
Photo: Henrique José Teixeira Matos · CC BY-SA 3.0 · credits
José Afonso
Person · male · Portugal · Aveiro · born 1929 · died 1987 · recording since 1953
Portuguese singer, composer and politician (1929-1987)
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Also known as Dr. José Afonso · José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos · Zeca Afonso · Zeca Afonso · 泽卡·阿方索
Timeline
1920s
1950s
· Debut release
Debut release: Fados de Coimbra
First documented Single in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
Biography
Biography
José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos (2 August 1929 – 23 February 1987), known professionally as José Afonso and also popularly known as Zeca Afonso, was a Portuguese singer-songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of Portugal's folk and protest music scene. His music played a significant role in the resistance against the dictatorial Estado Novo regime, making him an icon in Portugal.
Afonso's song "Grândola, Vila Morena" was used as a radio-broadcast signal by the Armed Forces Movement during their military coup operation in the morning of 25 April 1974, which led to the Carnation Revolution and the transition to democracy in Portugal. Subsequently, Afonso's music, along with "Grândola, Vila Morena," became emblematic of the revolution, anti-fascism, the Portuguese labor movement, and the political left.
1929–1940: Early life
José Afonso was born in Aveiro on 2 August 1929. His parents were José Nepomuceno Afonso dos Santos, a magistrate, and Maria das Dores Dantas Cerqueira, a primary school teacher.
In 1930, his parents travelled to Angola, a Portuguese colony at the time, where his father had been placed as a judge in the city of Silva Porto (present-day Cuíto). For health reasons, Afonso stayed in Aveiro, in a house near the Fonte das Cinco Bicas, with his aunt Gigé and his uncle Xico, a "republican and anticlerical" man. In 1933 Afonso travelled to Angola at his mother's request. On the ship he met a missionary who became his companion during the voyage. Afonso stayed for three years in Angola, where he began his primary education.
In 1936, he returned to Aveiro. In 1937 he went to live overseas for the second time, this time to Mozambique, another Portuguese colony in Africa, where his parents were then living with his siblings João and Mariazinha.
He returned to Portugal in 1938, this time to the house of his uncle Filomeno, mayor of the town of Belmonte. There he finished the fourth grade. His uncle, a fierce fascist supporter, made him a join the "Mocidade Portuguesa", a paramilitary style political indoctrination youth organization conceived by the right-wing regime of Salazar and the Estado Novo, to provide regime aligned cadres and future leaders.
1940–1956: The Coimbra years
He went to Coimbra in 1940 to continue his studies. He studied in the D. João III Lyceum and lived with his aunt Avrilete. His family went from Mozambique to East Timor, also a Portuguese overseas territory at that time, where his father continued his job as a judge. Mariazinha went with them while his brother João returned to Portugal. After the occupation of Timor by the Japanese, Afonso received no news from his parents for three years, until the end of World War II in 1945.
When he was in his 5th year of lyceum studies, Afonso started singing seranades as a bicho (meaning a non-human ugly or scary creature), a rank used in the University of Coimbra praxe for lyceum students. He became known as the "bicho-cantor" (singing creature).
From 1946 to 1948 he worked to finish his lyceum studies, after failing two years. He met Maria Amália de Oliveira, whom he married secretly due to his parents' opposition. He traveled with some of the most important university musical groups, such as Orfeon Académico de Coimbra, and played football for Associação Académica de Coimbra.
In 1949 he started studying History and Philosophy at Coimbra University. With the Orfeon Académico de Coimbra, he travelled to Angola and Mozambique.
In January 1953, his first son José Manuel was born. Later that year, his first recordings were released. These were two 78-rpm records of Coimbra fado songs, of which no copies exist today.
Between 1953 and 1955, he served compulsory military service. He was mobilized to Macau, a Portuguese territory at the time, but due to health problems he was discharged. He was afterwards stationed in Coimbra until completing military service. His daughter Helena was born in 1954. During this time he experienced many economic difficulties and eventually divorced his wife.
1956–1968: Work as a teacher, first albums and early political action
In 1956 Afonso released his first EP, Fados de Coimbra
Fados de CoimbraSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAO sol anda lá no céu3:02BContos velhinhos3:05. After his military service, he started working as a teacher. From January to September 1957 he worked at a private school in Mangualde and afterwards worked at the Industrial and Commercial School of Lagos between October 1957 and July 1959. Due to his financial problems, he sent his children to the Portuguese overseas territory of Mozambique in 1958, to live with his parents. In that year he became enthralled by Humberto Delgado's presidential campaign; Delgado lost due to massive electoral fraud perpetrated by the authoritarian Estado Novo regime.
