Estranha Forma de Vida

Amália Rodrigues, known as the Queen of Fado, often explored themes of longing, love, and the complexities of the human heart in her music. 'Estranha Forma de Vida' (Strange Way of Life) is no exception, as it delves into the inner turmoil and existential angst that can accompany intense emotions. The lyrics speak of a life lived in anxiety and a heart that beats to its own rhythm, independent and seemingly out of control. The song reflects the fado tradition, which is characterized by its melancholic and soulful expression of the struggles of daily life and the unattainable.

The repeated line 'Foi por vontade de Deus' (It was by the will of God) suggests a sense of predestination or fate, a common theme in fado music. The singer expresses a resignation to the emotional state she finds herself in, attributing it to a higher power. This fatalistic outlook is a key element of the fado genre, often conveying a sense of helplessness against the forces of destiny. The heart is personified as an entity with its own will, one that the singer can no longer follow, indicating a disconnect between the mind and the emotions.

The song's final plea for the heart to stop beating if it doesn't know where it's going is a powerful metaphor for the desire to find peace and stillness amidst emotional chaos. It's a call for the cessation of suffering and the relentless pursuit of something that may never be attained. Amália Rodrigues' emotive performance of 'Estranha Forma de Vida' captures the essence of fado, with its deep sense of saudade—a unique Portuguese term that describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for something or someone that one cares for and that is lost.