Music & Podcasts
Music
There is more to European Portuguese music than just old-school fado and kitschy pimba!
It’s not summer unless you’ve seen Xutos & Pontapes play at one of the music festivals. Their song O Homem do Leme will get a drunken sing along at every portuguese party.
For pop girlies we have Carolina Deslandas, Mimicat.
If you want modern fado-pop we have the catchy Deolinda and the stunning Ana Moura is an absolute queen.
Jorge Palma & Sergio Godinho were trailblazers of Portuguese pop but if you crown a king based on the sheer joy he brings, it must go to Toy for his song Coração Não Tem Idade (Vou Beijar). Come June, you will hear it EVERYWHERE.
For guys with an acoustic soft-pop vibe try Antonio Zumbujo and Miguel Araujo.
For something a bit more on the funky side I really like HMB and Expensive Soul.
As I’m more partial to indie and rock flavours, especially if they have a 90’s or 00’s sound, Doismileoito’s amazing album Pes Frios is a regular in our house. I also like Capitao Fausto, Cla, Ornatas Violeta and Toranja.
If you want proper heavy metal, I suggest Moonspell, much bigger in Germany than here. If you want rap check out Sam The Kid.
Just for my besties, I’ve made a Spotify playlist of my fave songs and artists from Portugal! Use this link [link] or search for Lisbon Besties. There’s no one specific style or genre so hopefully you find something you like in there!
If you think there’s an artist I should check out, let me know! [link] I can always add more.
Honorable Mention: Cape Verdean singers Cesaria and Toto Paris are also fab.
Podcasts
There’s not a lot out there solely dedicated to life in Portugal that I haven’t found to be boring but there is hope with individual episodes of The Rest Is History.
I have been a fan for a long time. Well regarded historians from the UK, they deep dive history with a fair dose of cheekiness. They covered the history of Portugal some time ago, and I’m always recommending the episodes to people as a must-do.
Episode 227 - Portugal: On The Edge of the World
Episode 228 - Portugal: The Golden Age of Discovery
Episode 229 - Portugal: Gold, Earthquakes, and Brazil
Episode 230 - Portugal: Football, Fado, and Fascism?
Episode 273 - Portugal: The Carnation Revolution
