Opinião Publica “Public Opinion”: Portugal’s First Power Pop Band
“Opinião Pública” is considered Portugal’s first power pop band. Formed in Lisbon in July 1980, the band took advantage of the Portuguese rock boom in the early 1980s to popularize the power pop style in Portugal, with influences from new wave.
Band Formation
The band consisted of:
- Carlos Estreia (vocals and guitar)
- Pedro Lima (guitar)
- Luís Fialho (bass and keyboards)
- Carlos Baltazar (drums)
Ephemeral Career
Public Opinion had a short career, during which they recorded a single and a studio album. Despite high expectations and enormous potential, the band ceased activities in 1982.
Opinião Pública: The Genesis of a Portuguese Rock Band
Opinião Pública is a Portuguese rock band that emerged in the early 1980s, a period marked by the boom of rock in Portugal. In this article, we will explore the formation and early days of the band, which would become one of the main representatives of power pop in Portugal.
The Beginning of the Journey
In early 1980, Pedro Lima and Carlos Baltazar began playing music as a hobby, performing small shows for friends with covers of popular songs from the Anglo-Saxon markets. The rock boom in Portugal had not yet exploded, but the Opinião Pública project was taking its first steps.
The Formation of the Band
During their musical apprenticeship, Pedro Lima (guitar) and Carlos Baltazar (drums) invited several musicians to join the group, without achieving positive results. It was with the arrival of Carlos Estreia (vocals and guitar) and Luís Fialho (bass and keyboards) that the band began to create original compositions and officially formed in July 1980.
First Concerts and Recognition
In January 1980, the band was lucky enough to play at the Aula Magna in a concert tribute to John Lennon, where UHF and other bands also performed. Opinião Pública also gave an interview to the magazine Música & Som, where they revealed they were in negotiations with Valentim de Carvalho to sign a contract.
The “Só Rock” Festival
After some successful concerts, the band was motivated to compete in the “Só Rock” festival, held in Coimbra between May 2 and July 5, 1981. The group achieved an honorable second place, but this was not well received by the band members, who expected more.
The Contract with Rotação
The Rotação label, a subsidiary of the Rossil publishing house and directed by the prominent radio host António Sérgio, was paying attention to the festival lineup and invited some of the groups to sign a contract. This is how Opinião Pública began its recording career, which would be marked by a unique sound and infectious energy.
Opinião Pública is a band that left its mark on the Portuguese music scene, with a sound that blends influences from new wave and power pop. With a short but intense career, the band managed to create a loyal fan base and became a reference for many young bands.
Rise and Fall of Opinião Pública
Opinião Pública was a Portuguese rock band that emerged in the early 1980s and gained a good reputation in the Portuguese music scene. In this article, we will explore the rise and fall of the band, which was marked by initial success and later dissolution.
The Success of the Single
In 1981, the band released a single with the tracks “Puto da Rua” and “Ela é Tua”. The main track achieved great success in radio preferences and showed an accelerated new wave with lyrics close to those who listened and with a social message. The lyrics of “Puto da Rua” were written by João Sodré, who later became a film director.
The Concert Schedule
The band’s concert schedule increased during 1981, and without experience on the road, they decided to join the GRR agency, which was led by UHF. The agency included other bands such as Xutos & Pontapés, NZZN, and IODO, and aimed to defend the bands from some unscrupulous music entrepreneurs.
The Debut Album
In May 1982, the band released the album “No Sul da Europa”, produced by António Manuel Ribeiro, the leader of UHF. The album reflects an urban sound, with some synthesizer records and featuring a notable power pop work. It was an album highly praised by critics, well-produced, with coherent lyrics and revealing a healthy social conscience.
The Crisis of Portuguese Rock
The Portuguese rock movement dominated the audiences of radio and television programs between 1980 and 1982. However, from 1982 onwards, there was an increase in the cost of living and a new adhesion to the International Monetary Fund. Everything became more expensive, and the crisis also settled in the record industry. Only a small number of bands managed to continue and resist the crisis.
The End of the Band
Opinião Pública took advantage of the Portuguese rock boom to achieve some notoriety, but they ended their short activity at the end of 1982, caused by the weak promotion of the album. The bassist and keyboardist Luís Fialho was the only member who continued to make music by joining other bands and musical projects.
Opinião Pública was a band that left its mark on the Portuguese music scene, with a sound that blends influences from new wave and power pop. Although the band had a short career, they managed to create a loyal fan base and became a reference for many young bands.
