Sérgio Godinho

Biography

Sérgio de Barros Godinho (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsɛɾʒiu ɣuˈðiɲu]; born 31 August 1945) is a Portuguese singer-songwriter, composer, actor, poet and author.
Considered one of the most influential popular musicians in Portugal, Godinho started his music career singing folk songs of música de intervenção (Portuguese protest songs) while in exile, in the years preceding the Carnation Revolution of 1974 in Portugal, and is regarded as one of the genre's major figures.
Besides his music career, Godinho is also a stage and film actor, and has released poetry and fiction books.

Early life

Sérgio Godinho was born in Porto on 31 August 1945. He bought his first acoustic guitar when he was 15 years-old.
He lived in Porto during his youth. He started by studying economics in university, by recommendation from his father, but decided to quit on his second year. At the age of 20, he decided to leave Portugal, motivated by a desire of emancipation and also to avoid the conscription for the Portuguese Colonial War. He went to study psychology in Geneva, where he had Jean Piaget as one of his professors. After two years, in 1967, still unsatisfied with the path chosen, Godinho left the course and decided to dedicate himself to the arts.
In the following months, Godinho traveled across different places in France, Italy and the Netherlands. He then moved to Paris, where he worked as a stage actor, being cast for the French version of the musical Hair, and started writing songs. In Paris, he befriended José Mário Branco, a fellow Portuguese songwriter, who is nowadays also regarded as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of música de intervenção. He also there met his first wife, Sheila, while working on Hair. He was living in Paris during the May 68 protests.
After his first recordings in 1971, he did more travels in the Netherlands, Canada and Brazil. In Brazil, he joined the theater group Living Theatre, and was arrested for two and a half months after taking part in a protest show in Minas Gerais. He returned to Paris to perform in another season of Hair and then moved to the Netherlands for a short time.
Godinho lived in Canada, specifically in Montreal and Vancouver, from 1972 to 1974, with his partner Sheila. He returned to Portugal in September 1974, some months after the Carnation Revolution in Portugal.

1971–1974: The exile years

Sérgio Godinho started his music career in Paris, composing and recording with José Mário Branco in 1971. Both Godinho and Branco's first albums were recorded at the same time, at the Strawberry Studio in Château d'Hérouville. Godinho wrote the lyrics to four tracks in Branco's first album, Mudam-se os Tempos, Mudam-se as Vontades, released that same year. Branco produced and played in Godinho's first EP and first album.
Godinho's first release was the EP Romance de um Dia na Estrada in 1971. The four songs in this EP would also appear in his first album, Os Sobreviventes×Os Sobreviventes1972 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Que Força é Essa3:512A-A-E-I-O2:103Descansa A Cabeça (Estalajadeira)2:314Paula2:485Que Bom Que É1:456O Charlatão3:287Farto de Voar2:268Senhor Marquês1:209Cantiga da Velha Mãe e dos Seus Dois Filhos4:0110A Linda Joana1:3111Romance de Um Dia na Estrada4:0612Maré Alta3:19, which was recorded in April 1971 and was released in 1972 in Portugal. He recorded his second album Pré-Histórias×Pré-histórias1972 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Barnabé3:172A Noite Passada4:293Aprendi a Amar2:594Eh! Meu Irmão2:185Porto, Porto4:186O'Neil1:037Pode Alguém Ser Quem Não É2:518Até Domingo Que Vem3:069Já a Vista me Fraqueja3:3810O Homem dos Sete Instrumentos3:36 in 1972, and it was likewise released in the following year in Portugal.
Because of the political messages in some of its lyrics, Os Sobreviventes and Pré-Historias were targeted by the censorship of the Estado Novo regime, at a time in which the censorship from Marcelo Caetano's administration paradoxically wished to become softer but also more controlling of pop music that criticized the regime. Os Sobreviventes was removed from stores several times.
Godinho was living in Canada when the Carnation Revolution happened in Portugal. He started the recording of his third album in Canada and later finished it in Portugal.

1974–1980: Return to Portugal

Godinho returned to Portugal in September 1974. He finished and released his third album, À Queima-Roupa, that year.
In 1976, he released De Pequenino Se Torce O Destino, an album with production by Fausto Bordalo Dias, with lyrics marked by Portugal's transition to democracy in 1975.
His last albums in the 1970s are Pano-Cru×Pano-Cru1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1A Vida é Feita de Pequenos Nadas3:232O Primeiro Dia4:193O Galo é o Dono Dos Ovos2:344Balada da Rita4:035Venho Aqui Falar4:226Lá Isso É4:037Feiticeira2:298O Homem-Fantasma3:4692º Andar, Direito6:5510Pano-Cru1:46, from 1978, and Campolide×Campolide1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Parto Sem Dor0:592Lá Em Baixo5:313Cuidado Com as Imitações4:084Vivo Numa Outra Terra3:565Arranja-Me Um Emprego3:246Mudemos de Assunto5:177Quatro Quadras Soltas4:028Os Conquistadores3:089Le Soleil En Face3:2010Espectáculo2:44, from 1979. In these albums, Godinho starts a transition to less politically charged lyrics and singing more about everyday life.

