Portugal was the first out of the three countries that I chose to travel to. My first days in Lisbon were frustrating. Finding real Fado wasn’t as easy as described in brochures – at least not, if you plan on finding the true Fado and not the one that is sung and played in restaurants for tourists..

But then – leaving me stranded – I ran into the Estudantina Universitaria de Lisboa on the street – who were about to play a gig at the theatre Coliseu dos Recreios across the street. They invited me and I went to see their show on that same day. Tiago, one of the guys, also invited me to join the Estudantina’s rehearsal a few days later, which I went to and which I will never forget. These boys are awesome!

Through a friend I got to know Paulo Soares – a very well known Portuguese guitar player and an incredibly nice and helpful man – who made contact with the Director of the Fado Museum in Alfama – Sara Perreira – and who again arranged a meeting with Prof. Antonio Parreira, the museum’s Portuguese Guitar teacher. His assistant and student Ricardo and the Professor himself played some beautiful songs for me on their portguese guitars. With one of those I worked for “A Lovesong”!

I experienced Lisbon and its people as being very romantic and sentimental. Inspired by Fado and the idea that I had of Saudade, I ended up writing a lovesong – a song that is no more and nothing less than a song about love and therefore simply called “A Lovesong”.

www.estudantinadelisboa.com
www.museudofado.egeac.pt
www.myspace.com/estudantinadelisboa
www.paulosoares.com