Name	Fado
Bgcolor	mediumvioletred
Color	white
Stylistic origins	Portuguese music
Cultural origins	Early 19th century Lisbon, Portugal
Instruments	Portuguese guitar
Popularity	Much in Portugal; sporadic elsewhere, especially France, UK, Netherlands and Japan
Derivatives	Coimbra Fado

(1910)]] Fado (Portuguese:destiny, fate) is a music genre which can be traced from the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor. However, in reality fado is simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain structure.

The music is usually linked to the Portuguese word saudade which symbolizes the feeling of loss (a permanent, irreparable loss and its consequent life lasting damage).

Fado only appeared after 1840 in Lisbon, at that time only fado marinheiro (sailor fado) was known and, like the cantigas de levantar ferro, was sung only by sailors. Back then, Fado was not sung in the rest of the country.

The 19th century's most renowned fadista was Maria Severa.

Mainstream fado performances during the 20th century included only a singer, a Portuguese guitar player and a classical guitar player but more recent settings range from singer and string quartet to full orchestra. Known as the "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado"), Amália Rodrigues was most influential in popularizing the fado worldwide. Other famous fado singers include: Carlos do Carmo, Cristina Branco and Mariza.

Varieties of fado

There are two main varieties of fado, namely those of the cities of Lisbon and Coimbra. The Lisbon style is the most popular, while Coimbra's is the more classic style. Modern fado is popular in Portugal, and has produced many renowned musicians. According to tradition, to applaud fado in Lisbon you clap your hands, while in Coimbra one coughs like if clearing one's throat.

Coimbra fado

(from Coimbra)]]

This fado is closely linked to the academic traditions of the University of Coimbra and is exclusively sung by men; both the singers and musicians wear the academic outfit (traje académico): dark robe, cape and leggings. It is sung at night, almost in the dark, in city squares or streets. The most typical venues are the stair steps of the Santa Cruz Monastery and the Old Cathedral of Coimbra. It is also customary to organize serenades where songs are performed before the window of the woman to be courted.

The Coimbra fado is accompanied by either a Portuguese guitar or by a classical guitar; the tuning and sound coloring of the Portuguese guitar in Coimbra are quite different from that of Lisbon.

The most sung themes: student love, love for the city and bohemia, and the ironic and critical reference to the discipline and conservative nature of the professors and their courses. Noted singers of this style are Augusto Hilário, António Menano, and Edmundo Bettencourt.

In the 1950s, a new movement took the singers of Coimbra to adopt the ballad and folklore. They began interpreting lines of the great poets, both classical and contemporary, as a form of resistance to the Salazar dictatorship. In this movement names such as Adriano Correia de Oliveira and José Afonso (Zeca Afonso) had a leading role in the revolution taking place in popular Portuguese music.

Regarding the Portuguese guitar, Artur Paredes revolutionized the tuning and the accompaniment style to the Coimbra fado, adding his name to the most progressive and innovative singers. Artur Paredes was the father of Carlos Paredes, who followed and expanded on his work, making the Portuguese guitar an instrument known around the world.

Some of the most famous fados of Coimbra include: Fado Hilário, Saudades de Coimbra (“Do Choupal até à Lapa”), Balada da Despedida (“Coimbra tem mais encanto, na hora da despedida”, the first verses are more recognizable than the song title), O meu menino é d’oiro, and Samaritana. The "judge-singer" Fernando Machado Soares is an imporatant reference, being the author of some of those famous fados.

Curiously, it is not a Coimbra fado but a song which is the most known title referring to this city: Coimbra é uma lição, which had success with titles such as April in Portugal.

Fado in North America

Several singers of the traditional Portuguese fado have appeared in Canada and the United States.

One of these, Ramana Vieira, regularly performs in the San Francisco Bay Area without a traditional fado ensemble. Ramana received her formal voice training at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater and is self-proclaimed to be "The New Voice of Portuguese World Music."

