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.
Lírios
Cristina Branco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se te peço lírios
O aroma do lírio é bem diferente
E não te pedi rosas, meu amor,
Pedi-te lírios
De um lilás ardente
E as rosas, sabes bem, são de outra cor...
Só me trazes rosas
Não quero rosas tontas de perfume
Só lírios roxos
Tristes como eu sou
Como o amargo aroma de ciúme
No louco amor sem freio que te dou
Deste-me rosas
E pedi-te lírios
Vê bem como são frágeis estas rosas
Vê como pendem prestes a murchar
E os lírios que pedi não me deste
Florescem-me nas mãos para te dar
As rosas, sabes bem, são de outra cor...
Dá-me lírios
Só lírios
Meu amor
The lyrics of Cristina Branco's song Lírios are a request made to a loved one, a plea for a different kind of love. The singer asks for lilies instead of roses, as they have a different aroma, and only lilies will suffice for their passionate feelings. The singer is disappointed when they are given roses instead of lilies, rejecting the former as "silly with the perfume" and reminding the beloved that this is not what was wanted. Instead, they want purple lilies as sad as they are, representing the bitter scent of jealousy that is pervasive in the passionate love they offer.
The singer eventually gives the roses back, noting how fragile they are, and while they have not been given the desired lilies, they have flowers of their own. The last verse, "Give me lilies, only lilies, my love," underscores the desire for this specific flower and the different kind of love it represents.
Line by Line Meaning
Não me dês rosas
Se te peço lírios
O aroma do lírio é bem diferente
E não te pedi rosas, meu amor,
Pedi-te lírios
De um lilás ardente
E as rosas, sabes bem, são de outra cor...
I don't want roses if I ask for lilies. The fragrance of the lily is not the same as that of a rose. I asked you for lilies, my love, of a passionate purple. You know that roses are of a different color.
Pedi-te lírios
Só me trazes rosas
Não quero rosas tontas de perfume
Só lírios roxos
Tristes como eu sou
Como o amargo aroma de ciúme
No louco amor sem freio que te dou
I asked for lilies, but you only bring me roses. I don't want these silly, perfumed roses. I demanded only purple lilies, just as melancholic as I am, with a bitter scent of jealousy. This is the passionate, unbridled love that I give you.
Deste-me rosas
E pedi-te lírios
Vê bem como são frágeis estas rosas
Vê como pendem prestes a murchar
E os lírios que pedi não me deste
Florescem-me nas mãos para te dar
You gave me roses, but I asked for lilies. Look at how fragile these roses are, they are wilting. And yet, you haven't given me the lilies I asked for. Instead, I will cherish these beautiful lilies that blossom in my hands- they are for you, my love.
As rosas, sabes bem, são de outra cor...
Dá-me lírios
Só lírios
Meu amor
As I already told you, roses are of a different color. Give me only lilies, my love- just lilies!
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.