Silence 4
Encyclopedia
Silence 4 is a Portuguese
band, formed in 1996, who mostly sung in English
. They released two albums to highly critical acclaim, Silence Becomes It
(1998) and Only Pain Is Real
(2000). The band hasn't officially disbanded, but went on an undetermined hiatus after 2001. Lead singer David Fonseca
is currently undergoing a solo career.
, after having had a good feedback from showing some demo tapes to a music shop owner in Leiria
, approached Sofia Lisboa
with the idea of forming a band. That approach only materialized one year later, when both of them invited Rui Costa
to the band — who suggested they turn off the amplifiers
and play in silence.
They won a 500.000 escudos
(roughly 2500 euro
s) prize in a band festival, which was spent totally in making demos. When presenting these to labels
, the answer was always the same: "Singing in English? No Way!" Refusing to balk at the demand of recording totally in Portuguese
, they ended up recording a cover
of Erasure
's A Little Respect
, which was included in the compilation Sons de Todas as Cores (released in 1998), giving it massive airplay and good critical acclaim.
(now Universal
) finally accepted to work with them, but with some restrictions: minimum budget (5 million escudos — 25 thousand euros), and they would only receive royalties
after selling 10 thousand records. The resulting album was Silence Becomes It
, which was certified platinum 5 times (over 200 thousand records sold), spending months on #1 of the Portuguese charts. A national tour ensued, with 90 concerts in 6 months. On December 18, the mythical Pavilhão Atlântico
concert took place.
, was born. The album was presented in Leiria, in 2000, and took 2 weeks to reach platinum certification. Then came another tour, with over 100 concerts in one year, ending with two unique concerts at the Coliseu dos Recreios de Lisboa, on December 19 and 20.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
band, formed in 1996, who mostly sung in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. They released two albums to highly critical acclaim, Silence Becomes It
Silence Becomes It
Silence Becomes It was the debut album for Portuguese pop / alternative music band Silence 4, launched in June 1998. The album had a huge success in Portugal, reaching a six-time platinum album level , but didn't have the international success that some critics and fans predicted...
(1998) and Only Pain Is Real
Only Pain Is Real
Only Pain Is Real was the second album by the Portuguese pop band Silence 4. It was released in July 2000, after the huge success of his predecessor, Silence Becomes It. Recorded in London, the album showed new sounds and orchestrations, with 14 songs, all in English...
(2000). The band hasn't officially disbanded, but went on an undetermined hiatus after 2001. Lead singer David Fonseca
David fonseca
David Fonseca is a Portuguese musician, singer-songwriter, and plays several instruments, including acoustic guitar and organ. He is mainly recognised because of his successful music career, as member of Silence 4 and as a solo singer...
is currently undergoing a solo career.
Formation
The band's genesis begun in 1995. David FonsecaDavid fonseca
David Fonseca is a Portuguese musician, singer-songwriter, and plays several instruments, including acoustic guitar and organ. He is mainly recognised because of his successful music career, as member of Silence 4 and as a solo singer...
, after having had a good feedback from showing some demo tapes to a music shop owner in Leiria
Leiria
Leiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
, approached Sofia Lisboa
Sofia Lisboa
Sofia Lisboa is a Portuguese singer. She was the backing and supporting vocalist for Silence 4, during their active years, from 1996 to 2001. She provided a sensitive counterpart to David Fonseca's vocals. After the band's demise, she's been involved in other musical projects.-References:...
with the idea of forming a band. That approach only materialized one year later, when both of them invited Rui Costa
Rui Costa (Silence 4)
Rui Costa is a Portuguese musician.He played bass, acoustic and electric guitar for Silence 4, and is also credited for the co-writing of some songs in their albums, "Silence Becomes It" and "Only Pain Is Real". After Silence 4 went into a hiatus, he announced that he was leaving the band in...
to the band — who suggested they turn off the amplifiers
Instrument amplifier
An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...
and play in silence.
