2202 RPA
01 EUSSI
Photo: Reproduced from the Internet
Photos: Reproduced from the Internet
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL
Fhoto: Jaume de Laiguana
What the number "10" means to Siempre goes far beyond what words can express. It is more than 250,000 readings since we started, a number that represents effort, sacrifice, dedication, love and passion for what we do. The road we have traveled only makes sense when there is someone to guide us along the path that leads us through life. We are guided by a light that shines with the strength of a million suns. We arrive here with our illusions intact for another ten, twenty, thirty issues... because everything is because of him and for him: Alejandro Sanz. With a lot of enthusiasm we are preparing an edition at the height of what this issue deserves, full of surprises and exclusive articles elaborated with a lot of affection. We traveled to the album "Si Tú Me Miras" and dedicated a special rich in details with remarkable stories of the beginning of Sanz's career, it has been exciting. This is another magical moment. In this issue you can learn more about the Paco de Lucía Foundation and an interview with his brother, the master Pepe de Lucía. Among the novelties we embark on #SANZenVIVO. We celebrate April 30, Alejandro Sanz Day in Los Angeles, California (celebrated universally). Which for us is one of the most important dates of the year. I tried to look in books and dictionaries for something that could explain: That madness of saying "I love you" without speaking? That strength of the heart that unites us two by two... That fantasy of wanting to be the blood that envelops your life... That freedom of... the soul in the air.... That need to get on the train of moments... That song without emotion... That difficulty to understand that being is not the same as being... That gratitude for teaching us to see the sky bluer... That desire to heal the broken heart... That our love that from afar will be legend... That master who plays with a crazy sweetness... That universe of little things... Those mysteries of the duels at dawn... And all the answers bring me back to you. Human books and dictionaries are not able to explain it. "Ours is unexplainable." We celebrate you today and every day of the year. Thank you for being Always.
- By Larissa Fecher.
TEAM SIEMPRE RESPONSIBLE DIRECTOR:
EDITORIAL TEAM:
LARISSA FECHER FROM BRAZIL INSTAGRAM: @LFECHERS_
PAULA TOLEDANO FROM SPAIN INSTAGRAM: @UNIDOSENRED
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
ITZIAR HERRERA FROM SPAIN INSTAGRAM: @ITXI_SFG
LARISSA FECHER FROM BRAZIL INSTAGRAM: @LFECHERS_
PORTUGUESE EDITOR: JENIFER FERREIRA FROM BRAZIL INSTAGRAM: @SAMJMARCENA
/revistasiempreasanz
MARIAJE DE LA TORRE FROM SPAIN INSTAGRAM: @MARIAJEDELATORRE
SPANISH EDITOR: MARIAJE DE LA TORRE FROM SPAIN INSTAGRAM: @MARIAJEDELATORRE
/revistasiempre_
SPANISH TRANSLATOR: JENIFER FERREIRA FROM BRAZIL INSTAGRAM: @SAMJMARCENA
ENGLISH TRANSLATORS: MYSORE DÍAZ FROM USA INSTAGRAM: @MYSOREDIAZ YOLANDA CARDONA FROM USA INSTAGRAM: @YOLANDACARDONA
/revistasiempreasanz
Photos: Reproduced from Internet
PACO DE LÚCIA FOUNDATION A TRIBUTE TO AN ARTIST OF BREED
"If there is an artistic work about whose transcendence there is unanimity among musicians all over the world, it is the work of Paco de Lucia. His universe and his musical work constitute an invaluable heritage that must be protected and disseminated". fundacionpacodelucia.com
To be born, grow and breathe in Algeciras is perhaps one of the dreams of any guitarist. PACO DE LUCÍA In this southern European city was born the best guitarist of all time, Francisco Sánchez Gómez, Paco de Lucía, leaving his wake in the streets where he grew up, in addition to a way of playing the guitar, a sound, an expression, a knowledge, a way of being, a philosophy of understanding flamenco and transmitting it to the world. His father, Antonio Sánchez Pecino, a great flamenco aficionado, taught all his children to play and also some local guitarists who, in turn, would teach the following generations. Paco, the youngest of his five children, at the age of six. From that moment on, the guitar, his passion, would accompany him for the rest of his life. He began to travel without leaving his room for hours, learning the great lessons of masters and references of the time. Later on, he would travel around the world, being already a professional guitarist. In February 1975, Paco de Lucia made his debut at the Teatro Real in Madrid, an auditorium, until then, vetoed to flamenco, to which the artist took him, adorned and with all the honor it deserves, to the ears of the public. From that moment on, and during fifty years of artistic career, the world has been his home and the stages his way of musical expression, always accompanied by his brother Pepe, Camarón or the greats of jazz. Photos: Reproduced from Internet
"With one hand clinging to tradition and with the other scratching, searching", he forced the limits of traditional flamenco, without ever leaving them, to provide it with an innovative harmonic and creative universe. He had the courage to change flamenco from within, and to combine it with other music and styles. From a very young age, he had the determination to open the doors to flamenco and to achieve its musical recognition, managing to export it all over the world. There are few figures so indisputable in music. He was an exceptional genius, in every sense of the word, of which some musical talents expressed their enormous admiration for him: Mark Knopfler: "When I saw him I understood that I don't know how to play the guitar". Chick Corea: "Paco inspired me as much in the construction of my own musical world as Miles Davis or John Coltrane".