San Francisco's Brava Theater often hosts fado performances. Since its founding in 1986, Brava has invited a number of fado singers to perform, including Dona Rosa, Cristina Branco and Ramana Vieira.

California's Central Valley also offers a variety of almost secretive fado performances. Spread only by word of mouth, these shows attract listeners from all over California for a night of music and traditional Portuguese food.

In Canada one can look to Vancouver based Salome. The large Portuguese communities in Toronto and Montreal are also home to local fado singers that perform regularly in community events in these two cities.

The Northern California-based band Judith and Holofernes blends fado with indie and punk rock. The group's interpretation, referred to as "fadocore," is also a representative of Northern California's own blend of Portuguese and American cultures that resulted from the mass migrations of the 1950s and 1960s. Other blendings of fado exist in the music of Mil i Maria , whose 'nu-fado' takes elements of the style and merges them with modern musical influences.

Fado in Australia

Fado's popularity also extends to Australia. Generations of Portuguese have migrated to Australia, and the traditions have continued. One popular Australian Portuguese fadista is Melbourne based Olivia de Sousa (http://www.oliviadesousa.com) She has sung for many years for the Portuguese communities and also for the wider Australian audiences. She was discovered by top Portuguese performer Quim Barreiros (http://www.quimbarreiros.pt) in 2008, and was invited by him to appear with him in live performances in Portugal, and on the internationally broadcast Portuguese television programs Praça da Alegria, Portugal no Coração, Fátima e Portugal sem Fronteiras. She also sang in Lisbon at Clube do Fado with top Portuguese guitarist Mario Pacheco.

See also

Fados - a 2007 movie about fado by Spanish director Carlos Saura

References

External links

Fado.com - Website featuring biographies, news, videos and music

Mariza.com - Mariza, highly acclaimed Fado artist from Portugal.

Category:Portuguese styles of music Category:Urban street dance and music

Name	Misia
Background	solo_singer
Birth name
Born	July 07, 1978
Origin	Fukuoka, Fukuoka Kyūshū, Japan
Instrument	Singing, Piano, Guitar, Trumpet, Flute
Genre	Japanese Pop, R&B;
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter
Years active	1998–present
Label	Rhythmedia Tribe, BMG JapanAvex TraxBMG JapanAriola Japan
Url	http://www.misia.jp/

, born on July 7, 1978, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan, is a Japanese R&B; singer. Her real name is , not to be mistaken with the actress Misaki Itō (their surname "Itō" is written with different kanji in each case). Her current record label is BMG Japan and she belongs to Rhythmedia management company. She debuted on February 21, 1998, with the song "Tsutsumikomu Yō ni...," and is most known for her hit song "Everything," which sold roughly 1.9 million copies.

Biography

Early life

Misia was born Misaki Ito on July 7, 1978, in Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka, Kyūshū, to parents who were both doctors. Her father loved jazz, and mother loved Western music. Originally both her parents studied vocal music. She is the youngest of three children, with an older brother and sister.

She moved to Tsushima, Nagasaki on account of her parents' jobs. She began to learn piano at the age of 4 under the influence of her elder brother and her elder sister. She joined the local chorus at the age of 9, and she discovered her five-octave singing voice while at her older sister’s private music lessons. From then on she dreamed of becoming a singer and later won a contest in Fukuoka.

She gradually came to want to leave Tsushima, where she wasn't able to get enough information about music, and wanted to take voice lessons in earnest in Fukuoka. Subsequently she left her home and moved to Fukuoka with her elder sister who went to the university of Fukuoka where she attended high school. During junior high and high school she sang and played the trumpet in the brass band club. While going to the high school, she also began to go to a music academy and met two African-American vocal trainers there while she was in the eleventh grade. She began training with them in gospel and R&B;, but failed all her auditions in high school. In April, 1997, she was accepted into Seinan Gakuin University in commercial science.

