Search - Amalia Rodrigues :: Simply the Best

A Portuguese wonder in Italy!

Fernando Forte | Lisbon, Portugal | 06/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Amália Rodrigues first sang before an Italian audience in 1970, she was an immediate, overnight sensation, subjugating the Italian public like a Queen, being called La Regina del Fado. During the next 24 years of her careershe continued to mesmerize and hipnotize the Italian audience, singing allover the country and especially during the 70s giving as much as 80 concerts per season. In her memorable concerts, she had no vocal economy and seemed always undefatigable in her delivery. Most memorable were her tours in 1970, 1973, and 1977-78. There she would win several musical awards. Having fallen head over heels in love with her,the Italians decided to have her sing their own songs, thinking how her powerful, colourful and beautiful voice was suitable to Italy's many folklore and romantic songs. Among the records, the most famous one was "A Una Terra Che Amo" in 1973, in which Amália became an even greater sensation singing several Italian dialects, from roman to venetian to neapolitan, among others. Her ease with the language and dialects astonished everybody, and among those successes she sang "Vitti Na Crozza", "IlMare e Amico Mio", "La Tarantella" and the famous "Canzone Per Te",making these songs her own. This 1998 compilation gathers several of those songs, together with Amália's own successes, translated into their Italian versions, like "Coimbra", "Una Casa en Via del Campo" and "Ay Che Nera". Amália thought the Italians knew how to record her voice, and all her records were big hits in Italy. She would return many times later, renewing her success and rekindling the longing the Italian people nurtured for her. This record clearly shows how immensely beautiful and great was Amália Rodrigues."