Nothing else defines the spirit of the Portuguese as the enigmatic fado. Fado, meaning "fate", is a style of Portuguese music which emerged in the 18th century in Lisbon's working-class district of Alfama. Fado songs reflect Portugal's bittersweet relationship with the sea. They talk about sadness, hope and longing and are often interpreted as the Portuguese expression of saudade - the passive, listless desire for something out of reach. These melancholic chants, performed as a set of three songs, each lasting exactly three minutes, have their roots in troubadour songs and in slave songs, and are performed by a female singer accompanied by a Portuguese guitar.