Career beginnings

In May, 1997, she finally passed a BMG Japan audition. They were looking for the soulful female R&B; singer. She sang "Goodbye Darlin'" by Dreams Come True, and she was chosen from about 3000. She decided to pursue a music career instead of school education and took a leave of absence from university. She was conscious of the image of the R&B; singer and styled her hair in dreadlocks that November. She bore her stage name, "Misia" on beginning her music career. Misia is a combination of MISaki and AsIA. (other saying goes "Messiah" and/or "Asia")

Establishing her popularity: 1998–2002

She debuted on February 21, 1998, with "Tsutsumikomu You ni..." which peaked at #11 on the Oricon single charts and became a long seller. Her second single, "Hi no Ataru Basho" reached #9 and was used in the soundtrack of the movie 'hood. Her first album "Mother Father Brother Sister" was released on June 24, 1998, entered the charts at #3 and reached #1 after 4 weeks. In March 1999, she won Best New Artist of the Year and Best Pop Album of the Year at the Nihon Gold Disc Awards. She came to represent many R&B; singers, so-called "Diva" in Japanese mass media term, whom Japan produced at the time.

In 2000, one of Misia's dreams came true with the release of "I Miss You (Toki o Koete)" with Dreams Come True, her favorite band. Masato Nakamura, the leader of DCT and her created the song while Misia wrote the lyrics. The single was released on January 1, 2001. Her album "Love Is the Message" includes a live version of the famous song, Lovin' You.

In the days of Avex Trax: 2002–2007

In 2002, she transferred to new record label, Rhythmedia Tribe affiliated with Avex Group which her entertainment office established from Arista Japan affiliated with BMG Fan House.

Her single "Kokoro Hitotsu" released on August 27, 2003 and was used as the theme song to the hit movie Dragon Head.

The single "Namae no Nai Sora wo Miagete", released on July 7, 2004, was used as the theme song for the drama Tenka. "Tobikata wo Wasureta Chiisana Tori" is used as the theme song of the PlayStation 2 role-playing game and also appears within the game as an orchestral arrangement. Also, "" was used as the Tokyo DisneySea 5th Anniversary theme song.

She is one of the few artists in Japan to have never performed on any TV music shows and fewer to be as popular despite this. Her live performance is acclaimed by many. She became the first female solo act that toured five major domed stadiums of Japan in 2004, and she drew a total of 357,000 spectators by 7 performances a year, which was the 2nd record of the year in whole artist.

Return to the BMG Japan: 2007–present

It was announced on May 1, 2007 that Misia left Avex Trax to go back to her former record label, BMG Japan. Any Love, the first original release on BMG Japan since 2002, was released on July 4, 2007. It was composed by Satoshi Shimano, who also produced her debut hit.

On September 29, 2007, Misia held her first overseas concert in Taiwan.

Her next single, "Royal Chocolate Flush", was released in December 2007, and the first album since returning to BMG, "Eighth World", came out in January 2008.

Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners), a major league player, chose the "Ishin Denshin" and "Royal Chocolate Flush" of Misia as a At-Bat Music of 2008 with Sayuri Ishikawa's "Amagi-goe".

Misia put out three new releases from April to June 2008. Yes Forever in April, Yakusoku no Tsubasa in May, and in June.

In continuation of her 10th anniversary celebration, Misia released her very first digital single, "Catch the Rainbow" (produced by Sakoshin) on August 30, 2008. She wrapped up The Tour of Misia Discothèque Asia in early March, a tour that brought her to Seoul, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

In 2008, Misia drew near more than 200,000 spectators, second only to Ayumi Hamasaki in the number of concert-goers for a solo female artist in Japan.

A new single and tour DVD are planned for simultaneous release on June 10, 2009.

Misia will embark on her fifth acoustic tour, Hoshizora no Live 5, this summer.