Al Di Meola: "I fell in love with what he was doing. He was a guitarist very different from anything I had heard before. I remember his courage to break the mold and venture into an unconventional harmonic challenge for flamenco musicians. He was ready to take on the challenge at a time when other flamenco musicians wouldn't have had the guts".
Carlos Santana: "He was an extraordinary and immortal person. He is on the level of Stephen Hawkins, Albert Einstein, John Coltrane, Bob Marley or Michael Jackson... All of them are immortal geniuses. Whenever he played he was like that, a huge flash, a force of nature. At first it was sad to hear of his death, but then I accepted that he is now with God, that he is scraping waves of light in the sky, driving the angels crazy." Vicente Amigo: "I saw Paco de Lucía when I was three years old and I immediately knew what I wanted to be. He is the maestro, my artistic father, my compadre. He was many things for me since he inspired me to play. For flamenco and for me he is everything". Tomatito: "Art is not competition, because everyone who has competed with Paco has hit a huge wall, and has gotten tendinitis in his hands and head. He is a superman, a superstar and a super genius. When I was young I decided not to compete with him. You have to be different. Sabicas: "What do I think of the new flamencos? I love Paquito, the little Paco de Lucía. He is my true disciple. He traveled to New York very young and came to see me. He told me that he had listened to all my recordings and he played my guitar. I watched his hands, how he moved his fingers, and that's when I realized what I would become.
"At the beginning people were very surprised with his speed, with his technique; with his precision in playing, but when you pass that barrier you discover the power and the depth that his notes have, the depth of what explains his music, of his narrative. It's like Don Quixote. - Alejandro Sanz From the principles of excellence, creativity, openness to society and evolution from tradition, the lines of action of the foundation are: 1.- Dissemination of the Artist's Legacy. If there is an artistic work about whose transcendence there is unanimity among musicians inside and outside our borders, that is the work of Paco.
"We are not fully aware of the incredible heritage of flamenco, one of the world's most distinctive popular musics. Despite its harmonic and rhythmic possibilities, perhaps because of its complexity it still does not have the recognition that other music such as jazz has. Paco was able to make flamenco accessible to everyone and contributed in a decisive way to its universalization". This was expressed by Gabriela Canseco, president of the Paco de Lucía Foundation, and widow of the guitarist, On September 24, 2021, the Paco de Lucía Foundation was presented at the Teatro Real in Madrid, an institution born from the responsibility and illusion of the family and many of the lovers of Paco's music, to create a cultural project that contributes to explore, understand and spread his figure and his legacy, and continue with what was the struggle of the genius from Algeciras: to give flamenco the international prestige it deserves and that jazz or any of the other great world music have. To achieve this purpose, the foundation's mission is to explore, understand and disseminate the figure of Paco de Lucia. To delve into his musical and human testimony to continue enriching flamenco from the artist's point of view. The family's intention is to turn the foundation into a source of inspiration for flamenco and music lovers in general. The open and accessible nature of the project offers space for all audiences, following the principles of quality and creativity, with the personal and unmistakable stamp of the revolution from the tradition that Paco de Lucia embodied, aiming to generate an innovative ecosystem of collaboration with various private and public entities around flamenco and music.