1980–2000

Godinho composed the soundtrack for José Fonseca e Costa's film Kilas, o Mau da Fita×Kilas, O Mau Da Fita1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Valsa Da Ana (Piano)1:06A2Genérico Do Filme2:59A3Balada Da Rita3:12A4Tereno's Tune1:30A5É Terça-Feira (Valsa Da Ana)2:42B1Fado Do Kilas3:32B2Balada Da Rita2:44B3Tema Do Major2:17B4Valsa Da Ana (Versão Instrumental)3:09 (1980), which was released in 1980.
In 1981 he released Canto da Boca. The album was an award-winning success.
Godinho wished to collaborate with Brazilian musicians in his following album, whom he considered a source of inspiration. His 1983 album Coincidências×Coincidências12 May 1983 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Introdução0:542O labirinto4:153A barca dos amantes2:564Tantas vezes2:485As certezas do meu mais brilhante amor (coisas de amor I)2:426Não vás contar que mudei a fechadura (coisas de amor II)3:027Num bilhete de ida e volta5:138Que Há-De Ser De Nós?4:189Caso fatal4:0510Um tempo que passou4:0311Não te deixes assim vestir...3:3512As horas extraordinárias3:34 features the Brazilian musicians Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque and Ivan Lins.
In 1984 Godinho released the album Salão de Festas×Salão de Festas1984 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Salão de Festas3:562Trás-os-montes4:383Coro das velhas3:564Chave de vidro2:555Balada das descobertas2:186Mil pedaços4:007Perdida em não sei que sonho3:338Quimera do iuro3:079Duelo ao Sol3:4510Que é do Futuro?2:4211Pois, é a vida1:16, where he started to incorporate elements of light jazz in his songs. The exploration of jazz sounds continued in his following album, Na Vida Real×Na Vida Real1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Definição Do Amor5:352Isto Anda Tudo Ligado4:253Lisboa Que Amanhece6:424Dor D'Alma4:575A Carroça Dos Poetas1:046O Fugitivo5:287Pode Alguém Ser Quem Não É?5:188Elogio Do Artesão2:399O Carteiro2:4410Emboscadas4:1111Na Vida Real1:30 (1986), which contained a more nocturnal ambiance.
In 1988 he released his first and only album of children's music, titled Sérgio Godinho Canta Com Os Amigos do Gaspar×Sérgio Godinho canta com Os Amigos do Gaspar1988 · Album · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Abertura0:272É Tão Bom2:023As Dúvidas do Gaspar2:144O Farturas quer ser rico1:005Na Cidade1:346A Paixão do Velho Pires, o Marinheiro2:357Dona Felismina e a Sua Loja2:138Os Pais Natal3:109Canção dos Abraços1:3310Viva o Futebol1:2311Amores de Marta1:5712Façanhas e Fracassos do Guarda Serôdio2:3113Pico Pico Manjerico1:3114Canção dos Palhaços Ségito e Romão1:3815Embalo1:5516Fim0:54, containing songs he created for RTP's children show Os Amigos do Gaspar.
In 1989 he released Aos Amores. It was followed by his first live album, Escritor de Canções×Escritor de Canções1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Notícias locais1:172A barca dos amantes3:173As certezas do meu mais brilhante amor1:494Não vás contar que mudei a fechadura1:295A Carolina - Parto sem dor4:576Balada da Rita3:147O fugitivo4:168Emboscadas2:569Lá em baixo4:1310A noite passada3:3411Eu contigo - Balada das Descobertas1:0612Os demónios de Alcácer Quibir2:2013Ouro preto3:0114Na carroça dos poetas1:0815Arranja-me um emprego2:3716Um tempo que passou2:5217L'ame des poètes2:1318Circunvalação2:0819Lisboa que amanhece4:2120Notícias locais (2)1:2321As horas extraordinárias3:0122É terça-feira2:48, in 1990.
In the 1990s Godinho started to reduce the pace at which he released studio albums. In 1993 he released the album Tinta Permanente×Tinta Permanente1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1O elixir da eterna juventude3:002O primeiro gomo da tangerina2:283A Face visível da lua3:084Enfim S.O.S.2:575Melhor que o amor3:316O Fim de tudo4:457Pequenos delíririos domésticos3:348Os hinos3:459Fotos do fogo5:04. In this album, Godinho takes a step towards a more modern sound, bringing his music to a new generation. It can be considered the beginning of his "modern era".
Godinho began collaborations with Portuguese artists of a newer generation during the 1990s. He shared the stage with bands such as Sitiados and Da Weasel. His 1997 album Domingo no Mundo×Domingo no Mundo14 March 1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Ser ou não ser3:272Não respire!2:483Correio azul3:574Domingo no mundo4:215As armas do amor4:516É a vida (o que é que se há-de fazer?)2:547Mesa2:278Lamento de Rimbaud3:319Os afectos3:1410Aguenta aí3:2011Dias úteis2:52 had contributions by Sitiados, Rádio Macau and Kalu from Xutos & Pontapés.

