Amália da Piedade Rodrigues,(July 23, 1920 – October 6, 1999), also known as Amália Rodrigues was a Portuguese singer and actress. Despite official documents which give her date of birth as July 23, Rodrigues always said her birthday was July 1, 1920. She was born in Lisbon, in the rua Martim Vaz (Martim Vaz Street), neighborhood of Pena. Her father was a trumpet player and cobbler from Fundão who returned there when Amália was just over a year old, leaving her to live in Lisbon with her maternal grandmother in a deeply Catholic environment until she was 14, when her parents returned to the capital and she moved back in with them. She was known as the "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado") and was most influential in popularizing the fado worldwide. In fact, she was one of the most important figures in the genre’s development, and enjoyed a 40-year recording and stage career. Rodrigues' performances and choice of repertoire pushed fado’s boundaries and helped redefine it and reconfigure it for her and subsequent generations. In effect, Rodrigues wrote the rulebook on what fado could be and on how a female fadista — or fado singer — should perform it, to the extent that she remains an unsurpassable model and an unending source of repertoire for all those who came afterwards. Rodrigues enjoyed an extensive international career between the 1950s and the 1970s, although in an era where such efforts were not as easily quantified as today. Other well-known international fado artists such as Mafalda Arnauth, Madredeus, Dulce Pontes and Mariza have come close, however. Here is more evidence that fado is one of the great urban sounds, and Amalia herself, at her best, one of the finest singers this century has produced. No frills here, just enchantment backed by the equally classic duo of guitars, Portuguese (Jaime Santos) and six-stringed (Domingos Camarinha or Santos Moreira). Three cuts are in Spanish. The rest are pure Lisbon saudade.
01- O Namorico da Rita 02- As Rosas de Meu Caminho 03- Raizes 04- Cansaço 05- Antigamente 06- Grão de Arroz 07- Anjo Inutil 08- Marcha Do Centenario 09- Sem Razão 10- Trepa No Coquiero 11- Toiro! Eh! Toiro 12- Job 13- Faia 14- Fadista Louco 15- Lar Português 16- No Me Tires Indire 17- Por un Amor 18- Lerele
Mafalda Arnauth is a fado singer. She was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in October 1974 and started her career in 1995 when invited by João Braga (an important fado singer) to participate in a concert at S. Luis's Theater. What initially was a single experience became a way of life. Today her contribution is recognized not only in Portugal but also in many foreign countries, where she regularly performs. Mafalda Arnauth, her first album released in 1999, was immediately acclaimed by specialists and won the Prize for Best Upcoming Voice by the weekly magazine Blitz, a sign that new generations are back into fado. After a year filled with concerts and important invitations that took her to the most important concert halls in The Netherlands, the Louisiana Centre (Denmark) and to Italy, to perform in the festival Sete-Sois, Sete-Luas, an important Mediterranean folk event, she sang at Centro Cultural de Belém (Lisbon), where she was warmly acclaimed by the press. Mafalda's second album, Esta voz que me atravessa (This Voice That Goes Through Me) was released in 2001 and it was produced by Amélia Muge and José Martins. Her album Encantamento (Enchantment) was self-produced. She feels it "leaves fatality, disgrace, and nostalgia behind. Hope is fed on sadness; inspiration on suffering; strength and courage on difficulties." Here’s featured a compilation called Talvez se Chame Saudade (Maybe It’s Called Saudade) including the best of her three first albums. Enjoy it.
01- Meus Lindos Olhos 02- Quase Imortal 03- Bendito Fado, Bendita Gente 04- Pode Lá Ser 05- Esta Voz Que Me Atravessa 06- Talvez Se Chame Saudade 07- Serás Sempre Lisboa 08- Lusitana 09- O Sol Chama Por Mim 10- As Fontes 11- Cavalo À Solta 12- Da Palma Da Minha Mão 13- Este Silêncio Que Me Corta 14- Coisa Assim 15- Eu Venho 16- Até Logo, Meu Amor