The influence that the artist had on the evolution of flamenco and his contribution to make it evolve from a marginal music to a universal music is something that nobody questions and that is a rising value within the general musical panorama. One of the pillars of the entity will be the preservation and dissemination of de Lucía's legacy. For this reason, it has begun to digitize the graphic and audiovisual archive of the guitarist, which also contains documents and personal objects of the maestro, as well as the collection of his guitars. This digital archive will allow followers, fans and researchers of the Maestro from all over the world to enjoy this material. With the project to create the Foundation's archive, Paco's entire creative universe will be inventoried and catalogued: published and unreleased songs, models, images, guitars, memorabilia, personal objects... Paco de Lucia's work contains a privileged catalog to appreciate and understand the history of flamenco. Universal has recovered and released part of it on vinyl, including some recordings from the 60's and 70's, with titles that had not been available in stores for many years, and others that are available for the first time. An arduous and exciting task that will be of extraordinary emotion and sensitivity for all admirers of the genius.
Photos: Reproduced from Internet
2.- Impulse of flamenco and its evolution. Clearly, in flamenco there is a before and an after Paco de Lucia. He managed to bring that particular sensitivity of Andalusian music to all corners of the planet. In order to raise awareness of the importance of flamenco, the foundation will carry out a "Flamenco Impact Study", with the aim of analyzing the current and future impact of flamenco from an economic, social, cultural and country branding point of view. Today, we all agree that flamenco has become a universal brand of identification of our country. Tourism, shows, training, culture and a wide variety of associated activities and industries generate an important impact on the economy and employment in Spain. It is also vitally important, especially after the pandemic years, in which the sector and many of its artists have suffered one of the biggest crises in its history, that institutions understand the enormous impact of flamenco.
3. - Education and social action. The Foundation intends to support pedagogical innovation projects focused on flamenco, for which it will promote a scholarship program to facilitate musical training to potential talents who find it difficult to access it. In addition, in collaboration with the Fundación Música Creativa de Madrid, we intend to develop a space for artistic creation inspired by the musical career and innovative vision of Paco de Lucía, in which young creators will be able to develop their artistic proposals mentored by great figures from the world of flamenco and the music industry, and will have the opportunity to be programmed in national and international music festivals. On the other hand, projects for the production or coproduction of series, films or documentaries that disseminate flamenco and bring it closer to all audiences are being studied. This is a true promotion of the genre so deeply rooted in our universal culture.
In collaboration with the City Council of Algeciras and the Junta de Andalucía, work is being done on the future Paco de Lucía Interpretation Center, which will open its doors during this year and will be located in the building of the former Local Police Headquarters on Ruiz Zorrilla street in Algeciras. It will be a unique space where you can enjoy the legacy of the guitarist, while it will be a place to study flamenco and guitar. A place to share and celebrate the knowledge of the guitarist who revolutionized the genre. Also, and within the line of dissemination and diffusion, an exhibition on the genius of Algeciras is planned. An exciting account of his life that will allow visitors to experience and participate in his creative universe, in a journey through his origins, the highlights of his career and his most emblematic concerts. At the presentation of the foundation mentioned above, the tribute concert to Paco de Lucia, which will be held next summer at the Teatro Real, was also presented. The first artists have already been confirmed, such as Miguel Poveda, Niña Pastori or Sara Baras, a line-up that will be completed in the coming months with national and international artists.
The composition of the Board of Trustees of the Paco de Lucía Foundation is as follows: Pepe de Lucía, Honorary Trustee. Brother of Paco de Lucía, flamenco singer and producer. Gabriela Canseco Vallejo, President. Widow of Paco de Lucía, restorer. Casilda Sánchez Varela, vice-president. First daughter of Paco de Lucía, writer and journalist. Lucía Sánchez Varela, ex officio patron. Second daughter of Paco de Lucía, lawyer and producer. Curro Sánchez Varela, natural born patron. Third son of Paco de Lucía, film director and audiovisual producer. Antonia Sánchez Canseco, ex officio patron. Fourth daughter of Paco de Lucía, law student. Alejandro Sanz, elective patron. Musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Sara Baras, elective patron. Flamenco dancer and choreographer. Narcís Rebollo, elective patron. President of Universal Music Iberia. Javier Limón, elective trustee. Artistic Director of the Mediterranean Music Institute of the Berklee College of Music. Federico Linares, trustee-elect. President of EY Spain and President of the Social Council of the University of Cadiz. Ángel Pérez Pardo de Vera, non-trustee secretary. Lawyer. Francisco Porras Oya, non-trustee vice-secretary and general director. Communication Consultant.