Between October 1959 and July 1960 he worked at the Technical School of Alcobaça. It was during 1959 and 1960 that he started singing in his trademark musical style, coloured with political and social connotations, touring with many popular groups around the country and gradually becoming a favourite among the working class and the rural population. He toured for a month in Angola with the Orfeon Académico de Coimbra. In 1960 he released another EP, Balada do OutonoBalada Do OutonoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Balada Do OutonoA2Vira De CoimbraB1Amor De EstudanteB2Morena.
From 1961 to 1962 he followed the pro-democracy student strikes and demonstrations demanding the end of the authoritarian Estado Novo regime, which were brutally repressed by the police. He continued releasing many of his songs and introduced important new guitar arrangements. He played in Switzerland, Germany and Sweden, with a fado guitar group that included Adriano Correia de Oliveira, José Niza, Jorge Godinho, Durval Moreirinhas and the singer Esmeralda Amoedo.
He released a new EP, named Baladas de CoimbraBaladas De CoimbraSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Menino De Oiro3:14A2Tenho Barcos, Tenho Remos3:13B1No Lago Do Breu2:47B2Senhor Poeta3:30, in 1962. He completed his university studies in 1963 with a thesis about Jean-Paul Sartre, which got a grade of 11 out of 20. That year he also finalized his divorce from his wife Maria Amália.
In 1964 he released his first studio album, Baladas e Canções
Baladas e cançõesSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Canção longe3:30A2Os bravos2:57A3Balada Aleixo2:58A4Balada do Outono3:01A5Trovas antigas2:45A6Na fonte está Lianor3:53B1Minha mãe3:54B2Altos castelos2:35B3O pastor de Bensafrim4:26B4Canto da Primavera2:21B5Elegia3:42B6Ronda dos paisanos3:08 ("Ballads and Songs"). In May 1964, Afonso performed at the Sociedade Musical Fraternidade Operária Grandolense (Workers' Fraternity Musical Society of Grândola) in Grândola, where he found the inspiration to compose his most famous song, "Grândola, Vila Morena". The song would be recorded years later for his album Cantigas do Maio
Cantigas do MaioSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Senhor arcanjo3:49A2Cantigas do Maio5:47A3Milho verde2:13A4Cantar alentejano5:33B1Grândola, vila morena3:26B2Maio maduro Maio3:16B3Mulher da erva2:47B4Ronda das mafarricas2:45B5Coro da Primavera4:51, and would become one of signals for the start of the Carnation Revolution in April 1974.
From 1964 to 1967, Afonso was in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) and Beira, in Mozambique, with his second wife Zélia, where he reunited with his children. In his last two years in the overseas province, he taught in Beira and composed music for the Bertolt Brecht play The Exception and The Rule. In 1965 his daughter Joana was born and by 1967, marked by the colonial reality and the Portuguese Colonial War, he returned to Lisbon. He left his older son, José Manuel, with his grandparents in Mozambique.
Back in Portugal, Afonso took up a secondary school teacher position in Setúbal, where he developed a severe health crisis which left him hospitalized for 20 days. After receiving hospital discharge, he found out that he had been expelled from public school teaching because the regime censors disapproved of his leftist political ideals and considered his songs highly subversive. Later, the book Cantares de José Afonso (Songs of José Afonso) was published. The Portuguese Communist Party leadership invited him to become a party member but Afonso refused. He signed a contract with the record label Orfeu, which would record 70% of his works.
1968–1974: Prolific period and anti-regime activities
In 1968, after being dismissed from the government teaching job, Afonso became a private tutor and started singing more regularly with popular groups from the south bank of the Tagus river, a region which had a stronger influence of the Portuguese Communist Party. Around Christmas, Afonso released the album Cantares do Andarilho
Cantares do andarilhoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Natal dos simples2:56A2Balada do sino2:15A3Resineiro engraçado2:55A4Canção de embalar4:04A5O cavaleiro e o anjo3:01A6Saudadinha4:06B1Tecto na montanha3:58B2Endechas a Bárbara escrava2:06B3Chamaram-me cigano2:29B4Senhora do Almortão3:10B5Vejam bem4:07B6Cantares do andarilho3:28 ("Songs of the Wanderer"), in collaboration with Rui Pato, the first album recorded for the label Orfeu. Afonso had a special contract with Orfeu, for he was paid 15,000 escudos per month, a princely sum at the time, under the condition that he recorded an album per year.
In 1969, with the replacement of hardliner António de Oliveira Salazar by the more moderate Marcelo Caetano as head of the Estado Novo regime, the nation got a slight taste of democracy, such as permission to rebuild a democratic Labour Union movement. José Afonso joined the movement and supported it by all the means he could while also taking part in the second wave of student rebellion against the regime in the university town of Coimbra. That year, his album Contos Velhos Rumos Novos ("Old Tales New Courses") was released. For the first time an instrument other than the guitar was used on a José Afonso album. For this album he was awarded the prize for best album of the year by Casa da Imprensa, a distinction he would repeat in 1970 and 1971. His fourth and last son, Pedro, was also born in 1969.
