Falling for fado

For non-mainstream music lovers as well as fans of the guitar, the recent concert by Portugal’s leading fadista Katia Guerreiro at Bangkok’s 13th International Festival of Dance and Music, was a dazzling showcase of elegant vocal work coupled with traditional Portuguese guitar.
The 34-year-old fadista looked even more beautiful on stage that on any YouTube video, thanks in part to her flamboyant costume that, in its own way, set the tone of her songs in sections of the performance. She was accompanied by three musicians, playing a Portuguese guitarra (a type of 12-stringed mandolin), classical guitar and double bass respectively. When the double bass was not needed, the bassist reached for an acoustic bass guitar.
Throughout the performance, Guerreiro’s mezzo-soprano reigned supreme. It was deep, intense, even piercing, at times drowning out the guitars. It was a voice that stirred up considerable emotion among the audience, especially when she crooned traditional ballads. Although few understood the Portuguese lyrics, it was easy to relate to soul of each song, which were exceptionally conveyed by Guerreiro’s ability to hit the high pitches smoothly. She was by moment heartbroken, in pain, sorrowful, even mournful.
Which is what fado (literally fate or destiny) is all about. The lyrics of the urban Portuguese blues embrace saudade (loosely translated as “nostalgia”) and its nuances - longing, happiness, sadness, love and pain. And Guerreiro believes in fado as a cross cultural musical form, one capable of moving listeners, regardless of whether the Portuguese lyrics are understood or not.
I wondered at times why such an amazingly attractive singer like Guerreiro would need sad songs. Surely, everything in her life merits celebration. Well, she is not just a fadista. She’s a doctor by training with a beautiful voice that has won her critical acclaim. Just last year, Guerreiro received the highest accolade for a Fadista - the “Best Performer of Fado” award - from the Amalia Rodrigues Foundation. And she’s always on tour.  What’s so sad about that, one might ask?
But then this is fado. I couldn’t help thinking that in today’s world of music, new songs are hardly original or fresh. But Guerreiro makes use of her cultural roots well, and brings that sense of originality to the music world rife with plagiarism. Mind you, her songbook is selected from the great contemporary Portuguese poets. You could almost feel the Portuguese pride that ran deep through her music as she dedicated a special song to the Portuguese community here in Bangkok.
In terms of music, only sweet melodies wafted from the Portuguese guitarra. The 12-stringed instrument sounds a lot like a mandolin, but it carries a lot more jubilation. You play mostly by plucking the strings instead of strumming across them. So it governed the melodic section, while the classical guitar and the bass provided the tone that each song needs.
This was really an inspiring show for music lovers and left me in love with Guerreiro and the Portuguese guitarra. I can only hope she and her guitarists will be back in town again soon.