In 200… Read Full Bio ↴Official site (with long song extracts): www.carminho.net
In 2009, Carminho sang "Fado". This was her fado, the one she owned since an early age, when she listened to her parents’ records, when she witnessed the gathering of fado singers in her own house and when, still a teenager, she began to sing in the Taverna do Embuçado. This "Fado" was the title of her first album, which was one of the most awaited albums in the new generation of fado singers: for those who had already heard Carminho, her talent was obvious, but they had to wait – until she finished her graduation, until she travelled the world, until she knew who she really was.
And her "Fado" became one of the most acclaimed albums in 2009. It went Platinum – an enviable outcome for a debut album. With "Fado", Portugal surrendered to Carminho’s voice and the doors of the world opened to her talent. It was considered best album 2011 by Songlines magazine, she had shows in European capital cities, in Womex 2011 (Copenhagen) and in the UNESCO headquarters, in Paris, within the scope of Fado as World Heritage candidate. Then came the invitation to participate in Pablo Alborán’s album, which became a phenomenon of popularity in both Portugal and Spain.
It was about time that “Fado” had a worthy successor. And it's just around the corner. On 5th March, Carminho reveals her "Alma" (Portuguese word for soul) with 15 new songs, an album again produced and directed by Diogo Clemente, again wisely combining cover versions and originals (in the special edition, the album has 17 songs and a DVD with Carminho live in concertin May 2011 at Lux Frágil, Lisbon.
The cover versions are less evident. Some not so well known songs by Amália ("Cabeça de Vento"), Maria Amélia Proença ("À Beira do Cais") or Fernanda Maria ("As Pedras da Minha Rua"), but also from Chico Buarque ("Meu Namorado", de "O Grande Circo Místico") or Vinicius de Moraes ("Saudades do Brasil em Portugal"). The original songs are by Diogo Clemente ("Bom Dia, Amor", about poet Fernando Pessoa), Mário Pacheco ("Talvez", lyrics by Vasco Graça Moura), and Vitorino ("Fado Adeus"). And there are also some new lyrics for traditional fado tunes – one of them, "Folha", written by Carminho herself, and another one, "Impressão Digital", a poem by António Gedeão.
And it is this mixture of past and present that allows us to unveil the future of Fado, in the unrivalled voice of Carminho. A voice which, in her second album, sustains all that Carminho sings in "Talvez": "I might not know who you are, but I know who I am”.
In 2017, she released a Tom Jobim covers album, titled "Carminho Canta Tom Jobim".
Official site (with long song extracts): www.carminho.net
Marcha de Alfama
Carminho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E hoje parece
Mais nova ainda
Iluminou as janelas
Reparem nelas
Como está linda.
Vestiu a blusa clarinha
Que é da vizinha
E pôs a saia garrida
Que só é vestida
Em dias de festa
Becos escadinha ruas estreitinhas
Onde em cada esquina há uma bailarico
Trovas p'las vielas e em todas elas
Perfume de manjerico
Risos gargalhadas, fados desgarradas,
Hoje em Alfama é um demónio
E em cada canto um suave encanto
De um trono de Santo António.
Já se não ouvem cantigas
E as raparigas
De olhos cansados
Ainda aproveitam o ensejo
De mais um beijo
Dos namorados
Já se ouvem sinos tocando
Galos cantando
Á desgarrada
E mesmo assim dona Alfama
Só volta p'rá cama
Quando é madrugada.
Carminho's song Marcha de Alfama is a beautiful ode to the neighborhood of Alfama, located in Lisbon. The first verse states that, despite the passage of time, Alfama remains timeless and youthful. The singer remarks on the beauty of the illuminated windows and the modest dress of the people in the neighborhood. She also notes that Alfama is looking particularly lovely today. The second verse describes the charming and narrow streets of Alfama, where at every corner there's a dance party, and music can be heard echoing through the alleys along with the scent of basil. The atmosphere is joyous and boisterous as the locals celebrate the feast day of Saint Anthony, who was born in the neighborhood of Alfama. The final verse refers to the end of the night, where the sound of church bells and roosters can be heard, but the party in Alfama continues until the early hours of the morning.
Line by Line Meaning
Alfama não envelhece
Alfama, a Lisbon neighborhood, doesn't age
E hoje parece
And today it seems
Mais nova ainda
Even younger than before
Iluminou as janelas
It lit up the windows
Reparem nelas
Look at them
Como está linda.
How beautiful they are.
Vestiu a blusa clarinha
It put on a light blouse
Que é da vizinha
That belongs to the neighbor
É mais modesta
It's more modest
E pôs a saia garrida
And put on a festive skirt
Que só é vestida
That is only worn
Em dias de festa
On days of celebration
Becos escadinha ruas estreitinhas
Alleyways, stairs, small streets
Onde em cada esquina há uma bailarico
Where on every corner there's a party
Trovas p'las vielas e em todas elas
Verses sung along the alleys
Perfume de manjerico
The scent of basil
Risos gargalhadas, fados desgarradas,
Laughs, cries, traditional songs
Hoje em Alfama é um demónio
Today in Alfama it's a hell of a party
E em cada canto um suave encanto
And in every corner there's a sweet charm
De um trono de Santo António.
From a throne of Saint Anthony
Já se não ouvem cantigas
The songs aren't heard anymore
E as raparigas
And the girls
De olhos cansados
With tired eyes
Ainda aproveitam o ensejo
Still seize the opportunity
De mais um beijo
Of one more kiss
Dos namorados
From their sweethearts
Já se ouvem sinos tocando
Now the bells are ringing
Galos cantando
The roosters are crowing
Á desgarrada
Singing back and forth
E mesmo assim dona Alfama
And even so, lady Alfama
Só volta p'rá cama
Only goes back to bed
Quando é madrugada.
When it's dawn.
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
alzira fragoso
Verdade Espetacular esta Fadista nao sei como nao tem mais coments sem palavras Carminho
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