Doce

Doce emerged in 1979, during a transformative period in Portuguese society, still grappling with the dualities of conservatism and progressivism in the aftermath of the Carnation Revolution. The group envisioned and assembled by , a seasoned musician and producer, who worked as Artists and repertoire (A&R) for PolyGram. Alongside Mike Sargeant, a Scottish musician long based in Portugal, Brito conceived the idea of forming an all-female pop group. Brito explained the group's concept in his biography, Eu Sou Outro Tu: Doce was designed to "capitalize on their visual appeal," blending sensuality with innovative song structures. The band was Portugal's second all-female pop band and the first to achieve mainstream success. They were preceded by Cocktail, a band also assembled by Brito. Of the core line up, Lena Coelho, Teresa Miguel and Fátima Padinha had prior experience as singer and had collaborated with Brito. Coelho sang for Cocktail, while Miguel and Padinha were a part of Gemini. == Career ==

Rise to fame and controversies Their debut single, Amanhã de Manhã, written by Tozé Brito and Mike Sargeant, quickly became a sensation in 1980. The song captivated audiences with its bold, romantic undertones and modern sound, marking a departure from the traditional fado and styles that had long dominated Portuguese music. This opened up international opportunities for the band, including the release of an English version of this song, called "Bim Bom", as well as a Spanish version, called "Bingo". Brito recalled receiving a phone call at 4 a.m. from the band while they were at the café Corcel in Porto, informing him of their decision to dissolve. Although Brito managed to find a temporary resolution, the group ultimately disbanded in 1987. That same year, Doce released a final, double album featuring their most iconic songs, serving as a farewell to their fans. Reflecting on their legacy, Tozé Brito remarked that while the group concluded its journey, it did so with dignity, preserving the memory of Doce. == Legacy ==

In the 2000s, Lena Coelho produced a children musical project called Docemania, which covered some songs from Doce. In 2021, director Patrícia Sequeira released two projects about Doce: a seven-part series titled Doce and a film titled Bem Bom. Doce first screened at Series Mania, a European television series festival, and Bem Bom released in domestic theaters. == Discography ==

Source: Albums • OK KO (LP, Polygram, 1980) • É Demais (LP, Polygram, 1981) Singles • "Amanhã de Manhã/Depois de Ti" (Single, Polygram, 1980) • "Doce/Um Beijo Só" (Single, Polygram, 1980) • "OK KO/Doce Caseiro" (Single, Polygram, 1980) • "Ali-Bábá (Um Homem das Arábias)/Jingle Tónico" (Single, Polygram, 1981) • "É Demais/Dói-dói" (Single, Polygram, 1981) • "Bem Bom/Perfumada" (Single, Polygram, 1982) • "For The Love Of Conchita/Choose Again" (Single, Polygram, 1983) • "Starlight/Stepping Stone" (Single, Polygram, 1983) • "Quente, Quente, Quente/Eu e o meu namorado" (Single, Polygram, 1984) • "O Barquinho da Esperança/A história do barquinho" (Single, Polygram, 1984) • “Bem Bom“ (CD, Universal Music Portugal, 2003) The Compilations • Doce 1979-1987 (Compilation, Polygram, 1986) • 15 anos Depois (Compilation, Universal, 2002), CD • Docemania (Compilation, Universal, 2003), CD/Comp • A Arte E A Música (Compilation, Universal Music Portugal, 2004) CD/Comp • Bandas Míticas || Volume 24 (Compilation, Levoir, 2011) CD/Comp • Os Maiores Êxitos Das Doce (Compilation, Lisbon Records, N.D) LP/Album/Comp ==References==