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.
Molinera
Cristina Branco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bien te lo decía yo,
Que la muerte de Manolo
Iba ser tu perdición.
Molinera, molinera
Donde vienes tu temprano?
Vengo de ver a Manolo
Unos dicen que se muere
Otros dicen que se acaba
Otros dicen que no llega
A las tres de la mañana.
The song Molinera by Cristina Branco tells a story of a woman who is warned by someone, possibly a friend or family member, that the death of Manolo would be her downfall. The woman is identified as a molinera, which means she works in a mill. The lyrics repeat the word "molinera" in the first two lines of each verse as if to emphasize her profession or status. The second verse reveals that the woman has gone to visit Manolo, who is ill or dying, and that she has heard conflicting reports of his condition. Some say he is dying, while others believe he will make it through the night.
The lyrics suggest that the woman's fate is tied to Manolo's death, but it is unclear why. It could be that she is in love with him, and his passing would leave her with a broken heart. Alternatively, Manolo could be her employer, and his death would cause her to lose her job at the mill. The song is sung in a mournful tone, with Cristina Branco's somber voice conveying the sadness and uncertainty of the situation.
Overall, Molinera is a poignant and intriguing song that leaves much to the listener's interpretation. It captures the mood and atmosphere of a small community where everyone knows everyone else's business, and gossip and rumors can have a significant impact on people's lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Molinera, molinera
Addressing a female miller
Bien te lo decía yo,
I told you so
Que la muerte de Manolo
That the death of Manolo
Iba ser tu perdición.
Would be your downfall
Molinera, molinera
Addressing a female miller
Donde vienes tu temprano?
Where are you coming from so early?
Vengo de ver a Manolo
I come from seeing Manolo
Que me han dicho, que 'stá malo.
Whom they told me is sick.
Unos dicen que se muere
Some say he's dying
Otros dicen que se acaba
Others say it's over
Otros dicen que no llega
Others say he won't make it
A las tres de la mañana.
Until three in the morning.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.