Thanks to A Nova Música Portuguesa for publishing this brief rundown of two Portuguese music radio programmes, which you can catch on streaming web radio.

The first is "Culto do Império" which is broadcast on Rádio Lousã FM. This programme has been around for more than 17 years, and is entirely devoted to national projects and bands. Broadcast time is between 15:00 and 17:00 on Saturdays (GMT).

The second programme is Programa "TrezeQuatorze" on Rádio Nazaré FM. This programme has been around for a little over a year. It broadcasts both Portuguese music as well as live interviews and exclusive studio performances from national bands. This programme is also broadcast on Saturdays from 13:00 to 14:00 GMT.

Sound And Vision have posted a year-end poll of the most popular Portuguese artists of 2008. As Sound and Vision point out, four of the voted favourites represent artists who sing in Portuguese (as opposed to English), which of course has significance for bands hoping to widen their appeal. Or does it? Good music will always shine through no matter the language (or so I hope to think).

So, here they are (along with the percentage of the vote, and links to their respective MySpace pages for media):

1º Macacos do Chinês – 18%
2º João e a Sombra – 15%
.. Os Pontos Negros – 15%
4º Feromona – 12%
5º Rita Redshoes – 11%
6º Peixe:Avião – 8%
7º Foge Foge Bandido – 6%
8º Noiserv – 5%
9º B Fachada – 4%
10º The Portugals – 1%

It is very, very hard to explain the appeal of Bruno Aleixo. All I can say is, I am so thankful for English subtitles.

I think you have to lay the foundation, by watching this clip first.

Then, watch the second...



And then, hunt for more...

The similarity is most striking when they stalk out on the pitch in a long leather jacket...