Fado & Modern Music
Besides Fado (described in detail in the chapter "Society & Saudade"), Portugal has a vibrant and diverse music scene that goes far beyond the melancholic sounds of Alfama.
Fado Today
Fado has experienced a renaissance since the 2000s. A new generation of artists combines tradition with modern influences: Mariza (powerful and dramatic), Ana Moura (sensual, has worked with the Rolling Stones), Carminho (tradition-conscious), Gisela João (raw and intense), and António Zambujo (who blends Fado with Brazilian music and jazz). The Fado Prize "Grande Noite do Fado" in Lisbon is a highlight every November.
Portuguese Guitar
The Guitarra Portuguesa is the instrument of Fado — a sound that is instantly recognizable. The twelve-string cittern guitar with its pear-shaped body produces a bright, sparkling sound that oscillates between melancholy and virtuosity. Carlos Paredes (1925–2004) is considered the greatest guitarist of all time — his album "Guitarra Portuguesa" is a masterpiece.
Modern Music
Portugal's pop music scene is surprisingly creative:
- Madredeus — the band that musically shaped Wim Wenders' film "Lisbon Story," combined Fado aesthetics with art-pop
- Buraka Som Sistema — brought Kuduro (Angolan dance music) and electronic beats together and became internationally successful
- Salvador Sobral — won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 with "Amar pelos dois" — a quiet, emotional song that felt like a revolution in an era of pop excesses
- Rosalía comparison: Portugal's music scene is increasingly opening up to urban genres. Hip-hop and rap in Portuguese (Piruka, Wet Bed Gang) are extremely popular among young Portuguese
Festivals play a major role: NOS Alive in Lisbon (July) is one of Europe's best music festivals, with an international lineup on the Tagus. Super Bock Super Rock, MEO Sudoeste (Algarve), and Vodafone Paredes de Coura (Minho) complete the offering.