Dulce Pontes | |
|---|---|
 Dulce Pontes in 2013. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1969-04-08)8 April 1969 (age 56) |
| Origin | Montijo, Portugal |
| Genres | Fado,world music,classical,pop |
| Occupations | Songwriter, singer |
| Years active | 1988-present |
| Labels | Movieplay Portuguesa Universal MusicOndea |
| Website | dulcepontesofficial.com |
Dulce José Silva Pontes (Portuguese:[ˈdulsɨʒuˈzɛˈsilvɐˈpõtɨʃ]; born 8 April 1969) is aPortuguese songwriter and singer who performs in many musical styles, including pop, folk, andclassical music. She is usually defined as aworld music artist. Her songs contributed to the 1990s revival of Portuguese urbanfolk music calledfado.[1]
Pontes was born in 1969 inMontijo, a town in theDistrict of Setúbal, nearLisbon.[1] She trained as a pianist, and started a career in singing after entering a competition in her hometown at the age of 18. She soon became an actress on Portuguesetelevision andtheatre.[2] In 1991, she won the Festival RTP da Canção with her song "Lusitana paixão", (known in English as "Tell Me"), which led her torepresent Portugal at theEurovision Song Contest 1991. She finished 8th in the competition, which was at the time the third-best finish for a Portuguese performer.[3] Later that year, she alsorepresented Portugal in theOTI Festival 1991 with the song "Ao sul da América".
Her interpretation of famous fado themes like "Lágrima" e "Estranha Forma de Vida", earned her in the press the name of "successor and heir toAmália Rodrigues".
Dulce Pontes started her career as a mainstream pop artist, but over the years she has evolved to become a world music singer. She blends traditional fado with contemporary styles and searches out new forms of musical expression.[2] She introduced musical traditions of theIberian Peninsula in her work, rediscovered many long forgotten popular tunes and found use for obsolete musical instruments. Her work is inspired and influenced not only by Iberian musical tradition, but also,African,Brazilian,Arabic andBulgarian sounds. She sings mostly in her nativePortuguese.[2]
Dulce Pontes has collaborated withCesária Évora,Caetano Veloso,Marisa Monte,Daniela Mercury,Carlos Núñez,the Chieftains,Kepa Junkera,Eleftheria Arvanitaki,George Dalaras,Andrea Bocelli (O Mar e Tu, duet sung by Pontes in Portuguese and Bocelli inNeapolitan, for his 1999 albumSogno),Joan Manuel Serrat,Wayne Shorter,Trilok Gurtu,Christopher Tin for his albumsCalling All Dawns (Grammy awarded) (on the songSe É Pra Vir Que Venha) andThe Drop That Contained the Sea (on the songPassou o Verão) and others.
Her song "Canção do Mar" appeared on the soundtrack of Hollywood filmPrimal Fear.[2] A 30-second piece of that same song serves as the theme to the NBC police dramaSouthland.
Her albumFocus (2003) is the fruit of a collaboration withItalian composerEnnio Morricone with whom she has also toured and performed live.[4] She sang in prestigious concert halls likeCarnegie Hall in New York and theRoyal Albert Hall in London, among many other places worldwide.
In June 2006, Pontes prepared her double LPO Coração Tem Três Portas (The Heart Has Three Doors). It was recorded live without an audience inConvent of the Order of Christ inTomar and St Mary Church inÓbidos.[2] According to the artist, it is "her most personal and intimate album." It includes Portuguese folk music, mostly fado". It was released in December 2006.
Dulce Pontes withJosé Carreras in duet together, starred in the official opening of the international election of theNew 7 Wonders of the World in 2007 with her theme "One World" (We are one).
In 2009, Pontes releasedMomentos, a career-spanning double disc collection that included previously unreleased tracks.[5][6]
Her versatility in music styles shows also in her performances of Latin-Americantango's ofAstor Piazzolla (for example "Balada para un Loco" and "Maria de Buenos Aires" or "Volver" by Carlos Gardel).
She is the mother of a son, José Gabriel, who was born on 23 January 2002 in Lisbon and a daughter, Maria José, who was born on 24 January 2009 in Amadora.[7][8]
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Dora with "Quero acordar" | Portugal in the OTI Festival 1991 | Succeeded by Cristina Roque with "Uma avenida inteira de saudade" |
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