Pretty much like Samba of Brazil, Flamingo of Spain, Tango of Argentina … Fado is a national treasure of Portugal. Fado (translated as destiny or fate) is a music genre which can be traced from the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. It is characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor. However, without visiting this beautiful country, how can I have a taste of Fado ? Once again, Youtube has the answer.
The name of this beautiful song is Chuva (Rain in English) by famous Portuguese artist Mariza. Lyrics translated in English …
The ordinary events in our lives
Do not fill us with longing;
Not so those memories that hurt
Or those that bloom into a smile.
Some people are our history,
The history of our lives;
There are others whose name
We not recall ever hearing.
Such are the feelings
That keep alive my longing,
The feelings we shared
And withered in the end.
There are days that scar
One’s soul and life,
This is why I cannot forget
The day you left me.
The rain drenched
My cold and tired face
In the streets of a city
I had aimlessly walked.
Ah! …Like a girl gone astray
My cry rang across the city:
How quick does the fire of love
Dies in the rain!
The rain heard me and kept
To herself my secret in that city
Where she taps on the window,
Filling me with longing.
M.Y. Lessons Learnt 