She grew up far from the fado houses of Lisbon and nothing suggested that she was predestined for the fado. Like almost all young Portuguese born after the revolution of 1974, she was interested in folk music, jazz, blues, bossa nova but not in fado. She regarded it as a genre for a different generation. This lasted until her 18th birthday, when her grandfather gave her the album Rara e Inédita by Amália Rodrigues. Suddenly, Cristina Branco discovered all the emotions that the genre could offer in the close connections that arose among voice, poetry and music. The amateur singer - then studying communication sciences and still full of her ambition to become a journalist - began to develop her vocal technique and to take her new vocation seriously.
After that, Cristina studied the poems from which major fado lyrics are taken.
Since then, Cristina has worked on her fado repertory, accompanied by Custódio Castelo on guitar and as composer.
Halfway through the nineties, other young musicians also found a new means of expression in the fado and this contributed to a surprising renaissance. Just as they did, Cristina Branco began to make clear choices in which respect for the tradition went hand in hand with the desire for renewal.
There can be no doubt that Cristina Branco is developing her own style from a number of primary components. She employs a traditional group (voice, Portuguese guitar, guitar and bass guitar) and offers us concurrently a light, warm and experienced voice; she mixes the traditional fado with themes and folk songs that are personal favourites and seems always to choose the words of the best Portuguese, or even Dutch poets with discretion.
Ca Mi Queria
Cristina Branco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Galisteu Fernandiz (séc. XIII)/Miguel Carvalhinho
Dizem do meu amigo ca mi fez pesar,
Pero veio-m'ora ele, amigas, rogar:
Ca mi queria tanto prazer fazer
Quanto o queria de mim receber.
Pero veio-me ora ele jurar jura tal:
Ca mi queria tanto prazer fazer
Quanto o queria de mim receber.
Soube ele estas novas e veio ante mim,
Chorando, ai amigas, e jurou-me assim:
Ca mi queria tanto prazer fazer
Quanto o queria de mim receber.
The song "Ca Mi Queria" by Cristina Branco tells the story of a woman whose friend is accused of treating her badly. Despite this, the friend comes to her and begs for forgiveness, swearing that he wanted to bring her as much pleasure as he wished to receive from her. The lyrics are based on a medieval poem by Galisteu Fernandiz or Miguel Carvalhinho from the 13th century, which has been reimagined and set to music.
The theme of the song is the complexity of human relationships, particularly the ambiguity of love and desire. The friend's motives are called into question at the beginning of the song, as the singer's friends tell her that he has caused her pain. However, the friend's plea for forgiveness complicates things, suggesting that there may be more to their relationship than meets the eye. The use of the word "pleasure" also adds a layer of ambiguity, raising questions about what kind of relationship they had and what kind of pleasure they were seeking.
The song's emphasis on the emotional intensity of the relationship and the vulnerability of the friend underscores the fragility of human connections. Despite the accusations and doubts surrounding his behavior, the friend still desires to be close to the singer and seeks her forgiveness. It is ultimately up to her to decide whether or not to accept his apology and continue the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Dizem do meu amigo ca mi fez pesar,
They say about my friend that he made me suffer,
Pero veio-m'ora ele, amigas, rogar:
But now he comes to me, friends, to plead:
Ca mi queria tanto prazer fazer
That he wanted to give me so much pleasure
Quanto o queria de mim receber.
As much as he wanted to receive from me.
Disseram-me, ai amigas, ca mi buscou mal,
They told me, oh friends, that he pursued me wrongly,
Pero veio-me ora ele jurar jura tal:
But now he comes to swear to me like this:
Ca mi queria tanto prazer fazer,
That he wanted to give me so much pleasure
Quanto o queria de mim receber.
As much as he wanted to receive from me.
Soube ele estas novas e veio ante mim,
He heard these news and came to me,
Chorando, ai amigas, e jurou-me assim:
Crying, oh friends, and swore to me like this:
Ca mi queria tanto prazer fazer,
That he wanted to give me so much pleasure
Quanto o queria de mim receber.
As much as he wanted to receive from me.
Contributed by Micah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.