outside-in movement that draw international attention and created even more awareness internally. This movement was strengthened by the trend to protect and value identity traditions in response to globalization and capitalism.

A new era of FADO was underway, a revivalist era that saw the birth of new FADO stars on the rise today.

Mid to late 1880s

1932 - 1968 1974 2000 20111900s …

The history of FADO reflects the history of Portugal

FADO is the expression of the Portuguese Soul

It should be heard in the silence of the night and the mysteries that involve

it, with a “soul that can listen” to a song that speaks about deep feelings

and emotions of the Portuguese soul.

FADO is typically sung by only one

person accompanied by one or two

guitars, particularly the Portuguese

Guitar, and wearing black.

FADO is the expression of the Portuguese Soul

FADO sings about “SAUDADE”, the most Portuguese word

(and quite difficult to describe in English)… it is about:

FATE

LONGING FOR THE TIMES PAST

PLIGHT AND DESTINY

SORROW

GRIEVING

MISSING LOST LOVERS

HURT

LOVE AND JEALOUSY

This is the “FADO that makes guitars cry”!

The Portuguese feel the FADO and the poem

deeply and in the end there is a sense of relief

and well-being that makes us want to smile.

FADO can be light and happy, particularly when

Fadistas are singing “à desgarrada”, which

consists of two Fadistas improvising verses and

singing as they go along, normally about

something funny and “picking up on each other”.

But the rhythm of FADO carries a cheerful humor that contrasts with

the melancholic content, which is possibly why it is so fascinating.

FADO is the expression of the Portuguese Soul

Undisputedly the biggest Fadista of all times.

Amália broke language and cultural barriers and took Fado to

a whole new level, both nationally and internationally.

Amália Rodrigues - The Portuguese Diva

There is a new generation of Fadistas, responsible for the

uprising of Fado and for perpetuating such a unique

heritage of Portugal´s culture

Mariza - The spearhead of the new FADO uprising

Mariza is able to maintain

the original “mystique” and

sound of FADO whilst

innovating and giving it a

more contemporary touch

Note: “Silence! The FADO will be sung…” is a popular saying to prepare the room when someone is about to start singing FADO

The poem on this slide (lyrics from the song on the video) was translated freely by the author of the presentation

It´s mine and yours, this FADOFate that binds usEven though much deniedAt the strings of a guitar

Everytime you hear the groanOf a guitar singingSoon you become lostWith a desire to weep

Oh people of my landNow I understandThis mourning that I carryWas passed on by you

And it would seem tendernessIf I let myself dandle My anguish would be biggerMy singing (would be) less sad

I would like to invite you to watch a video that is,

in my view, a great representation of FADO,

performed brilliantly by Mariza in FADO´s

hometown Lisbon.

It shows that contemporary FADO is

aesthetically and musically innovative…

…but fully reflects the emotional side and

authenticity of FADO, characteristic of the

Portuguese.

Please follow the link on the image above to watch the video

“Silence! The FADO will be sung…”