In 1970, Afonso released the album Traz Outro Amigo Também
Traz outro amigo tambémSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Traz outro amigo também3:58A2Maria Faia3:14A3Canto moço2:04A4Epígrafe para a arte de furtar2:07A5Moda do entrudo2:01A6Os eunucos (No Reino da Etiópia)1:55B1Avenida de Angola4:18B2Canção do desterro (Emigrantes)2:24B3Verdes são os campos2:15B4Carta a Miguel Djéje2:26B5Cantiga do monte2:24 ("Bring Another Friend as Well"), which was recorded in London at the Pye Studios. It was the first album without frequent collaborator Rui Pato, who had been forbidden to travel by the Portugal's secret police. On 21 March, Casa da Imprensa (representing the Portuguese press) gave Afonso an honorary award for his "high quality work as a singer and composer and for his decisive influence upon Portuguese popular music". He participated in an international festival in Cuba.
At the end of 1971, the album Cantigas do Maio
Cantigas do MaioSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Senhor arcanjo3:49A2Cantigas do Maio5:47A3Milho verde2:13A4Cantar alentejano5:33B1Grândola, vila morena3:26B2Maio maduro Maio3:16B3Mulher da erva2:47B4Ronda das mafarricas2:45B5Coro da Primavera4:51 ("Songs of May") was released. The album was recorded at Château d'Hérouville, near Paris. This album is generally considered the best album of his career. In 1972, he released the album Eu Vou Ser Como a Toupeira
Eu vou ser como a toupeiraSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1A morte saiu à rua3:11A2Fui à beira do mar3:41A3Sete fadas me fadaram2:35A4Ó minha amora madura2:19A5O avô cavernoso2:52B1Ó Ti Alves2:50B2No comboio descendente2:44B3Eu vou ser como a toupeira2:02B4É para Urga2:59B5Por trás daquela janela3:49 ("I Will Be Just Like The Mole"), recorded in Madrid at the Cellada Studios.
In 1973, José Afonso continued his "pilgrimage", singing all over Portugal. Many of his appearances were forcibly cancelled by the PIDE/DGS. In April he was arrested and sentenced to 20 days in the Caxias prison (a facility used mostly to jail political prisoners). In the prison he wrote the poem Era Um Redondo Vocábulo. For Christmas, he released the album Venham Mais Cinco
Venham mais cincoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Rio largo de profundis2:51A2Era um redondo vocábulo3:21A3Nefretite não tinha papeira2:33A4Adeus ó Serra da Lapa1:40A5Venham mais cinco4:41B1A formiga no carreiro3:32B2Que amor não me engana3:50B3Paz poeta e pombas2:28B4Se voaras mais ao perto2:25B5Gastão era perfeito2:24 ("Let Five More Come"), recorded in Paris and on which José Mário Branco collaborated. Janine de Waleyne from the Blue Stars of France, a prominent vocalist in French chanson, guested on the title track.
On 29 March 1974, Afonso participated in a concert event at the Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon, called "First Meeting of the Portuguese Song" (Portuguese: Primeiro Encontro da Canção Portuguesa). This was an event sponsored by Casa da Imprensa in which several folk singer-songwriters and musicians with anti-Estado Novo inclinations participated. The state censorship still operated in the event, and Afonso was forbidden from performing some of his songs with more political messages, such as "Venham Mais Cinco" and "A Morte Saiu à Rua". "Grândola, Vila Morena", however, was not seen as a subversive song and was allowed to be performed. Almost one month later, on 25 April 1974, the Portuguese Estado Novo regime was overthrown in a nearly bloodless military coup, known as the Carnation Revolution. "Grândola, Vila Morena" was one of the two songs used as a radio-broadcast signal by the Portuguese Armed Forces Movement during their coup operation and is considered ever since the anthem of the revolution.
1974–1980: Revolutionary period
In December 1974, Afonso released the album Coro dos Tribunais
Coro dos tribunaisSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Coro dos tribunais4:282O homem voltou3:463Ailé! Ailé!2:444Não seremos pais incógnitos1:425O que faz falta4:276Lá no Xepangara3:167Eu marchava de dia e de noite3:108Tenho um primo convexo2:419Só ouve o brado da terra3:1410A presença das formigas2:5211Coro dos tribunais (final)1:23 ("Courthouse Chorus"), which was recorded in London, again at the Pye Studios, with musical arrangements by Fausto Bordalo Dias. The album includes two Brechtian songs, composed in Mozambique in the period between 1964 and 1967: "Coro dos Tribunais" and "Eu Marchava de Dia e de Noite".
