Crash Course on Portuguese Music
Portugal is known in the music scene for its traditions of fado, but there's a bit more to it than only that. To the request of many people here it goes.
Amália Rodrigues is the most important figure of traditional fado (that roughly translates to nostalgia) and sings some of the most iconic songs such as Tudo Isto é Fado, Uma Casa Portuguesa and Nem as Paredes Confesso. In the last few years there's been a new wave of fado singers that modernized the sound, introducing new instruments like Cello or Piano. The most known examples are Mariza, Camané and Mísia with songs like Transparente, Há uma Música do Povo, Sei de um Rio or Duas luas. One of the original things about fado is the use of the Portuguese guitar notably mastered by Carlos Paredes (Verdes Anos, Melodia nº2)
Keeping the topic on traditional music, there are other groups and artists like Dulce Pontes, Tereza Salgueiro, Vitorino or more recently Deolinda that are inspired by fado but that differ significantly from the genre. Examples of cool songs are: Cancão do Mar, O Pastor, Queda do Império and Fado Toninho.
During the reign of the fascist regime music was widely used by the left-wing resistance as a way to say what could not be said, singing about freedom, equality and democracy, mainly through metaphors and symbols. My personal favorites are Zeca Afonso and Sérgio Godinho with songs like Indíos da Meia-Praia, Canção de Embalar, Vampiros, Com um Brilhozinho nos Olhos, A Noite Passada, Liberdade.
In the last two decades of the last century rock artists and bands like Rui Veloso, Jorge Palma, Xutos & Pontapés started and changed the musical panorama with songs that left a mark on the portuguese youth (as in, me): Não Há Estrelas no Céu, Chico Fininho, Estrela do Mar, Cara de Anjo Mau, À Minha Maneira, Casinha.
Currently most groups have a big influence from international musicians and all the artists stated above, including traditional music. Interesting bands and artists are The Girt (Something Simple), Mesa (Luz Vaga), Clã (Problema de Expressão), Belle Chase Hotel (Sunset Boulevard, Fossanova).
Different kinds of sound also exist, from the Primitive Reason's Ska (Seven Fingered Friend) to Da Weasel's Hip-Hop (Re-Tratamento) and Moonspell's Heavy Metal (Scorpion Flower) or the Jazz of Maria João (Há Gente Aqui).