Photos: Reproduced from Internet
SIEMPRE: 4. You know that many admire you. Your daughter, the great Malú, has a lot of her uncle and a lot of you. Tell us what you see in her that reminds you both.
PEPE: My daughter has a lot of me and a little of her uncle Paco. In everything she reminds me of me. My children didn't want to go to school, and from an early age I used to make both Malú and José sing for her and play the guitar for him. They didn't want to go to school? Well, come on! Let them sing and play. They have a lot of me in them. SIEMPRE: 5. And Alejandro, what do you see in him that could remind you of your brother?
PEPE: I see Alcalá, I see Algeciras, I see friendship, I see love and immeasurable respect. My last album has been executive produced by him. Alejandro is Paco.
SIEMPRE: 1. How did the creation of the Paco de Lucía Foundation come about?
PEPE: No idea. The idea was started by Gabriela, and by Paco de Lucía's older daughters. SIEMPRE: 2. Your brother. Your friend. Your partner. Do you think music has given him back everything he gave for it?
PEPE: Music has given him glory. Every day he gives back what he has given for it. Music, however, was left on standby, and especially the guitar, when Paco left. A wellspring of wisdom, inspiration, humility, know-how... dried up... SIEMPRE: 3. What has been brother's greatest legacy to you?
PEPE: My brother.
your
SIEMPRE: 6. You have lived a lot of Sanz's childhood and youth. You will have a thousand memories in your memory. Any special one?
PEPE: I lived with him during his childhood and part of his youth. And from his early youth, above all, I have great memories, for example, when El Capi told me about a boy from Madrid who sang very well, and who was producing, and curiously I didn't know that he was the son of a guitarist, Jesuli, with whom we had lived together a lot during our lives, and we had worked together in clubs in Algeciras, until I met him. I was very surprised that Alejandro was Jesuli's son, I already knew him. That was the time I remember fondly when we all lived better, when we were in the same room together. I lived with my brothers in the family home, and at that time I met Alejandro's father, and then came everything else: meeting El Capi, Alejandro? When I saw him in the Algeciras Bullring together with Cayetano Rivera Ordoñez and Francisco Rivera Ordoñez, sons of Paquirri and Carmina Ordoñez, who were two children, and he was also with Tío Paco, (at that time) I sensed that he would go very far. I saw him in concert, in his first tour of Pisando Fuerte, and, indeed, he has been going strong all his life.
SIEMPRE: 7. You have been awarded with a Latin Grammy in its last edition and we congratulate you for it. A life dedicated to music. Take stock: more satisfactions than disappointments?
PEPE: From everything, but I'll keep my mother's advice, which she always told me: to laugh and be quiet. That way, I have learned to forget the bad things, and I have a defect, and that is that I forget a bad guy in two days, and I have come across many bad guys in my life, but I don't remember their names, and I swear to God. I was born this way, with this character, I have lived very fast, and I have traveled everywhere since I was 16 years old, and I have looked into many eyes, and I have forgotten the bad guys, I swear it before the feet of my mother and my father. I have known the greatest when they were opening acts, so no one can surprise me anymore. In short, I keep the good things because I forget the bad things after two days, and I don't even remember the name of those people who have caused me trouble, I swear to God... Photos: Reproduced from the Internet
Maestro, from our Siempre Magazine, we wish you all the luck and success in the world with the projects undertaken with the Foundation, as well as in your great and rich musical career.
The guitar has given me the ability to express myself to the rest of the world without using words" -Paco de Lucía. And he succeeded. He expressed himself. He transmitted. He moved. He left an indelible mark: Paco Vive.
Photos: Reproduced from Internet
Cultural notes
Photos: Reproduced from Internet
Cultural notes
Cultural notes
3 YEARS OF #ELDISCO April was the month chosen by Alejandro Sanz to release #ElDisco. A month that, curiously, appears in marked songs of the artist, now also marks the celebration of the anniversary of the album. Last April 5, the album turned three years of release (2019). With deluxe feats, the album featured the collaboration of several artists, such as Camila Cabello on "Mi Persona Favorita", Residente on "Los Lugares", Nicky Jam on "Back in the City" and Judit Neddermann on "Este Segundo". The album won the Grammy Awards for "Best Latin Pop Album", the song "Mi Persona Favorita" shined at the Latin Grammys winning in the categories of "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year". Happy Third Anniversary #ElDisco.