From 1974 to 1975 he became directly involved in the popular revolutionary movements. The PREC (Ongoing Revolutionary Process) became his passion. He performed on 11 March 1975 (the day of a failed coup led by António de Spínola) in the RALIS, a leftist military stronghold. Afonso established a collaboration with the far-left movement LUAR (Revolutionary Action and Unity League). LUAR released his single "Viva o Poder Popular" (Hail to the People's Power). In Italy, the revolutionary organizations Lotta Continua, Il Manifesto and Avanguardia Operaia released the album República
RepúblicaSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1P’ra não dizer que não falei das floresA2Se os teus olhos se vendessemA3Foi no sábado passadoA4Canta camaradaA5Eu hei‐de ir colher macelaB1O pão que sobra a riquezaB2VampirosB3Senhora do AlmortãoB4Letra para um hinoB5Ladainha do arcebispo, recorded in Rome on 30 September and 1 October 1975. The money received from the sales of the album went to support the striking workers of the newspaper República.
In 1976 he supported Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho's presidential candidacy. Otelo was an important commander of the Carnation Revolution military operations, and Afonso would support him again in 1980. He released the album Com as Minhas Tamanquinhas
Com as minhas tamanquinhasSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Os fantoches de Kissinger2:37A2Teresa Torga3:51A3Os índios da Meia-Praia3:45A4O homem da gaita2:14A5O dia da unidade3:21B1Com as minhas tamanquinhas2:13B2Chula da Póvoa3:59B3Como se faz um canalha2:44B4Em terras de Trás-os-Montes2:06B5Alípio de Freitas2:53 ("With My Little Clogs").
The album Enquanto Há Força
Enquanto há forçaSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Enquanto há força2:04A2Tinha uma sala mal iluminada3:32A3Um homem novo veio da mata4:06A4Ali está o rio2:51A5Arcebispíada2:58B1Barracas ocupação5:03B2Eu, o povo4:11B3A acupuntura em Odemira2:17B4Viva o poder popular4:29 ("While There is Strength"), released in 1978, another collaboration with Fausto, shows some of Afonso's concerns about colonialism and imperialism and is also a critique of the Catholic Church. It includes the participation of other Portuguese artists such as Adriano Correia de Oliveira and Sérgio Godinho.
In 1979 the album Fura Fura
Fura furaSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Quanto é doce2:56A2As sete mulheres do Minho3:47A3O Cabral fugiu para Espanha2:03A4De quem foi a traição1:13A5Quem diz que é pela rainha2:38A6Na catedral de Lisboa2:40B1Achégate a mim, Maruxa2:11B2Senhora que o velho2:14B3De sal de linguagem feita2:23B4Não é meu bem3:15B5De não saber o que me espera2:59B6Fura fura3:02 ("Drill Drill") was released, with the collaboration of Júlio Pereira and the band Trovante. It contains eight songs that were meant for theater plays. He participated in the Anti-Eurovision Festival in Brussels.
1980–1987: Final years
In 1981, after two years out of the spotlight, Afonso returned to his Coimbra roots with the album Fados de Coimbra e Outras Canções
Fados de Coimbra e outras cançõesSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Saudades de Coimbra2:57A2Fado d'anto2:25A3Senhora do Almortão3:08A4Mar alto2:50A5Fado da sugestão3:36B1Balada de Outono4:11B2Inquietação3:12B3Fado dos olhos claros2:44B4Vira de Coimbra3:55B5Crucificado2:50 ("Coimbra fados and other songs"). He played in Paris at the Théâtre de la Ville.
In 1982 he started developing the first symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a severe disease that would affect him for the rest of his life. He played in Bruges at the Printemps Festival.
