Music & Podcasts

Most people enjoy listening to content. It’s great when I’m doing the dishes, on public transport or at the beach. A love of music is pretty universal and podcasts have taken off in a BIG way, so let’s get aural, baby!

Music

There is so much more to European Portuguese music than old-school fado and kitschy pimba! (they absolutely have their place, but I will do more on that another time). Spanning all genre’s, Portuguese musicians may not have the clout of international stardom, but that doesn’t mean they’re not beloved. Here’s a few artist’s to check out, for for all music tastes.

Just for my besties, I’ve made a little gift - a Spotify playlist!

Use this link or search for “Lisbon Bestie” in the app. It spans across all styles or genres so hopefully you will find something you like in there!

t’s just not summer in Lisbon unless you’ve seen Xutos & Pontapes play at one of the music festivals. And it’s not a Portuguese houseparty until their song O Homem do Leme gets a drunken singalong by all attending. Over three decades of popularity, they’re a portuguese institution.

Xuotos & Pontapes

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. Come the June festas, you will hear it EVERYWHERE, nonstop. He is cheesy. He is a star. Also adored but less kitchy and well-respected is Pedro Abrunhosa. Modern pop dudes include Fernando Daniel and David Carreira.

For the pop girlies we have Carolina Deslandas, Mimicat and Iolanda. If you want modern fado with a pop lean, we have the catchy Deolinda, and the stunning Ana Moura is an absolute queen. Do yourself a favour and watch this video clip of hers. I dare you not to fall in love.

As I’m predominately an indie and rock girlie (especially if they have a 90’s or early 00’s sound) Doismileoito’s amazing album Pés Frios is a regular in our house. They disbanded eons ago but Hubby and I can pretty much sing the album verbatim, keeping it alive one long car ride at a time. I also like Capitao Fausto, Cla and Ornatas Violeta. Honestly, Portuguese indie pop rock is massively underrated.  

For something on the funky side, I have HMB and Expensive Soul on high rotation. Fabulous for good dinner party vibes. If you prefer an acoustic soft pop feel, try Antonio Zumbujo, or Maro.

If your soul is a bit darker and in need of proper heavy metal, Moonspell will be your thing, though they’re far more popular in Germany than here. Also check out Tarantula. 

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 in some of the broader scoping history podcasts. Both of these are high ranking and you should be able to get them on whatever platform you use. 

The Rest Is History

I’ve been a fan for a long time, I think they’re the world's highest ranking for the genre. Well regarded historians from the UK, they deep dive history with a touch of cheeky banter. They covered the history of Portugal some time ago, and I’m always recommending the episodes to people as a must-do. Fascinating stuff.  

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

Behind The Bastards

As you can tell by the title, it’s a rather irreverent podcast, but no less detailed or researched. Nerds with spicy words. Their focus is on the bad guys of history - pulling them apart and poking fun at their gall. They’ve recently done a Two Part deep dive into the Portuguese dictator, Salazar, which is a truly valuable insight into the country's modern history.

Part One: Antonio Salazar: The Smartest Fascist Dictator

Part One: Antonio Salazar: The Smartest Fascist Dictator