What you’ll find is fado with a twist! This band neither wears the traditional black nor do they use the Portuguese guitar featured in the fado style. They’re not always serious either. In fact, “happy” has often been used to describe their style. You’ll hear music that is often fast, ironic or just plain humourous. Still, the “saudade” or longing of melancholic fado creeps into Deolinda’s lyrics. In 2011 their single “Parva que Sou” or “What a Fool Am I” sympathizes with the suffering of Portuguese youth – it gained instant acclaim . The lyrics criticize modern Portugal: “What a foolish world, where in order to be a slave, it’s necessary to study.”
The name “Deolinda” comes from a character the brothers created for their 2006 debut concept album, “Cancao ao Lado” (“The Song Next Door”). As socially observant as the band that bears her name, Deolinda is shut-in who watches the world from her window. Taking this album into performance sparked the fully formed band’s flamboyant debut into the concert world.