On 23 January 1983, Afonso, already weakened by the disease, played a sold-out show at the Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon. This show was recorded and immortalized in the live album Ao Vivo no Coliseu
Ao vivo no ColiseuSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Balada do Mondego (instrumental)2:03A2Do Choupal até à Lapa3:03A3Sra. do Almortão3:07A4Dor na planície (instrumental)5:29A5Balada do Outono3:48B1Dorme meu menino3:39B2Natal dos simples2:41B3Vampiros3:52B4A morte saiu à rua4:04Disc 2C1No comboio descendente4:52C2Um homem novo saiu da mata4:58C3Milho verde5:26C4Papuça3:54D1Utopia2:49D2Venham mais cinco6:22D3O que faz falta5:46D4Grândola, vila morena3:51, released later that year. Afonso's last concert was on 25 May 1983, at the Coliseu do Porto, in Porto. At the end of 1983 he released the album Como Se Fora Seu Filho
Como se fora seu filhoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Papuça3:59A2Utopia2:23A3A nau de António Faria5:10A4Canção da paciência3:56A5O país vai de carrinho5:30B1O canarinho7:14B2Eu dizia3:15B3Canção do medo3:06B4Verdade e mentira3:08B5Altos altentes1:43 ("As If He Was His Son") The city of Coimbra awarded him its Golden Medal of the City. "Thank you Zeca, come back whenever you wish, this is your home", the mayor of Coimbra, Mendes Silva, told him; to which Afonso replied "I don't want to become an institution, but I feel very grateful for the homage". The President of Portugal Ramalho Eanes wanted to bestow upon him the Order of Liberty, but Afonso refused to fill in the papers. Also in 1983 Afonso was reinstated in his official teaching position, whence he had been expelled in 1968; he was sent to a school in Azeitão to teach History and Portuguese. His disease worsened.
In 1985 his last album, Galinhas do Mato
Galinhas do matoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Agora4:36A2Tu gitana3:43A3Moda do Entrudo5:14A4Tarkovsky4:10A5Escandinávia-bar, Fuzeta3:21B1Década de Salomé4:15B2Benditos3:40B3Galinhas do mato4:54B4À proa2:57B5Alegria da criação2:42 ("Guineafowls"), was released. Afonso was unable to sing all the songs on the album, being replaced by Luís Represas, Helena Vieira, Janita Salomé, José Mário Branco, Né Ladeiras and Marta Salomé. Musical arrangements were done by Júlio Pereira and Fausto.
In 1986 he supported the presidential candidacy of Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, a progressive Catholic woman; she was not elected.
José Afonso died in Setúbal at 3 a.m. on 23 February 1987, aged 57, from complications of his sclerosis. His funeral in Setúbal occurred the following day and was attended by more than 30,000 people. The procession took two hours to cover 1,300 meters. His coffin was covered with a red flag with no symbols, as he had wished, and it was borne by, among others, his fellow musicians Sérgio Godinho, Júlio Pereira, José Mário Branco, Luís Cília and Francisco Fanhais. Afonso is buried in the Nossa Senhora da Piedade cemetery in Setúbal.
Legacy
On 18 November 1987, the Associação José Afonso was created with the objective of fulfilling Afonso's intentions in the areas of Portuguese music and art.
In 1991, the city of Amadora inaugurated a 3.7 metres (12 ft) statue of José Afonso in the city's Central Park.
On 30 June 1994, as part of Lisboa-94, European Capital of Culture, a festival in homage to José Afonso took place. Many Portuguese musicians, both veterans and younger artists, joined in the tribute festival, called "Filhos da Madrugada" ("Children of Dawn", the title of one of Afonso's most famous songs). Earlier that year, BMG had released an album with the same title as the festival, and with the same artists performing their own versions of Afonso's songs. Performers at this event included Brigada Victor Jara, Censurados, Delfins, Diva, Entre Aspas, Essa Entente, Frei Fado D'El Rei, GNR, Madredeus, Mão Morta, Opus Ensemble, Peste & Sida, Resistência, Ritual Tejo, Sérgio Godinho, Sétima Legião, Sitiados, Tubarões, UHF, Vozes da Rádio, and Xutos & Pontapés. Thirteen years earlier, Afonso had remarked that "If rock is the musical style that the young prefer, then we should ask for good quality rock music".
In 1995 José Mário Branco, Amélia Muge, and João Afonso, José Afonso's nephew, released another album in homage to Afonso, called Maio, Maduro Maio, that included many of his songs and two previously unreleased ones, "Entre Sodoma e Gomorra" and "Nem Sempre os Dias São Dias Passados".
For the 10th anniversary of Afonso's death, in 1997, EMI released for the first time in CD format the 1964 album Baladas e Canções
Baladas e cançõesSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Canção longe3:30A2Os bravos2:57A3Balada Aleixo2:58A4Balada do Outono3:01A5Trovas antigas2:45A6Na fonte está Lianor3:53B1Minha mãe3:54B2Altos castelos2:35B3O pastor de Bensafrim4:26B4Canto da Primavera2:21B5Elegia3:42B6Ronda dos paisanos3:08.
In 1998, Vitorino and Janita Salomé took part in a concert in homage to José Afonso, included in Expo'98's programme.
In 2007 he was elected the 29th Greatest Portuguese.
