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.
Redondo Vocábulo
Cristina Branco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uma soma agreste
Revelavam-se ondas
Em maninhos dedos
Polpas seus cabelos
Resíduos de lar,
Pelos degraus de Laura
A tinta caía
Congregando farpas
Chamando o telefone
Matando baratas
A fúria crescia
Clamando vingança,
Nos degraus de Laura
No quarto das danças
Na rua os meninos
Brincando e Laura
Na sala de espera
Inda o ar educa
The lyrics to Cristina Branco's song Redondo Vocábulo depict a scene of chaos and frustration. The first line, "Era um redondo vocábulo," can be translated to mean "It was a round word," which may allude to a meaningless or circular conversation or situation. The next line, "Uma soma agreste," which translates to "A harsh sum," further reinforces this idea of something difficult or unpleasant.
The following lines describe various actions and images, such as "Revelavam-se ondas" (waves revealing themselves), "Polpas seus cabelos" (her hair pulpy), "A tinta caía" (the ink was falling), and "Matando baratas" (killing cockroaches). These lines paint a picture of disorder and messiness, with things falling apart and being undone.
The final lines of the song, "Nos degraus de Laura / No quarto das danças / Na rua os meninos / Brincando e Laura / Na sala de espera / Inda o ar educa," describe a contrast between the chaos of the previous verses and a sense of order or normalcy. The children are playing outside, Laura is dancing in her room, and there is a sense of education or cultivation in the air. This may suggest that despite the difficulties and messiness of life, there are still moments of beauty and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Era um redondo vocábulo
It was a round, meaningless word
Uma soma agreste
A wild, rugged sum
Revelavam-se ondas
Waves were revealing themselves
Em maninhos dedos
In delicate fingers
Polpas seus cabelos
Caressing her hair
Resíduos de lar
Remnants of home
Pelos degraus de Laura
On Laura's steps
A tinta caía
The ink was falling
No móvel vazio
On the empty furniture
Congregando farpas
Gathering splinters
Chamando o telefone
Calling the phone
Matando baratas
Killing cockroaches
A fúria crescia
The fury was growing
Clamando vingança
Calling for revenge
Nos degraus de Laura
On Laura's steps
No quarto das danças
In the dance room
Na rua os meninos
Outside, the children
Brincando e Laura
Playing with Laura
Na sala de espera
In the waiting room
Inda o ar educa
Still, the air is educating
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ana Margarida
Redondo vocábulo
Uma soma agreste
Revelavam-se ondas
Em maninhos dedos
Polpas seus cabelos
Resíduos de lar,
Pelos degraus de Laura
A tinta caía
No móvel vazio,
Congregando farpas
Chamando o telefone
Matando baratas
A fúria crescia
Clamando vingança,
Nos degraus de Laura
No quarto das danças
Na rua os meninos
Brincavam e Laura
Na sala de espera
Inda o ar educa
Flávio Carneiro da Silva
A minha interpretação desta música é a seguinte: este poema fala de Laura e das suas crianças, numa vida marcada pelo desejo do regresso do marido/pai que está no ultramar. Fala da decadência de uma casa em que Laura tem que ser mãe, ser pai e ser dona de casa, enquanto sofre pelo regresso do marido, quem sabe ferido, quem sabe morto.
Seja como for, esta música é lindíssima e muito bem interpretada pela Cristina Branco
Anália Gomes
José Afonso não deixou margem para dúvidas, declarou que a canção é a continuação de "Era de noite e levaram". Escreveu "Era um redondo vocábulo" na cadeia de Caxias, tinha sido levado de casa perante os filhos e a mulher.
Laura Milheiro
Concordo. Maravilhosa interpretação de Cristina Branco...Guerra Colonial, um drama ...
RodmanPT
Uma voz e uma presença lindas... Dá gosto ouvir, de olhos bem fechados e introspectivamente, ou de olhos bem abertos e apreciando a beleza da intérprete.
Ben van Hoogen
e bom estar na holanda e encontrar artistas portugueses...famosos e adorados
Jose Sousa
Outra bonita interpretação de Cristina Branco com uma orquestração cativante. Parabéns por este bonito trabalho.
Hugo Cunha
Zeca Afonso cantado assim arrepia. Se gostaram procurem tambem escutar o Zeca cantado por outra grande voz Portuguesa a cantora Jacinta.
João Paulo Pedrosa
A música é de facto uma das muitas que são o expoente máximo do Zeca Afonso. Muito boa esta versão, excelente o Mário Delgado na guitarra!
José Simões
Fabulosa! Bravo!
Luís Almeida
Esta versão é deslumbrante. Excelente, Cristina Branco.