João Pedro │ The Lost Fadista

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring the incredibly talented João Pedro, who is also known as the "forgotten fadista".   As some of you may know, I am an aficionado of Fado music, and I am also very fond of João Pedro's voice, and his superb singing style.  João Pedro was the winner of the prestigious 1996 "Bravo, Bravissimo!", music competition that is held annually in Italy.  His career started out with a bang, and shortly afterwards, he just vanished without a trace from the terra de Portugal.  How, may I ask, can someone just disappear off the face of the earth at the peak of his career?  I have done a massive search on the internet looking for information about about João Pedro, but did not have any meaningful success.  The mystery of João's absence continues unabated, and lingers on as an enigma.  Lucky for us though, that some of his music has been preserved on YouTube.  In the video below his sings the beautiful "Lenda da Fonte (The Legend's Source)", that was composed by Domingos Silva.  By-the-way, João Pedro was the first young fadista to ever do a cover of this song.  I find it truly remarkable that one who is so young, can sing with such maturity and passion.  Take notice of the intense right-hand gestures, and finger motions that João makes when he sings "Lenda da Fonte".  It's really quite interesting and evocative.  João sings with his whole body and soul.  Please click on this link to listen to João Pedro sing the incredibly haunting "Dorme Criança (A Child Sleeps)": Dorme Criança Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Lenda da Fonte

Maria do monte, nascida e criada
Na encruzilhada que fica defronte para a fonte sagrada
A lenda é antiga, mas há quem a conte
Que descia o monte uma rapariga
P'ra beber na fonte

E aquela hora por ela marcada de noite ou de dia
O Chico da Nora na encruzilhada esperava a Maria
Seguiam depois, bem juntos os dois, ao longo da estrada
Matar de desejos, a sede com beijos
Na fonte sagrada

Mas um certo dia, como era esperada
Na encruzilhada não veio a Maria à hora marcada
Seus olhos divinos p'ra sempre fechou
Aldeia rezou, tocaram os sinos
E a fonte secou

E aquela hora por ela marcada de noite ou de dia
O Chico da Nora na encruzilhada esperava a Maria
Mas oh santo Deus, escureceram- se os céus, finou- se a beldade
E diz- se no monte que a velhinha fonte
Secou de saudade

Mas oh santo Deus, escureceram- se os céus, finou- se a beldade
E diz- se no monte que a velhinha fonte
Secou de saudade

Les Misérables │ Daniel Huttlestone

Daniel Huttlestone as Gavroche

"Les Misérables" is the greatest musical, or operetta if you will, ever written, and the new movie version of it will probably go down in cinema history as one of the best films ever made.  The lyrics and music were composed by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg.  It was based on the 1862 French novel "Les Misérables" written by Victor Hugo.  Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean) and Russel Crowe (Javert) are magnificent, but the real scene-stealer, is Daniel Huttlestone who plays the streetwise Gavroche.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be. 

Mary, Did You Know? │ Johnny Hammer

 

 

My Dear Aunt Martha and I spent the whole afternoon surfing the internet trying to find something new, and different to share on Angel Watchers.  Well, Aunt Martha finally suggested that I search for some Techno Praise music.  You see, Aunt Martha, having been a professional opera singer all of her life, still keeps tabs on all of the latest musical trends, which is something that I am really loathe to do.  I had never heard of Techno Praise but I do trust Aunt Martha's judgment.  I typed in the search term, and dozens of hits popped up.  It did not take long to find this Techno Praise version of Mark Lowry's wonderful Christmas gem "Mary, Did You Know?".  It is sung by a fresh new singer by the name of Johnny Hammer, and he is sensational.  The power, honesty, innocence, and freshness of Johnny's performance brought tears to both Aunt Martha's, and my eyes.  Johnny also has an amazing angelic presence that makes him so much fun to watch.  I predict that this version of "Mary, Did You Know?" will turn out to be a perennial Christmas favorite.  By the way, the group that Johnny belongs to is called Technopraise.  Please join Aunt Martha and I in watching this amazing video by clicking on the widget below.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Jedi Camp

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring a new mini-series called "Jedi Camp".  It stars Stuart Allan as "Lucas", and Andy Scott Harris as "Andy".  To say that "Jedi Camp" is well made would be an understatement as it is really great.  Click on the video widgets below to watch two exciting episodes of "Jedi Camp".  May the force be with you, to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Historia de un Amor │ Diego et Esteban

 

Esteban

In this special edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring the very talented Diego et Esteban.  They are from the Municipality of L'Ile Saint Denis, located in France.  By-the-way, Diego et Esteban are cousins.  Esteban, the younger member of the duo, has a real knack for singing rhumba flamenca.  "Historia de un Amor (A Love Story)", is usually sung as a bolero, but Diego et Esteban give it a refreshing gitano interpretation that is simply amazing.  "Historia de un Amor" has an interesting history though.  It was written by Panamanian songwriter Carlos Eleta Almarán after the death of his brother's wife, and it was first performed on the soundtrack of a 1956 Mexican movie of the same name starring Libertad Lamarque.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Carol Of The Bells │ Libera

A very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

He Will Carry You │ Scott Wesley Brown

Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.