Sounds of Portugal - Mariza

Set List has become a global blog with audience in many countries.  In this post, I thought I would reflect on my international base.

I recently came across the Portuguese singer, Mariza.  Although there is no translation available, her voice is a unifying constant - simply beautiful.  Consider Mariza - Chuva (Concerto em Lisboa).  English translation - Mariza - Rain (Concert in Lisboa).

Marisa dos Reis Nunes - Mariza - is a well known Portuguese fado singer (follow the link for the meaning and history of the fado genre).  Mariza's musical roots are in gospel, soul, and jazz.  As a fado singer, Mariza has sold over 1,000,000 records worldwide.

Mariza's success -

Her first album - Fado em Mim (Fado in Me) - was released in 2001.  In Portugal, the album sold 100,000 copies (4,000 copies is considered successful).  On a global scale, the album sold 140,000 copies.

As of Mariza's second album in 2003 - Fado Curvo (Curved Fado) - she garnered international recognition.  

In March 2003, Mariza was the recipient of BBC Radio 3's award for Best European Artist in World Music.  (Side note - Follow the BBC Radio 3 link for more information.)

In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Mariza sang "A Thousand Years" with Sting.  

In 2004, Mariza won a European Border Breakers Award (EBBA).  This award honors "ten emerging artists or groups who reached audiences outside their own countries with their first internationally released album in the past year." (Wikipedia)

Mariza's third album - Transparente (Transparent) - was released in 2005.

Mariza has since gone on to promote Portuguese culture in such countries as Australia, Finland, the United States, and Argentina.  Transparente reached the Top 10 in The Netherlands, Spain, and Finland.  She has won awards in Denmark, Australia, Canada, Germany, UK, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea.

Mariza has performed in -

- Carnegie Hall, Central Park, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl

- Barbican (performing arts center in Barbican Estate in London)

- London's Royal Albert Hall, Union Chapel, and Royal Festival Hall

- Lisbon's Centro Cultural de Belem, Centro Cultural de Macau

- Frankfurt's Alte Oper

- Paris' Theatre de la Ville

- Madrid's Teatro Albeniz

- Barcelona's Teatro Grec

- Moscow International House of Music

- Toronto's Massey Hall

- Sydney Opera House

- National Concert Hall in Dublin

Mariza's 2007 album, Concerto em Lisboa, was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.  Her 2008 album, Terra, was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.

Mariza's following albums include Fado Tradicional (2010), Mundo (2015), and Mariza (2018).

Album Certifications -

*Phonographic Association of Portugal (AFP) based

Fado em Mim - 6x Platinum

Fado Curvo - 4x Platinum

Transparente - 3x Platinum

Terra - 4x Platinum

Fado Tradicional - Platinum

Mundo - 2x Platinum

Live Album Certifications -

Concerto em Lisboa - 5x Platinum

Terra em Concerto - Gold

(Source - Wikipedia)

My take away -

My mission for Set List has long been to bring global unity through music as a constant that all can agree on.  Mariza has shown proof of such a mission.  Although the world speaks many languages, the only language that needs no interpretation is music.