Studio albums
Baladas e Canções (1964)
Cantares do Andarilho (1968)
Contos Velhos Rumos Novos (1969)
Traz Outro Amigo Também (1970)
Cantigas do Maio (1971)
Eu Vou Ser Como a Toupeira (1972)
Venham Mais Cinco (1973)
Coro dos Tribunais (1974)
Com as Minhas Tamanquinhas (1976)
Enquanto Há Força (1978)
Fura Fura (1979)
Fados de Coimbra e Outras Canções (1981)
Como Se Fora Seu Filho (1983)
Galinhas do Mato (1985)
Live albums
José Afonso in Hamburg (1982)
Ao Vivo no Coliseu (1983)
Extended plays
Fados de Coimbra (1956)
Balada do Outono (1960)
Baladas de Coimbra (1962)
Dr. José Afonso em Baladas de Coimbra (1963)
Posthumous releases
Os Vampiros (1987)
De Capa e Batina (1996)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 29 | 89.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 28 | 89.8th |
| Studio albums | 16 | 95.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 19 | 93.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 34 | 72.8th |
| Genres | 8 | 94.5th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (28 release groups · 16 studio albums)
Albums · 16
1964 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 39:10
A1Canção longe3:30A2Os bravos2:57A3Balada Aleixo2:58A4Balada do Outono3:01A5Trovas antigas2:45A6Na fonte está Lianor3:53B1Minha mãe3:54B2Altos castelos2:35B3O pastor de Bensafrim4:26B4Canto da Primavera2:21B5Elegia3:42B6Ronda dos paisanos3:081968 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 38:35
A1Natal dos simples2:56A2Balada do sino2:15A3Resineiro engraçado2:55A4Canção de embalar4:04A5O cavaleiro e o anjo3:01A6Saudadinha4:06B1Tecto na montanha3:58B2Endechas a Bárbara escrava2:06B3Chamaram-me cigano2:29B4Senhora do Almortão3:10B5Vejam bem4:07B6Cantares do andarilho3:281969 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 33:00
A1Bailia3:20A2Oh! que calma vai caindo5:03A3S. Macaio4:16A4Qualquer dia2:17A5Vai, Maria vai2:17B1Deus te salve, Rosa2:02B2Lá vai Jeremias2:01B3No vale de Fuenteovejuna3:34B4Era de noite e levaram2:19B5Já o tempo se habitua3:35B6A cidade2:161970 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 29:06
A1Traz outro amigo também3:58A2Maria Faia3:14A3Canto moço2:04A4Epígrafe para a arte de furtar2:07A5Moda do entrudo2:01A6Os eunucos (No Reino da Etiópia)1:55B1Avenida de Angola4:18B2Canção do desterro (Emigrantes)2:24B3Verdes são os campos2:15B4Carta a Miguel Djéje2:26B5Cantiga do monte2:241971 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 34:27
A1Senhor arcanjo3:49A2Cantigas do Maio5:47A3Milho verde2:13A4Cantar alentejano5:33B1Grândola, vila morena3:26B2Maio maduro Maio3:16B3Mulher da erva2:47B4Ronda das mafarricas2:45B5Coro da Primavera4:511972 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 29:02
A1A morte saiu à rua3:11A2Fui à beira do mar3:41A3Sete fadas me fadaram2:35A4Ó minha amora madura2:19A5O avô cavernoso2:52B1Ó Ti Alves2:50B2No comboio descendente2:44B3Eu vou ser como a toupeira2:02B4É para Urga2:59B5Por trás daquela janela3:491973 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 29:45
A1Rio largo de profundis2:51A2Era um redondo vocábulo3:21A3Nefretite não tinha papeira2:33A4Adeus ó Serra da Lapa1:40A5Venham mais cinco4:41B1A formiga no carreiro3:32B2Que amor não me engana3:50B3Paz poeta e pombas2:28B4Se voaras mais ao perto2:25B5Gastão era perfeito2:241974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 33:43
1Coro dos tribunais4:282O homem voltou3:463Ailé! Ailé!2:444Não seremos pais incógnitos1:425O que faz falta4:276Lá no Xepangara3:167Eu marchava de dia e de noite3:108Tenho um primo convexo2:419Só ouve o brado da terra3:1410A presença das formigas2:5211Coro dos tribunais (final)1:231975 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks
A1P’ra não dizer que não falei das floresA2Se os teus olhos se vendessemA3Foi no sábado passadoA4Canta camaradaA5Eu hei‐de ir colher macelaB1O pão que sobra a riquezaB2VampirosB3Senhora do AlmortãoB4Letra para um hinoB5Ladainha do arcebispo1976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 29:43
