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.

Maio maduro maio
Cristina Branco Lyrics

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Maio maduro Maio
Quem te pintou
Quem te quebrou o encanto
Nunca te amou
Raiava o Sol já no Sul
E uma falua vinha
Lá de Istambul

Sempre depois da sesta
Chamando as flores
Era o dia da festa
Maio de amores
Era o dia de cantar
E uma falua andava
Ao longe a varar

Maio com meu amigo
Quem dera já
Sempre depois do trigo
Se cantará
Que importa a fúria do mar
Que a voz não te esmoreça
Vamos lutar

Numa rua comprida
El-rei pastor
Vende o soro da vida
Que mata a dor
Venham ver, Maio nasceu

Que a voz não te esmoreça
A turba rompeu

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Maio maduro Maio" by Cristina Branco describe the month of May in Portugal, which is traditionally associated with the arrival of the spring season and the beginning of summer. The song is about the celebration of life and love during this festive time of the year. The lyrics start by asking who painted and broke the enchantment of May, implying that some force may have spoiled the moment of happiness that the month of May represents. The reference to Istanbul and the falua boat indicates the cross-cultural influences present in Portugal during the Age of Discovery.

The lyrics continue to describe the typical May Day festivities, with people calling out to the flowers and celebrating love. A falua boat is mentioned again, this time sailing in the distance. The singer then speaks to a friend, expressing a wish to sing with them and defying the sea's ferocity. The song ends with a reference to a street vendor selling the "elixir of life" that supposedly cures pain, while the crowd breaks into song.

Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of a traditional May Day celebration in Portugal, while also making references to some of the historical and cultural influences that shaped the country.

Line by Line Meaning

Maio maduro Maio
The mature month of May

Quem te pintou
Who colored you

Quem te quebrou o encanto
Who broke your spell

Nunca te amou
Never loved you

Raiava o Sol já no Sul
The sun was already rising in the south

E uma falua vinha
And a felucca was coming

Lá de Istambul
From Istanbul

Sempre depois da sesta
Always after the nap

Chamando as flores
Calling the flowers

Era o dia da festa
It was the day of the feast

Maio de amores
May of love