The song “Amigo Aprendiz” [Friend Apprentice], a poem by Portuguese Modernist poet, Fernando Pessoa, was named one of the 12 best ballads of 2012, by the prestigious U.S. The Atlantic Magazine.
The song, with music by Tiago Bettencourt and interpreted by Fado vocalist, Rodrigo Costa Félix, integrates the singer’s latest album, “Fados de Amor,” issued last May by Farol Music producer.
Based in Washington,DC, the The Atlantic Magazine is one of the most preeminent U.S. publications on current political, economic and cultural topics. The magazine praised the originality of Félix interpretation and his accompanists.
The list of the 12 best ballads chosen by The Atlantic includes the song “Caruso“, by Chilean Sergio Járlaz, “Robin Hood,” by Puerto Rican Tego Calderón, “Deewana Kar Raha Hai“, by Indian singer Javed Ali, “Tell Me,”by Jon Ghanaian from Ghana, “Taste of Rain,”, by Thai singer Kritt Pannana, and “Ma Lkit,”by Tunisian vocalist Emel Mathlouthi.
Fernando Pessoa(1888–1935) was a Portuguese poet and writer who wrote frequently under heteronyms, alter egos with developed personalities, biographies, jobs, habits, attitudes, addresses. His heteronyms sometimes quoted and interacted with each other and other people. One of the most translated and quoted world poets, Pessoa’s work was published posthumously.
POEMA DO AMIGO APRENDIZ by Fernando Pessoa
Quero ser o teu amigo.
Nem demais e nem de menos.
Nem tão longe e nem tão perto.
Na medida mais precisa que eu puder.
Mas amar-te sem medida e ficar na tua vida,
Da maneira mais discreta que eu souber.
Sem tirar-te a liberdade, sem jamais te sufocar.
Sem forçar tua vontade.
Sem falar, quando for hora de calar.
E sem calar, quando for hora de falar.
Nem ausente, nem presente por demais.
Simplesmente, calmamente, ser-te paz.
É bonito ser amigo, mas confesso: é tão difícil aprender!
E por isso eu te suplico paciência.
Vou encher este teu rosto de lembranças,
Dá-me tempo de acertar nossas distâncias.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZi9v7VAPf8[/youtube]
