In November 2011 Fado was added to the Unesco list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The music genre existed probably since around 1820, but traces back origins much earlier. Although songs can revolve around any subject, they tend to be about poverty and longing for the sea. There is resignation to fate and some melancholy added to the mix. Although I have never been to Portugal, it makes me want to go there.
I write this while we are enjoying a nice early season’s heat wave. All the windows are open to make sure I don’t overheat. It is not enough: this music makes me long for a long vacation to sunnier areas, where I can do basically nothing.