The band's founding members were Pedro Ayres Magalhães (Classical guitar), Rodrigo Leão (keyboard synthesizer), Francisco Ribeiro (cello) and Teresa Salgueiro (vocals). Magalhães and Leão formed the band in 1985, Ribeiro joined in 1986. They'd been searching for a female singer, and found Teresa Salgueiro in one of Lisbon's night clubs. Teresa liked their music and agreed to join, so in 1987 Madredeus recorded their first album, Os dias da Madredeus.
The first album was recorded in their rehearsal space, a disused abbey in Lisbon (Convento da Madredeus. The recording was especially strenuous due to deafening interruptions every 5 minutes from Lisbon's tram service, which ran directly above. In honour of this unavoidable presence in their every performance, they named themselves after the line's nearby terminus, Madre de Deus (Mother of God), shortened to the vernacular Madredeus.
In 1993, Pedro Ayres Magalhães left the band temporarily and was replaced in live concerts by José Peixoto (Classical guitar). Magalhães rejoined the group later, making it a sextet with two guitarists.
They released several albums and became very popular in Portugal, but remained relatively unknown outside the country. This changed in 1994 when Wim Wenders, impressed by their music, asked Madredeus to perform in his movie Lisbon Story - the soundtrack gave the band international fame. Thanks to that, Madredeus spread their wings to the world and conquered fans from all over Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
In 1994 Rodrigo Leão left the band to start a solo career, being replaced by Carlos Maria Trindade (keyboard synthesizer).
In 1997 Francisco Ribeiro and Gabriel Gomes left the band as Madredeus' style started abandoning its fado roots with the release of O Paraíso. At this time Fernando Júdice (Acoustic bass guitar) was invited to join them, to form the current lineup, again a quintet. Madredeus has sold over 3 million albums worldwide.
In 2007 Teresa Salgueiro announced she would be leaving the band in order to pursue her personal solo projects.
In 2008, with a new formation and under the name of Madredeus & a Banda Cósmica, they released Metafonia.
In April 2012 Madredeus announced its new album Essencia. This album is a travel through Madredeus music for 25 years since it was formed. Madredeus announced too its new formation, composed of Beatriz Nunes (singer), Pedro Ayres de Magalhães (guitar), Carlos Maria Trinidade (synthesizer), Jorge Varrecoso (violin), Antonio Figueirido (violin) and Luis Clode (cello). With this new formation Pedro Ayres said in an interview: "The melody is much more supported, without losing harmonic and rhythmic sense and keeps walking Madredeus".
Discography
* Os Dias da MadreDeus (1987)
* Existir (1990)
* Lisboa (1992, live in Lisbon)
* O Espírito da Paz (1994)
* Ainda (1995, soundtrack from Lisbon Story)
* O Paraíso (1997)
* O Porto (1998, live at Porto)
* Antologia (2000, a compilation of 'best of' material)
* Movimento (2001)
* Palavras Cantadas (2001)
* Euforia (2002)
* Electrónico (2002)
* Um Amor Infinito (2004)
* Faluas do Tejo (2005)
* Obrigado (2006)
* Metafonia (2008)
* Essencia (2012)
* Capricho Sentimental (2015)
http://www.madredeus.com
O Mar
Madredeus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
o que vos vou dizer
Nem sei se vale a pena
Tentar-vos descrever
O Mar
O Mar
E eu fui aqui ficando
E fui envelhecendo
sem nunca o perceber
O Mar O Mar
The lyrics of Madredeus's song "O Mar" talk about the beauty and the mystery of the sea. The singer says that what he's about to say is not a poem, and he's not sure if it's worth trying to describe the sea. However, the sea is so mesmerizing that he cannot resist admiring it. He has been staying here for a while just to watch it, and while doing so, he has aged without even realizing it. The repetition of "O Mar" emphasizes the singer's fascination with the sea and his inability to put it into words.
The song captures the essence of the Portuguese soul, showing the deep connection between the country and the sea. Portugal is a country with a deep maritime history, and the sea has always played a significant role in its culture and identity. The Portuguese have inherited a strong legacy of exploration and discovery, and the sea has been a source of inspiration and longing for generations. The lyrics reflect this mysticism, as the singer seems almost spellbound by the sea's vastness and its mysteries.
Line by Line Meaning
No nenhum poema
This is not a poem
o que vos vou dizer
What I'm going to tell you
Nem sei se vale a pena
I don't even know if it's worth it
Tentar-vos descrever
To try to describe to you
O Mar
The sea
O Mar
The sea
E eu fui aqui ficando
And here I stayed
s para O poder ver
Just to be able to see it
E fui envelhecendo
And I grew old
sem nunca o perceber
Without ever truly understanding it
O Mar
The sea
O Mar
The sea
Contributed by Keira C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gisele Figueiredo
Um dos mais lindos sons do mundo inteiro ... somente comparável às óperas e às músicas clássicas, na minha humilde opinião... tão difícil de viver, mas tão difícil de esquecer Portugal... que saudades.... chega a doer...
HarryKalahan
Son galego, e a min tamén me trae moi bos recordos da infancia cando escoitaba precisamente este mesmo LP enteiro moitas veces. Son uns temas inmensamente profundos e cheos de sentimento. Enorme Madredeus!!
Neiry SLS
Gisele Figueiredo, na minha humilde opinião, brasileira admiradora das músicas portuguesa, minha canção preferida é Canção do Mar, que interpretada por Dulce Pontes me cala o coração. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_2fyB4dj4U
Tamborim Zim
Maravilhoso, comovente. Q saudades dos Madredeus autênticos, com a Teresa Salgueiro na voz e este Espírito da Paz como matriz!
RAIMUNDO NONATO MOREIRA
A voz mais linda do mundo é a de Teresa Salgueiro!
Paulo carneiro
A canção é um poema, saudades de Portugal.
Luiz Guerra
Pois a música é a voz da alma...
Carlos Gomez
Que hermosa nostalgia
Marta Molas
Una de mis canciones preferidas.
manuel roxos
Olá Marta, para mim também. E realmente linda!