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.
Cansaço
Cristina Branco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De olhos fixados nos meus?
Alguém que passou por cá
E seguiu ao deus-dará
Deixando os olhos nos meus.
Quem dorme na minha cama,
E tenta sonhar meus sonhos?
Alguém morreu nesta cama,
Misturada nos meus sonhos.
Tudo o que faço ou não faço,
Outros fizeram assim
Daí este meu cansaço
De sentir que quanto faço
Não é feito só por mim.
In Cristina Branco's song "Cansaço," the singer appears to be haunted by ghosts of the past, both figuratively and literally. The first verse addresses someone who is behind the mirror, staring fixedly back at the singer. This could represent the singer's inner self or conscience, reflecting back at her or someone she used to know who left their mark on her. The second verse talks about someone who sleeps in the singer's bed, attempting to dream her dreams. However, the singer is aware that someone died in that bed and feels like their ghost is calling to her in her dreams.
The chorus is a lament for the singer's weariness, as she struggles with the feeling that everything she does has been done before, and nothing she does is truly her own. She feels as if she is carrying the weight of the past on her shoulders, and this is overwhelming her with exhaustion.
Line by Line Meaning
Por trás do espelho quem está
Who is behind the mirror, staring into my eyes?
Alguém que passou por cá
Someone who has already been through here.
E seguiu ao deus-dará
And went about their business without a care.
Deixando os olhos nos meus.
Leaving their gaze fixated on me.
Quem dorme na minha cama,
Who is sleeping in my bed?
E tenta sonhar meus sonhos?
And trying to dream my dreams?
Alguém morreu nesta cama,
Someone has died in this bed.
E lá de longe me chama
And from afar, calls out to me.
Misturada nos meus sonhos.
Mixed into my dreams.
Tudo o que faço ou não faço,
Everything I do or don't do,
Outros fizeram assim
Others have done the same.
Daí este meu cansaço
Hence, my exhaustion.
De sentir que quanto faço
Of feeling that everything I do
Não é feito só por mim.
Is not done solely by me.
Contributed by Skyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Emma Rose
Amazing song...amazing voice, and amazing singer!
Manuel Amaro
A voz cristalina de Cristina Branco.
Aries Paicean
I understand not a word of the song she sings, but listening to her sing makes my tears well in my eyes. That's the power of music.
Cristina Branco is great!
Adélia Quina
MARAVILHOSA
janne vain
Love Christina Branco, not traditional fado, her singing crosses borders. Absolutely beatiful, greetings from Finland.
Robert De Oliveira
um dos meus fados preferidos:lindissima intrepretaçao pessoalissima
manuel antónio figueiredo teles
Que Fadista esta que canta e encanta. sorte para Holandeses Belgas e Franceses onde canta com frequência.
Parabéns.
Mel Vieira
Minha versão favorita deste fado. Belíssima interpretação.
TMeloFado
I Love You Cristina!! You are incredible!!
janne vain
Beatifull. Vocals and presention are both 10+.