2000–present

In 2000 Godinho released the album Lupa. In 2001 he released a collaboration album with the band Clã, with songs from both parts. Another collaboration album with various artists followed in 2003, titled O Irmão do Meio×O Irmão do Meio2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Pode Alguém Ser Quem Não é4:192Lisboa que Amanhece5:063Mudemos de Assunto5:114Isto Anda Tudo Ligado3:375Antes o Poço da Morte4:316O Galo é o Dono dos Ovos2:517Barnabé3:278Coro das Velhas4:349Balada da Rita3:2010Fotos do Fogo4:0311Enfim S.O.S.3:0212Quatro Quadras Soltas4:2213Chuvas de Cabo Verde4:3614Que Força é Essa3:1615Dancemos no Mundo5:01. This album revisited several of Godinho's classics and included contributions by Brazilian and Portuguese artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gabriel o Pensador, Rui Veloso, Jorge Palma, Xutos & Pontapés, Teresa Salgueiro and Camané.
In 2006 he released the album Ligação Directa×Ligação Directa2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1A Deusa do Amor4:032Às Vezes o Amor4:383Marcha Centopeia3:124Não Há Duas Como Ela3:405O Velho Samurai4:206O Rei do Zum-Zum4:127No Circo do Monteiro Nunca Chove2:598O Às da Navegação4:299O Big-One da Verdade2:5110Só Neste País5:02. In 2009, Godinho reunited with José Mário Branco and Fausto Bordalo Dias for the a series of concerts named Três Cantos. The trio did two shows at the Campo Pequeno in Lisbon, and two other at the Coliseu do Porto in Porto. Recordings of the Campo Pequeno shows were released in the live album Três Cantos: Ao Vivo.
In 2011 Godinho released the album Mútuo Consentimento×Mútuo Consentimento2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Mão na Música6:372Bomba-Relógio3:493O Aceso Bloqueado3:044A Invenção da Roda2:525Em dias Consecutivos3:256Mútuo Consentimento0:547Eu Vou a Jogo4:268Linhgem Feminina2:359A Vida Sobresselente4:2010Vai Lá!3:2711Intermitentemente3:10. During 2015 and 2016, Godinho played shows together with Jorge Palma. The show at the Theatro Circo in Braga was released in the live album Juntos – Ao Vivo no Theatro Circo, in 2015.
His latest studio album, Nação Valente×Nação Valente9 March 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Grão Da Mesma Mó4:332Artesanato2:533Baralho De Cartas3:314Nação Valente3:075Mariana Pais, 21 Anos3:226Tipo Contrafacção3:407Noites De Macau2:568Delicado3:069Noite E Dia3:1410Até Já, Até Já3:13Disc 21Noite E Dia3:542Baralho De Cartas3:293Balada Da Rita4:314Grão Da Mesma Mó4:465Mariana Pais, 21 Anos3:426Bem-Vindo Sr. Presidente5:417Às Vezes O Amor4:558Delicado3:259Tipo Contrafacção4:0310Até Já, Até Já3:28, was released in 2018. He has continued to perform including at Paredes de Coura Festival in 2026.

Live albums

Escritor de Canções (1990)
Noites Passadas: O Melhor De Sérgio Godinho Ao Vivo (1995)
Rivolitz: O Melhor De Sérgio Godinho Ao Vivo 2 (1998)
Nove e Meia no Maria Matos (2008)
Ao Vivo no São Luiz (2020)

Collaboration albums

A Confederação (original soundtrack, with José Mário Branco and Fausto) (1978)
Afinidades (live album, with Clã) (2001)
O Irmão do Meio (with various artists) (2003)
Três Cantos: Ao Vivo (with José Mário Branco and Fausto) (2009)
Caríssimas Canções (live album, with Hélder Gonçalves, Manuela Azevedo and Nuno Rafael) (2013)
Juntos - Ao Vivo no Theatro Circo (live album, with Jorge Palma) (2015)

Compilation albums

Era Uma Vez Um Rapaz (1985)
Biografias do Amor (2001)
Setenta e Um - Oitenta e Seis: O Melhor de Sérgio Godinho (2004)
1989 - 2014: O Melhor de Sérgio Godinho (2017)