Argentina Santos (Maria Argentina Pinto dos Santos, Mouraria, Lisbon, Portu… Read Full Bio ↴Argentina Santos (Maria Argentina Pinto dos Santos, Mouraria, Lisbon, Portugal, 6 February 1924 - 18 November 2019) was a Portuguese fado singer, considered one of the last divas.
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.”
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.”
As 2 Santas
Argentina Santos Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Argentina Santos:
A Minha Pronúncia Tenho visto muito bem Quando canto quem sorri D'uma for…
Duas Almas Vi-te pela primeira vez E logo no mesmo instante Senti no pe…
Reviver o Passado Fui à procura do fado P'ra saber onde vivia Corri toda …
Vida Vivida Volta atrás vida vivida Para eu tornar a ver Aquela vida per…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Carlos Maza
Vi a mi madre rezando
A los pies de la Virgen María
Era una santa escuchando
Lo que otra santa decía
Acunando mis sueños
En los brazos de cuando en cuando
Sus ojos iban mirando
La infinidad de los cielos
Pidiendo a Dios por mí
Vi a mi madre rezando
Su pecho era un sagrario
Donde el amor refulgía
Presa de atroz agonía
Viendo mi triste destino
De lágrimas hizo un rosario
A los pies de la Virgen María
Y cuando un día, sin embargo
A sus pies de rodillas
Ella contaba, llorando
El amargor que la vida tiene
Pensé que mi madre
Era una santa escuchando
Isabel Alves Vieira
Eu vi minha mãe rezando
Aos pés da Virgem Maria
Era uma santa escutando
O que outra santa dizia
Embalando os sonhos meus
Nos braços de quando em quando
Seus olhos iam fitando
O infinito dos céus
A pedir por mim a Deus
Eu vi minha mãe rezando
O seu peito era um sacrário
Onde o amor refulgia
Presa a atroz agonia
Vendo o meu triste fadário
De lágrimas fez um rosário
Aos pés da Virgem Maria
E quando um dia, porém
Aos seus pés ajoelhando
Ele contava, chorando
O travo que a vida tem
Eu julguei que a minha mãe
Era uma santa escutando
Carlos Maza
Vi a mi madre rezando
A los pies de la Virgen María
Era una santa escuchando
Lo que otra santa decía
Acunando mis sueños
En los brazos de cuando en cuando
Sus ojos iban mirando
La infinidad de los cielos
Pidiendo a Dios por mí
Vi a mi madre rezando
Su pecho era un sagrario
Donde el amor refulgía
Presa de atroz agonía
Viendo mi triste destino
De lágrimas hizo un rosario
A los pies de la Virgen María
Y cuando un día, sin embargo
A sus pies de rodillas
Ella contaba, llorando
El amargor que la vida tiene
Pensé que mi madre
Era una santa escuchando
camelotrooms
Gosto da maneira como ela canta com tanta paixão, intensidade, e amor!
Energia poderosa.
Esta a cantar para os anjos.
Luciano Silva
Belíssimo fado. Interpretação fabulosa e grande artista!
Ana Esmeralda Fadista
Muito lindo este Fado Velho! A Letra é de Augusto Martins e a música de José António Sabrosa e não de José Maria dos Cavalinhos como alguém está aqui a dizer! Esse Autor é da música do Fado Anadia E o autor não é esse pk isto não é o Fado Anadia mas sim o Fado Velho. Felizmente ainda sei diferenciar as músicas! Ms tbm há quem o cante no Fado Anadia...ela mesma o canta tbm no Fado Anadia, no Franklin e noutras músicas mas este aqui é o Fado Velho. A BEM DO FADO!!! Abreijos.
guilherme caetano
E dedicado á minha MÃE, ela tambem gostava deste fado
João Valério
provavelmente a Maior Diva do fado viva.que qualidade
Luisa Carvalho
Lindo
Arcelindo do Carmo Lopes
Partiste grande fadista mas os teus lindos fados sao eternos
Ana Esmeralda Fadista
A letra é tão linda! Pena que eu não entendo certas partes em que ela canta. Pudiam pôr aqui a letra do fado nao? Obrigado. Bem haja ao fado!
Isabel Alves Vieira
Eu vi minha mãe rezando
Aos pés da Virgem Maria
Era uma santa escutando
O que outra santa dizia
Embalando os sonhos meus
Nos braços de quando em quando
Seus olhos iam fitando
O infinito dos céus
A pedir por mim a Deus
Eu vi minha mãe rezando
O seu peito era um sacrário
Onde o amor refulgia
Presa a atroz agonia
Vendo o meu triste fadário
De lágrimas fez um rosário
Aos pés da Virgem Maria
E quando um dia, porém
Aos seus pés ajoelhando
Ele contava, chorando
O travo que a vida tem
Eu julguei que a minha mãe
Era uma santa escutando