Cristina Branco was born in December, 1972, in Almeirim, Ribatejo, Portugal… Read Full Bio ↴Cristina Branco was born in December, 1972, in Almeirim, Ribatejo, Portugal, where she still lives. Her music is deeply rooted in tradition, yet essentially modern.

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.

Estranha Forma De Vida
Cristina Branco Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Foi por vontade de Deus
Que eu vivo nesta ansiedade.
Que todos os ais são meus,
Que é toda a minha saudade.
Foi por vontade de Deus.

Que estranha forma de vida
Tem este meu coração:

Vive de forma perdida;
Quem lhe daria o condão?
Que estranha forma de vida.

Coração independente,
Coração que não comando:
Vive perdido entre a gente,
Teimosamente sangrando,
Coração independente.

Eu não te acompanho mais:
Para, deixa de bater.
Se não sabes aonde vais,

Porque teimas em correr,
Eu não te acompanho mais.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cristina Branco's song "Estranha Forma De Vida" (Strange Way of Life) speak of the singer's deep sense of longing and sadness, which she believes is caused by the will of God. She feels that all the pain and sadness she experiences is hers alone, and that it is a fundamental part of who she is. The line "Que estranha forma de vida" (What strange way of life) repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's struggle to understand the nature of her emotions and the way in which she experiences life.

The second verse speaks of the singer's heart, which is described as living in a "strange way." It is independent and uncontrollable, existing in a state of constant longing that nobody can fully comprehend. The final verse is a plea from the singer to her heart. She expresses a desire to detach herself from its pain and confusion, but ultimately recognizes that it cannot be ignored or silenced.

One interesting fact about this song is that it was originally written by Portuguese artist Amalia Rodrigues in 1950. "Estranha Forma De Vida" has since become one of Rodrigues' most famous songs, and has been covered by many artists over the years. Another interesting fact is that the song was used in the 2000 film "All About My Mother" by Spanish director Pedro Almodovar. Finally, the song is often associated with the Portuguese musical style known as fado, which emphasizes passion, sadness, and longing.

Chords:
Unfortunately, we cannot provide the chords as they are copyrighted and not publicly available.

Line by Line Meaning

Foi por vontade de Deus
I live in this restless state because God willed it. All my sorrows and longing are mine because of Him.

Que estranha forma de vida
My heart lives in a peculiar and unconventional way that cannot be easily understood by others.

Tem este meu coração:
My heart is filled with chaos and uncertainty.

Vive de forma perdida
It wanders aimlessly without direction or purpose.

Quem lhe daria o condão?
Who could give it the power to change?

Coração independente
My heart beats with its own will and chooses its own path.

Coração que não comando:
I cannot control it, though I try.

Vive perdido entre a gente
It feels lost and out of place among people.

Teimosamente sangrando
Despite its struggles, it continues to bleed and ache stubbornly.

Eu não te acompanho mais:
I can no longer keep up with my heart's erratic beat.