They won a 500.000 escudos
Portuguese escudo
The escudo was the currency of Portugal prior to the introduction of the Euro on 1 January 1999 and its removal from circulation on 28 February 2002. The escudo was subdivided into 100 centavos....
(roughly 2500 euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s) prize in a band festival, which was spent totally in making demos. When presenting these to labels
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, the answer was always the same: "Singing in English? No Way!" Refusing to balk at the demand of recording totally in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, they ended up recording a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
's A Little Respect
A Little Respect
American band Wheatus released the song in July 2001 as their second single from their debut album. The single peaked at number three in the United Kingdom, while reaching number 19 in Austria and number 41 in New Zealand.-Critical reception:...
, which was included in the compilation Sons de Todas as Cores (released in 1998), giving it massive airplay and good critical acclaim.
Silence Becomes It
PolygramPolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
(now Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
) finally accepted to work with them, but with some restrictions: minimum budget (5 million escudos — 25 thousand euros), and they would only receive royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
after selling 10 thousand records. The resulting album was Silence Becomes It
Silence Becomes It
Silence Becomes It was the debut album for Portuguese pop / alternative music band Silence 4, launched in June 1998. The album had a huge success in Portugal, reaching a six-time platinum album level , but didn't have the international success that some critics and fans predicted...
, which was certified platinum 5 times (over 200 thousand records sold), spending months on #1 of the Portuguese charts. A national tour ensued, with 90 concerts in 6 months. On December 18, the mythical Pavilhão Atlântico
Pavilhão Atlântico
Pavilhão Atlântico is an indoor arena in Lisbon, Portugal. Pavilhão Atlântico holds 20,000 people and was built in 1998 for Expo '98.-History:...
concert took place.
Only Pain Is Real
They kept touring in 1999, though with less concerts. Then came a period of absence, when they "escaped" to London. It was there, at the Ridge Farm Studios, that their second album, Only Pain Is RealOnly Pain Is Real
Only Pain Is Real was the second album by the Portuguese pop band Silence 4. It was released in July 2000, after the huge success of his predecessor, Silence Becomes It. Recorded in London, the album showed new sounds and orchestrations, with 14 songs, all in English...
, was born. The album was presented in Leiria, in 2000, and took 2 weeks to reach platinum certification. Then came another tour, with over 100 concerts in one year, ending with two unique concerts at the Coliseu dos Recreios de Lisboa, on December 19 and 20.
Members
- David FonsecaDavid fonsecaDavid Fonseca is a Portuguese musician, singer-songwriter, and plays several instruments, including acoustic guitar and organ. He is mainly recognised because of his successful music career, as member of Silence 4 and as a solo singer...
- lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Sofia LisboaSofia LisboaSofia Lisboa is a Portuguese singer. She was the backing and supporting vocalist for Silence 4, during their active years, from 1996 to 2001. She provided a sensitive counterpart to David Fonseca's vocals. After the band's demise, she's been involved in other musical projects.-References:...
- backing vocals - Rui CostaRui Costa (Silence 4)Rui Costa is a Portuguese musician.He played bass, acoustic and electric guitar for Silence 4, and is also credited for the co-writing of some songs in their albums, "Silence Becomes It" and "Only Pain Is Real". After Silence 4 went into a hiatus, he announced that he was leaving the band in...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Tozé Pedrosa - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Albums
- June 1998 - Silence Becomes ItSilence Becomes ItSilence Becomes It was the debut album for Portuguese pop / alternative music band Silence 4, launched in June 1998. The album had a huge success in Portugal, reaching a six-time platinum album level , but didn't have the international success that some critics and fans predicted...
- July 2000 - Only Pain Is RealOnly Pain Is RealOnly Pain Is Real was the second album by the Portuguese pop band Silence 4. It was released in July 2000, after the huge success of his predecessor, Silence Becomes It. Recorded in London, the album showed new sounds and orchestrations, with 14 songs, all in English...
- 2000 - Only Pain Is Real:The Remixes (EP)
- 2004 - Silence 4 no Coliseu dos Recreios