Fado

They say you learn something new every day. Today, it was a little more about Bobby Jindal, and about Fado. For the sake of art, we'll stick to the latter for now.

I was researching the current season of Purdue Convocations, on the campus of Purdue University, presenting music, theater, and dance, and discovered a Fado concert. "What is this?" I thought, and quickly googled. A whole new (but old) type of music revealed itself...

From World Music Central and Purdue Convocations:

Fado music is the heart of the Portuguese soul. It is arguably the oldest urban folk music in the world. Like American blues, traditional Fado features sultry, sorrowful songs mourning lost love or working-class struggles. It’s a sad music and a fado performance is not considered successful if an audience is not moved to tears. It was played for pleasure but also to relieve the pain of life. Skilled singers known as fadistas performed at the end of the day and long into the night. Fado was traditionally the earthy music of taverns and brothels and street corners in Alfama and Mouraria, the old poor sections of Lisbon. Fado has now moved from Lisbon street corners and taverns into European concert halls...and is now making waves in the US. Dressed in black with a shawl draped over her shoulders, a fadista stands in front of the musicians and communicates through gesture and facial expressions. The hands move, the body is stationary. When it’s done correctly, it’s a solemn and majestic performance.

Mariza is the artist singing at Purdue. It's worth a listen.