A1Os fantoches de Kissinger2:37A2Teresa Torga3:51A3Os índios da Meia-Praia3:45A4O homem da gaita2:14A5O dia da unidade3:21B1Com as minhas tamanquinhas2:13B2Chula da Póvoa3:59B3Como se faz um canalha2:44B4Em terras de Trás-os-Montes2:06B5Alípio de Freitas2:531978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 31:31
A1Enquanto há força2:04A2Tinha uma sala mal iluminada3:32A3Um homem novo veio da mata4:06A4Ali está o rio2:51A5Arcebispíada2:58B1Barracas ocupação5:03B2Eu, o povo4:11B3A acupuntura em Odemira2:17B4Viva o poder popular4:291979 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 31:21
A1Quanto é doce2:56A2As sete mulheres do Minho3:47A3O Cabral fugiu para Espanha2:03A4De quem foi a traição1:13A5Quem diz que é pela rainha2:38A6Na catedral de Lisboa2:40B1Achégate a mim, Maruxa2:11B2Senhora que o velho2:14B3De sal de linguagem feita2:23B4Não é meu bem3:15B5De não saber o que me espera2:59B6Fura fura3:02Fados de Coimbra e outras canções
1981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 31:48
A1Saudades de Coimbra2:57A2Fado d'anto2:25A3Senhora do Almortão3:08A4Mar alto2:50A5Fado da sugestão3:36B1Balada de Outono4:11B2Inquietação3:12B3Fado dos olhos claros2:44B4Vira de Coimbra3:55B5Crucificado2:501983 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 39:24
A1Papuça3:59A2Utopia2:23A3A nau de António Faria5:10A4Canção da paciência3:56A5O país vai de carrinho5:30B1O canarinho7:14B2Eu dizia3:15B3Canção do medo3:06B4Verdade e mentira3:08B5Altos altentes1:431985 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 39:32
A1Agora4:36A2Tu gitana3:43A3Moda do Entrudo5:14A4Tarkovsky4:10A5Escandinávia-bar, Fuzeta3:21B1Década de Salomé4:15B2Benditos3:40B3Galinhas do mato4:54B4À proa2:57B5Alegria da criação2:42Grandola,Vila Morena & Com As Minhas Tamanquinhas
1993 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:02:57
1Senhor Arcanjo (Herr Erzengel)2:512Cantigas Do Maio (Mailieder)5:493Milho Verde (Grüner Mais)2:164Cantar Alentejano (Lied aus dem Alentejo)5:305Grândola, Vila Morena (Grandola, Braune Stadt)3:306Maio Maduro Maio (Mai, reifer Mai)3:147Ronda Das Mafarricas (Hexentanz)2:488A Mulher Da Erva (Die Kräuterfrau)2:509Coro Da Primavera (Frühlingschor)4:5310Os Fantoches De Kissinger (Kissingers Marionetten)2:3711Teresa Torga3:4812Os Indios De Meia-Praia (Die Indios von Meia-Praia)3:4213Oh Homem Da Gaita (Der Mann mit der Flöte)2:1114No Dia Da Unidade (Am Tag der Einheit)3:1315Com As Minhas Tamanquinhas (Was mich angeht)2:1416Chula Da Povoa (Tanz aus der Gegend von Povoa)3:5717Como Se Faz Um Canalha (Wie man eine Kanaille wird)2:4118Em Terras De Tras-Os-Montes (Im Tras-os-Montes)2:0419Alipio De Freitas2:49
Single · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Fados de CoimbraSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 6:07AO sol anda lá no céu3:02 BContos velhinhos3:05 | 1953 |
EP · 5
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Baladas De CoimbraSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 12:44A1Menino De Oiro3:14 A2Tenho Barcos, Tenho Remos3:13 B1No Lago Do Breu2:47 B2Senhor Poeta3:30 | 1962 | ||
| 1963 | Em Baladas De CoimbraSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 12:47A-1Os Vampiros2:49 A-2Canção Do Vai... E Vem...2:53 B-1Menino Do Bairro Negro3:49 B-2As Pombas3:16 | 1963 | ||
| 1964 | Cantares de José AfonsoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracksA1Coro dos caídos A2Canção do mar B1Maria B2Ó vila de Olhão | 1964 | ||
| 1969 | Menina dos Olhos TristesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 9:42AMenina Dos Olhos Tristes4:28 BCanta Camarada5:14 | 1969 | ||
| — | Balada Do OutonoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracksA1Balada Do Outono A2Vira De Coimbra B1Amor De Estudante B2Morena | — |
Album · 6
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | A Luta Continua (Solidarität Mit Den Kooperativen Der Landarbeiter In Portugal)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 7 tracks · 43:09A1Os Fantoches De Kissinger4:54 A2Hino À Liberdade3:11 A3Grandôla5:07 A4Catarina Eufémia4:40 B1Vira8:50 B2O Que Faz Falta9:50 B3Adeus Muros De Custóias6:37 | Live | 1976 | |