Discography

Mother Father Brother Sister (1998)

Love Is the Message (2000)

Marvelous (2001)

Kiss in the Sky (2002)

Mars & Roses (2004)

Singer for Singer (2004)

Ascension (2007)

Eighth World (2008)

Just Ballade (2009)

References

External links

Category:Misia Category:1978 births Category:1990s singers Category:2000s singers Category:2010s singers Category:Arista Records artists Category:Japanese dance musicians Category:Japanese female singers Category:Japanese-language singers Category:Japanese multi-instrumentalists Category:Japanese philanthropists Category:Japanese pop singers Category:Japanese record producers Category:Japanese rhythm and blues singers Category:Japanese singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:Sony Music Japan artists Category:People from Fukuoka (city) Category:People from Fukuoka Prefecture Category:People from Nagasaki Prefecture

Name	Mariana Popova
Background	solo_singer
Born	June 06, 1978
Origin	Sofia, Bulgaria
Genre	Pop
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1996–present
Url	www.marianapopova.com

Mariana Popova () (born June 6, 1978) is a Bulgarian singer. She is known for representing Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006.

Biography

Mariana Popova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria and has been studying music since she was 11, and later she also studied modern and jazz ballet. From 1996 until 2000, she was part of the group Cocomania. In 2005 she won the first prize at the “Burgas and the Sea” Festival with the song "Dream About Me," which she performed in a duet with Dani Milev. Mariana says that she dreams of never to stop dreaming, that she appreciates the really talented people, that she believes in herself and in reincarnation and that she would like to have a dinner with the singer Marc Anthony. In 2006, Mariana Popova triumphed at the Bulgarian National Final competition with the song "Let Me Cry", to enter the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Popova was not voted through semi-finals and thus did not qualify for the final on May 20.

Singles

Ти не дойде (You Didn't Come)

Казах (I Said)

Можем пак (We Can Do It Again)

Няма (There Isn't Anything)

След (After)

Сънувай ме (Dream About Me)

Let Me Cry (Остави ме да плача) - with this song Mariana participated in Eurovision Song Contest in Athens.

Sometimes (Понякога) - Bulgarian version called "Не знам"

Lejos-song sung in Spanish with the Bulgarian artist Orlin Goranov.

Ostani

New Religion - Namesake of latest album

Awards

2004 – Third Prize at ‘Bourgas and the Sea’ Festival and the special prize of ‘Rotari Club – Bourgas’ with the song ‘After’ / duet with Dany Milev

2005 – First Prize at ‘Bourgas and the Sea’ Festival with ‘Dream about me’ / duet with Dany Milev

Nominations

2004 – Nomination for ‘Best Female Singer’, BG Radio Annual Music Awards

2004 – Nomination for ‘Best Bulgarian Debut’, BG Radio Annual Music Awards

2005 – Nomination for ‘Best Female Singer’, MM Television Annual Music Awards

2005 – Nomination for ‘Best Female Singer’, BG Radio Annual Music Awards

External links

Official website

Eurovision Website - Bulgarian Page

Category:1978 births Category:Bulgarian Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2006 Category:Bulgarian female singers Category:Living people Category:People from Sofia Category:Bulgarian pop singers

Name	Dulce Pontes
Background	solo_singer
Born	April 08, 1969
Died
Genre	Fado, world music, classical, pop
Occupation	vocalist, musician, songwriter, actor
Years active	1992–present
Label	Universal
Url	www.dulcepontes.net/.

Dulce José Silva Pontes (born April 8, 1969) is a Portuguese songwriter and singer who performs in many musical styles, including pop, folk and classical music. She is usually defined as a world music artist. Her songs contributed to the 1990s revival of Portuguese urban folk music called fado.

Biography

Pontes was born in 1969 in Montijo, a small city in the District of Setúbal, not far from Lisbon. Trained as a pianist, she became a singer after entering a competition in her hometown at age 18. She soon became an actress in Portuguese television and theater. In 1991 she won the national music festival with her song "Lusitana Paixão" (known in English as "Tell Me"), which led her to represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest, where she finished 8th, which to date is the fourth-best finish for a Portuguese performer in this contest).

