Amalia Rodrigues

Today we got to go to Amalia Rodrigues’ house! It was super interesting and we got to learn a ton. From what Dr Hegstrom told us, she was a fado singer. She was a very welcoming person. She loved meeting new people and having people over to her house. During the tour, I learned a ton. Her house was more than 300 years old and survived the earthquake. She had a portrait in the beginning of her house so people could feel welcome even though she wasn’t there to welcome her. One of her passions in life was flowers; sometimes she would get caught stealing flowers from gardens in Lisbon. (Hahaha) She was a shy person but would blossom when she was around people! She was a very smart woman. She talked about important things in her songs, but would just say it’s about her romantic life. She died in 1999, and was the first woman to be buried in the pantheon in Portugal. People still call her the Queen of Fado, with the best voice in Portugal and even the world. 


In my opinion, I think Amalia Rodrigues’ contribution is important and has changed her field and society for many reasons. First, she significantly elevated the Portuguese music genre; Fado, to be internationally known. Her singing with such emotion and great lyrics captured the essence of Portuguese culture and identity. Her influence brought Fado music to a wider audience, which fostered cultural pride and inspired generations of artists after her. Not only did she transform her field of music, but also contributed to Portugal’s cultural renaissance and international cultural discussion. 


I believe that Amalia Rodrigues has been commemorated very well. Her house is available to tour, which is what she wanted. Everything is left how it was, just how she wrote in her will. The tour was great, and I think she would be really proud with how they talk about her and show her house. She also has a garden in Lisbon dedicated to her with a plaque. I think this is also a great commemoration with how much she loved flowers and the garden. I think they did a great job at commemorating her!


Slay! 

Sophie


Comments

  1. Marie PetersonMay 27, 2024 at 2:56 PM

    Great post, Sophie! Amalia Rodrigues faced a lot of obstacles like having the mask the deeper meanings of her songs under the idea of them being romantic. Despite these challenges, she successfully elevated Fado music to an international level and transformed Portuguese cultural identity. I think her legacy is well preserved today and celebrated through her meticulously maintained house museum and the dedicated garden, indicating that the societal barriers she encountered have significantly decreased.

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