| 1983 | Ao vivo no ColiseuSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 17 tracks · 1:09:44Disc 1 A1Balada do Mondego (instrumental)2:03 A2Do Choupal até à Lapa3:03 A3Sra. do Almortão3:07 A4Dor na planície (instrumental)5:29 A5Balada do Outono3:48 B1Dorme meu menino3:39 B2Natal dos simples2:41 B3Vampiros3:52 B4A morte saiu à rua4:04 Disc 2C1No comboio descendente4:52 C2Um homem novo saiu da mata4:58 C3Milho verde5:26 C4Papuça3:54 D1Utopia2:49 D2Venham mais cinco6:22 D3O que faz falta5:46 D4Grândola, vila morena3:51 | Live | 1983 | |
| 1987 | Os vampirosSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 36:561Os vampiros2:49 2Menino d’oiro3:18 3Canção do vai… e vem2:53 4Senhor poeta3:33 5Tenho barco, tenho remos3:17 6Vira de Coimbra2:30 7Menino do bairro negro3:49 8As pombas3:19 9No lago do Breu2:51 10Canção longe2:39 11Amor de estudante3:12 12Balada do Outono2:46 | Compilation | 1987 | |
| 1996 | De capa e batinaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 34:201Fado das águias2:50 2Solitário3:21 3O sol anda lá no céu3:02 4Contos velhinhos3:05 5Incerteza2:59 6Mar largo3:08 7Aquela moça da aldeia3:07 8Balada3:10 9Menina dos olhos tristes4:28 10Canta camarada5:10 | Compilation | 1996 | |
| 2001 | José AfonsoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 30 tracks · 1:38:10Disc 1 1Canção De Embalar4:03 2Natal Dos Simples2:58 3Maria Faia (Moda Da Azeitona)3:11 4Canto Moço2:00 5Vai, Maria Vai2:17 6Milho Verde2:16 7Balado Do Sino2:17 8Mar Alto2:50 9Saudades De Coimbra2:56 10Verdes São Os Campos2:15 11Menina Dos Olhos Tristes4:28 12Cantar Alentejano5:33 13Vejam Bem4:08 14A Morte Saiu À Rua3:12 15Qualquer Dia2:15 Disc 21Traz Outro Amigo Também3:55 2Maio, Maduro Maio3:16 3Cantigas De Maio5:47 4Coro Da Primavera4:50 5Venham Mais Cinco4:38 6Coro Dos Tribunais4:27 7Com As Minhas Tamanquinhas2:12 8Enquanto Há Força2:03 9Fura Fura3:03 10Cantares Do Andarilho3:31 11Era De Noite E Levaram2:19 12Eu Vou Ser Como A Toupeira2:02 13Ailé ! Ailé2:43 14Era Um Redondo Vocábulo3:20 15Grândola, Vila Morena3:25 | Compilation | 2001 | |
| 2019 | Ao VivoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 30 tracks · 1:48:17Disc 1 1Menina dos Olhos Tristes5:26 2Cantares do Andarilho4:29 3Chamaram-me Cigano3:14 4Elegia3:37 5Trovas Antigas4:03 6Natal dos Simples4:15 7As Pombas4:14 8Cantar Alentejano9:10 Disc 21Alípio de Freitas4:23 2As Sete Mulheres do Minho5:20 3Um Homem Novo Veio da Mata5:55 4Arcebispíada3:44 5Mulher da Erva4:32 6O Que Faz Falta5:17 7Instrumental (Júlio Pereira)5:58 8Fado Raínha5:24 9Achégate a Mim, Maruxa (Cantar Galego)5:09 10Venho de Macelada5:02 11O Cabral Fugiu para Espanha4:44 12Se Voaras Mais Ao Perto6:15 13Amor de Estudante7:19 14Grândola Vila Morena (Excerto)0:47 Disc 3A1Menina dos Olhos Tristes A2Cantares do Andarilho A3Chamaram-me Cigano A4Elegia B1Trovas Antigas B2Natal dos Simples B3As Pombas B4Cantar Alentejano | Live | 6 April 2019 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put José Afonso head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 29 | 89.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 28 | 89.8th |
| Studio albums | 16 | 95.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 19 | 93.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 34 | 72.8th |
| Genres | 8 | 94.5th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jos%C3%A9_Afonso_by_Henrique_Matos_001.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d06e7e71-0178-4e66-8150-044ff6047d64discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d06e7e71-0178-4e66-8150-044ff6047d64core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q559269genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q559269seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Afonsobiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Afonso
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
- List of singer-songwriters
Tier rule: notable long tail (listeners 0, 29 language versions)
Image: Henrique José Teixeira Matos · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q559269 · MusicBrainz: d06e7e71-0178-4e66-8150-044ff6047d64
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