mãe
With an unparalleled passion for traditional fado, Cristina Branco pays a heartfelt tribute to this iconic genre of Portuguese culture in her highly anticipated 18th original album, ‘Mãe’ (Mother).
‘Mãe’ is a unique musical creation in which Cristina Branco lends her distinctive and expressive voice to a variety of authors, as has been her artistic tradition. In both recording and live performances, ‘Mãe’ offers the audience an original repertoire that takes us on an immersive journey of rediscovering fado, exploring its emotional depths and nuances.
“I love what is eternal in fado, thus I save myself, and I believe that sometimes I help save others, just like others help me. “ – CRISTINA BRANCO
Cristina Branco presents ‘Mãe’
Senhora do Mar Redondo
Passos Certos
Lyrics
Lyric: Lídia Jorge
Music: Alfredo Marceneiro (Fado Cravo)
Senhora do mar redondo Senhora do mar redondo Abre os teus olhos verdes | Lady of the boundless sea Lady of the round sea Open your green eyes |
Lyric: Teresinha Landeiro
Music: Joaquim Campos (Fado Rosita)
Vivo à margem dos meus planos Não me encaixo nos guiões Já fui verso de poesia Não sou livro por escrever | I live on the fringes of my plans I don’t fit into scripts Once I was a verse of poetry I’m not an unwritten book |
Lyric: Manuela de Freitas
Music: Bernardo Couto
Não sei que tristeza é esta Talvez um sonho perdido É branda melancolia É dor pequena e difusa Uma angústia de repente Talvez seja a incerteza E dou comigo a pensar Não sei se morta ou se viva | I don’t know what sadness this is Perhaps a lost dream It’s a gentle melancholy It’s a small and diffused pain A sudden anguish Perhaps it’s the uncertainty And I find myself thinking I don’t know if dead or alive |
Lyric: Teresinha Landeiro
Music: Cristina Branco/Bernardo Couto (Doca de Belém)
Incertos são os passos repetidos O medo de pisar em chão errado Quanto escolho e quanto faço | Uncertain are the repeated steps The fear of stepping on the wrong ground How much I choose and how much I do |
Lyric: Natália Correia
Music: Raúl Ferrão (Fado Carriche)
Nuvens correndo num rio Sonhos içados ao vento Não corras ó meu navio Não corras ó meu navio | Clouds running like a river Dreams and sighs in the wind Oh my ship dont run Don’t run, my ship |
Lyric: David Mourão-Ferreira
Music: Luís Figueiredo
Era uma noite apressada Era uma boca fechada Imensa a casa perdida Era uma haste inclinada Era uma igreja assaltada, Imensa, a luz proibida | It was a hurried night It was a closed mouth Immense, the lost house It was a tilted stem It was a raided church Immense, the forbidden light |
Lyric: Fernando Pessoa
Music: Bernardo Moreira (Fado Moreira)
Se estou só, quero não estar Ser feliz é ser aquele. A gente faz o que quer Porque penso dentro dele | If I am alone, I don’t want to be To be happy is to be that person We do as we please Because I think within them |
Lyric: Teresinha Landeiro
Music: Armando Augusto Salgado Freire (Fado Alexandrino do Estoril)
Poder ser o que quero Escolher mudar o rumo Poder olhar o mundo Ter medo de perder | To be what I desire Choosing to alter my path Having the power to observe the world Fear of losing |
Lyric: Aldina Duarte
Music: Armando Machado (Fado Santa Lúzia )
Dormi na areia molhada Dancei descalça sem frio Bate quente o sol nos pés Abracei as flores vadias | I slept on the wet sand I danced barefoot without cold The sun beats hot on my feet I embraced the wild flowers |
Credits
Cristina Branco Voice
Bernardo Couto Portuguese Guitar
Bernardo Moreira Double Bass
Luís Figueiredo Piano
Produced by Cristina Branco, Bernardo Couto, Bernardo Moreira, Luís Figueiredo
Recording, Mixing and Mastering by Tiago Gomes de Sousa
Recorded at Estúdios Valentim de Carvalho, Paço de Arcos, April 2023.
Executive Production by Locomotiva Azul – Paulo Sousa Martins, Beatriz Ramirez