"Canção do Mar" (Song of the Sea), one of her many international hits, was later recorded by Sarah Brightman, under the name "Harem", and became a #1 Dance & Crossover hit in the US for Brightman.

Pontes started her career as a mainstream pop artist, but over the years she has evolved to become a world music singer. She blends traditional fado with contemporary styles and searches out new forms of musical expression. She introduced musical traditions of the Iberian Peninsula in her work, rediscovered many long forgotten popular tunes and found use for obsolete musical instruments. Her work is inspired and influenced not only by Iberian musical tradition, but also Arabic, African, Brazilian and Bulgarian sounds. She sings mostly in her native Portuguese, as well as Spanish, Galician, Mirandese, Italian, English, Arabic and Greek.

Dulce Pontes has collaborated with Cesária Évora, Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte, Carlos Núñez, the Chieftains, Kepa Junkera, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, George Dalaras, Andrea Bocelli (O Mar e Tu, duet sung by Pontes in Portuguese and Bocelli in Neapolitan, for his 1999 album Sogno), and others. Her song "Canção do Mar" appeared on the soundtrack of Hollywood film Primal Fear. A 30-second piece of that same song serves as the theme to the NBC police drama Southland. Her album Focus is the fruit of a collaboration with Italian composer Ennio Morricone with whom she has also performed live.

In June 2006, Pontes prepared her double LP O Coração Tem Três Portas (The Heart Has Three Doors). It was recorded live without an audience in Convent of the Order of Christ in Tomar and St Mary Church in Óbidos. According to the artist, it is "her most personal and intimate album." It includes Portuguese folk music, mostly fado. " It was released in December 2006.

In 2009, Pontes released Momentos, a double disc collection that includes songs from her 20 year career as well as several previously unreleased tracks. Currently, she is working on an album of all new songs which is titled Nudez.

Discography

Lusitana (1992)

Lágrimas (1993) (Tears)

Brisa do Coração (1995) (Breeze of the heart) - album live recorded during a concert held May 6, 1995 in Porto

Caminhos (1996) (Paths)

O Primeiro Canto (1999) (The first chant/song)

Best Of (2002)

Focus (2003)

O Coração Tem Três Portas (2006) (The heart has three doors) - including a DVD, recorded live in a convent and church

Momentos (2009) (Moments)

References

External links

Pontes's Official Website Aviv Productions site Universal Music site

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:People from Setúbal District Category:Portuguese female singers Category:Portuguese-language singers Category:Spanish-language singers Category:Galician-language singers Category:Italian-language singers Category:English-language singers Category:Portuguese Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1991 Category:Portuguese fado singers Category:Golden Globes (Portugal) winners

Name	Cristina Branco
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Cristina Branco
Born	Almeirim, Ribatejo, Portugal
Origin	Almeirim, Ribatejo, Portugal
Instrument	Vocals
Genre	Fado
Occupation	Singer
Url	www.cristinabranco.com

Cristina Branco (born 1972 in Almeirim, Ribatejo, Portugal) is a Portuguese musician.

Branco was originally drawn to jazz and other forms of Portuguese music before finally opting for fado after being introduced to the music of Amália Rodrigues by her grandfather. Branco studied the poems from which major fado lyrics are taken. Branco continues to work on her fado repertory, accompanied by Custódio Castelo on guitar and as composer.

Discography

Cristina Branco in Holland (1998)

Murmúrios (1998)

Post-Scriptum (2000)

O Descobridor: Cristina Branco canta Slauerhoff (2000)

Corpo Iluminado (2001)

Sensus (2003)

Ulisses (2005)

Live (2006)

Abril (2007)

Kronos (2009)

External links

Official web site

References

Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Fado Category:Portuguese fado singers Category:Portuguese female singers