Portugal: Monitor Presents Portuguese Fados and Folk Songs

Most closely associated with cantinas in Lisbon and cafes in Coimbra, the fado is a popular Portuguese ballad form typifying the Portuguese spirit of saudade. More than mere longing, "saudade has a deeper meaning that permeates the whole Portuguese attitude toward the past...a kind of wistful nostalgia...but love--usually a lost love--is always the underlying theme."

The studio recordings in this collection feature some of Portugal's most prominent fado performers of the time, singing stories of unrequited love, national pride, destiny, and homesickness. At times humorous, at other times solemn, the collection presents the breadth and depth of the fado's many forms. Lyrics in Portuguese and English are included in the liner notes.

Track Listing

101	Suadade Vai-Te Embora (Saudade Go Away) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	03:24
102	Rosinha dos Limões (Little Rose of the Lemons) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	02:09
103	Tristezas (Sadness) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	02:21
104	Igreja de Santa Cruz (Church of Santa Cruz) - Fado from Coimbra Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	02:55
105	Lisboa, da Beira Mar (Lisbon by the River Bank) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	01:40
106	Fado de Vila Franca (Fado of Vila Franca) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	02:00
107	Destino (Destiny) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	04:55
201	Sempre Que Lisboa Canta (Whenever Lisbon Sings) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	02:03
202	Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa (Lisbon, Don't Be French) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	02:46
203	Mentiras de Amor (Love's Lies) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	04:40
204	Fado Faia (The Fadista's Fado) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	01:54
205	Meu Alentejo (My Alentejo) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	03:29
206	Desgarrada (The Singing Contest) Maria Marques and Manuel Fernandes	02:18