Um Homem na Cidade
Carlos do Carmo · 1977
42 min · 12 tracks · fado
Intimate fado melodies intertwine with poetic lyrics, capturing the essence of urban life and emotional depth in Portugal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Um homem na cidade — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of urban life and longing, employing rich imagery that resonates deeply with listeners. Its poignant arrangement highlights do Carmo's vocal prowess and emotional delivery.
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Fado do Campo Grande — This track stands out for its lyrical storytelling, evoking a sense of place and nostalgia while maintaining the traditional fado essence. Its haunting melody exemplifies do Carmo's ability to blend personal narrative with broader societal themes.
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Balada para uma velhinha — An emotional tribute, this song showcases do Carmo's sensitivity and depth, addressing themes of aging and memory. The gentle instrumentation complements the lyrical content, making it a heartfelt highlight of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong lyrical content and traditional fado elements while maintaining a cohesive flow throughout.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of traditional fado instrumentation, primarily guitar and Portuguese guitar, creating an intimate atmosphere.
- Each track maintains a slow to mid-tempo pace, allowing the lyrical content to take precedence over rhythmic drive.
- The lyrics are deeply poetic, often reflecting on urban life and personal experiences, which enhances the emotional weight of each song.
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response elements between do Carmo's vocals and instrumental interludes, emphasizing the conversational nature of fado.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- poignant reflections on urban life
- nostalgic melodies for quiet evenings
- rich storytelling in each track
- intimate moments of heartfelt emotion
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party vibes
- prefer instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Um Homem na Cidade is Carlos do Carmo's pivotal third album, released during a period when he was solidifying his status as a leading voice in fado. Following the success of his earlier works, this album showcased his evolving artistry and deeper engagement with contemporary themes in Portuguese music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Amália Rodrigues· Mariza· Ana Moura
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Um homem na cidade 3:55
- 2 O cacilheiro 2:55
- 3 Fado do Campo Grande 5:11
- 4 O amarelo da carris 3:12
- 5 Namorados da cidade 3:38
- 6 Nova feira da ladra 3:16
- 7 O homem das castanhas 3:21
- 8 Rosa da noite 4:38
- 9 Fado varina 2:57
- 10 Fado dos azulejos 3:14
- 11 Fado da pouca sorte 2:23
- 12 Balada para uma velhinha 4:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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