Argentina Santos, since 1950 at the head of her restaurant “Parreirinha de Alfama”, was born in Lisbon, in the Mouraria quarter.
Unlike other renowned women singers who at very young age already sang Fado in public, Argentina Santos only started her artistic career after the opening of the restaurant, where she went to work as a cook, 24 years old. After leaving the kitchen, Argentina Santos walked round the tables, always asked to sing a Fado. Her answer became a legend: “I’m here to cook for my clients”.
At “Parreirinha de Alfama”, Argentina Santos sang with many fado singers who marked the History of Fado in Portugal: Berta Cardoso, Lucília do Carmo, Alfredo Marceneiro, Celeste Rodrigues, Mariana Silva, Natércia da Conceição, Natália Bizarro, Helena Tavares, Maria da Fé, Leonor Santos, Beatriz da Conceição, Fernanda Maria – who started her career at “Parreirinha de Alfama” –, Flora Pereira, Júlio Peres, among many others.
Thanks to the authenticity of her interpretations and to a very personal style, she immediately imposed herself as one of the most gifted and promising Fado singers of her time, becoming since then, for the experts and melomaniacs of Fado, a trustworthy interpreter of the Song, in the line of women singers of the past. The Fado songs “As Duas Santas” (The two Holy Women) and “Juras” (Swears) were, among others, great successes of this artist who released her first record in 1960.
The non recording and the refuse to make shows led her to the interruption of a more than promising career. A lot was said over this attitude. About that period of her life, says the singer: “By that time I had a mate who didn’t like to see me singing in public. Two years after his death I married again and I had the same problem. Now that I’m free, I seize the invitations addressed to me. The opposite of before, when I had to refuse them. I’m very well received abroad and that gives me great pleasure, for what I really like is to sing. To sing, how Maria da Fé says, ‘till my voice hurts’ (lyrics of a Fado song)”.
Although mostly confined to her performances at “Parreirinha de Alfama” and one or other presentation in public or private shows, that didn’t stop Argentina Santos to become known and appreciated as a genuine woman singer, perhaps one of the most representative ones of the traditional school of Fado.
Currently, she is the most requested Portuguese fado singer, dignifying and divulging Fado throughout the world, our most representative Song, in a unique and sublime way, fairly acclaimed as the last woman singer of Fado of Lisbon’s Song old tradition.
Venezuela, Curaçao, Brazil, France (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999), Konzerthaus in Vienna - Ostrich, Queen Elisabeth Hall in London - England, La Cité de La Musique in Paris - France, Cathedral of Marseille - France, Dufe Paris - Greece, Holland, Scotland, the Italian tour in Perugia, Modena and Torino, are some of the international concerts of this pure and genuine artist. In Portugal she performed at Coliseu dos Recreios, Teatro da Trindade, Teatro Eunice Muñoz, Teatro Roma (with Simone de Oliveira), at the re-opening of Teatro Tivoli and at Centro Cultural de Belém.
In 2004, she was rendered homage with a career concert, during the event “Festa do Fado”, in Lisbon.
Argentina Santos is Fado in its most genuine and fascinating expression. Argentina Santos is the voice of Fado and Portugal.”
A minha Pronuncia
Argentina Santos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quando canto quem sorri
D'uma forma que afinal
Mostra não saber porém
Que a pronúncia é o sentir
Da nossa terra natal
Que a pronúncia é o sentir
Da nossa terra natal
Sem R não se escrevia
A palavra coração
Onde vibra, tantas vezes
A tristeza e alegria
Ternas virtudes que são
Bem próprias de portugueses
A tristeza e alegria
Ternas virtudes que são
Bem próprias de portugueses
Sem R, nem a guitarra
Teria o nome que tem
Nem se escrevia o valor
De Portugal, nossa amarra
Onde se sente tão bem
A terna palavra amor
De Portugal, nossa amarra
Onde se sente tão bem
A terna palavra amor
Há muita gente que ri
E tem no riso à denúncia
Da sua grande fraqueza
Pode crer, ri-se de si
Quem ri da minha pronúncia
Porque ela é bem portuguesa
Pode crer, ri-se de si
Quem ri da minha pronúncia
Porque ela é bem portuguesa
In "A Minha Pronúncia," Argentina Santos sings about her Portuguese pronunciation and how it reflects her connection to her homeland. The first verse conveys how Santos has observed that people smile when she sings, but they do not understand that her pronunciation is an expression of the feeling and culture of her Portuguese heritage. She then explains the importance of the letter "R" in the Portuguese language and how it is crucial to the pronunciation that can evoke joyful and sorrowful emotions so characteristic of the Portuguese.
Santos also talks about how the letter "R" gives the guitar its name and, without it, the value of Portugal would not be expressed. Santos believes that many people laugh or mock her for her accent, but they are unaware that it is a direct representation of her identity as a Portuguese woman. In the final lines, Santos speaks directly to those who mock her, declaring that anyone who mocks her pronunciation also mocks her Portuguese heritage, which she holds in high esteem.
Overall, "A Minha Pronúncia" is a powerful testament to the importance of preserving one's language and heritage. For Santos, her pronunciation is an integral part of her identity, and it cannot be separated from her love for her homeland.
Line by Line Meaning
Tenho visto muito bem
I have noticed very well
Quando canto quem sorri
When I sing, people smile
D'uma forma que afinal
In a way that, after all,
Mostra não saber porém
Shows that they don't know, however,
Que a pronúncia é o sentir
That pronunciation is the feeling
Da nossa terra natal
Of our homeland
Sem R não se escrevia
Without the R, they didn't write
A palavra coração
The word heart
Onde vibra, tantas vezes
Where sadness and joy often vibrate
A tristeza e alegria
Sadness and joy
Ternas virtudes que são
Endearing virtues that are
Bem próprias de portugueses
Very characteristic of Portuguese people
Sem R, nem a guitarra
Without the R, the guitar
Teria o nome que tem
Wouldn't have the name it has
Nem se escrevia o valor
The value wasn't even written
De Portugal, nossa amarra
From Portugal, our anchor
Onde se sente tão bem
Where you feel so good
A terna palavra amor
The tender word love
Há muita gente que ri
There are many people who laugh
E tem no riso à denúncia
And in their laughter, there is an accusation
Da sua grande fraqueza
Of their great weakness
Pode crer, ri-se de si
Believe me, they are laughing at themselves
Quem ri da minha pronúncia
Those who laugh at my pronunciation
Porque ela é bem portuguesa
Because it is very Portuguese
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Arcelindo do Carmo Lopes
Descanca en paz grande fadista
João Morais
Mais uma grande fadista que nos deixa ! Descanso em paz
portguitar
Argentina Santos mantém a verdadeira tradição fadista e é uma destacada referência no património da nossa cultura popular!
Anildon Joaquim Mota
Argentina Santos querida és maravilhosa, única....
Francelina Marques
Mara Pedro fado soriso
jose montenegro
Grande FAdista, é um icone do meu imaginário
tiamacheta
@luisgodinho123 "Filha de Setúbal", assim reza a história... Se quiser, pode ler uma notícia sobre esta fadista, sua conterrânea, no blog Fadocravo, que tem link na home page. Obrigada por comentar
zetagamma55
Hermosa.
tiamacheta
@portguitar Sem dúvida!
tiamacheta
@1504doismilenove E vice-versa!...Obrigada por comentar.