3 YEARS - #eldisco
Cultural notes
IBA One of the most sensitive and emotional songs, "IBA" was also released as a music video, the third of the album. Empty houses, dry leaves, Cuban-style landscapes give a masterful touch to the clip. An Alejandro Sanz dressed in black, driving with sunglasses on through the roads of love. The music video is directed by director Willy Rodriguez, starring actress Marina Salas, and was shot in spectacular locations in Barcelona: Castell de Ben Viure (Ullastrell) and Can Ribot (Castellbisbal), an estate protected as cultural heritage. "IBA" is a jewel, now we can not only feel it but also see it through the eyes of Alejandro Sanz.
Photos: Reproduced from the Internet
iba
Cultural notes
AWARDS ODEÓN 2022 "Alejandro Sanz won an award", no matter when you read this, it will always be current news (laughs). The third edition of the "Odeon Awards" was different and totally adapted to the times we are living in: the awards were online and streamed through the sensational platform of the moment, Twitch. Alejandro Sanz was one of the winners of the night in the "Best Pop Album" category, with his latest album SANZ, which, despite being released in December 2021, was the best-selling album of the year in physical format. An irrevocable certainty that we carry inside us is how SANZ will fly higher every day. Congratulations Alejandro, for this well-deserved award. The road has only just begun, SANZ has a lot to live for.
AWARDS odeón 2022
cultural notes
LA RESISTENCIA "La Resistencia" is a humorous talk show hosted by David Broncano and produced by MovistarPlus. On March 14, Alejandro Sanz was received standing up by the audience, a fact that, according to David, had never happened before: "I don't remember a single time in which the audience has stood up to welcome a guest. Neither in this theater nor in the previous one. It's Alejandro fucking Sanz, what less." It couldn't be any different, could it? Alejandro revealed that he often plays tennis matches with David Broncano and told the story of an unforgettable tennis match (laughs). The artist gave a Carlos Moya racquet to the comedian and said, "This racquet has a story of a match we played against a renowned Spanish singer-songwriter that we won't say the name, Pablo Lopez," Alejandro said between laughs. "It was the match of infamy because we were robbed by him and his brother. We were winning five to zero. I was at the net and I saw the ball, I knew it was going to bounce on the line. But I also knew, in my inner self, that he was going to call it bad. We ended up losing seven to five," he lamented. The presenter joked about this moment by saying that Sanz lost interest in the game, since his point had not been considered valid. "They came back at us. You, how you are an honest person and you saw that it went in, you totally left the game," the presenter said. An unforgettable night for Sanz and the audience.
Photos: Reproduced from the Internet
la resistencia
cultural notes
LO QUE FUI ES LO QUE SOY… April, again you, full of emotions. April 19, 2018 marked the world premiere at the Malaga Film Festival of the documentary "Lo que fui es lo que Soy", directed by Gervasio Iglesias and Alexis Morante, and scripted by Óscar García Blesa. The story of the most successful Spanish artist of all time was told in an intimate and moving way, with images and unpublished moments that marked the life story of Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro until he became Alejandro Sanz. The project was part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of the album "Más". There are no words that can define the fam's heart when they see before their eyes the career of their greatest idol told in images with precious details. It was available for three years on Netflix, one of the most famous streaming platforms in the world, in its premiere it was among the most watched. To crown the great success of "Lo que fui es lo que Soy", the documentary was awarded at the Latin Grammys, in the category "Best Music Video Long Version". In our issue N°4 of Siempre Magazine, we interviewed Oscar Garcia Blesa exclusively, talking about the details, curiosities and filming. The complete edition is available in our Issuu profile.
lo que fui es lo que soy
ALEJANDRO SANZ DAY IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA April 30th... Undoubtedly, there is no greater pride for a fan than to celebrate every day the life and artistic career of his greatest idol. We, the Sanzeros of heart and soul, have enough reasons to be grateful for the privilege of living at the same time as Alejandro Sanz. An incomparable artist who for more than thirty years continues to stomp and conquer millions of hearts around the world through his music and also for his social and philanthropic concern. Sanz is a reference for everyone, as an artist and as a person, marking generations of musicians and human beings predestined to fight for a dignified and fairer world in the midst of so much global social inequality. Among the many important awards he received during his musical career, Alejandro won the privilege of having his own day in Los Angeles, California, in 2013, at the hand of then Councilwoman Jan Perry.
"It is a pleasure to be here with such a talented artist. He brings his beautiful music to our city and we welcome him with open arms. I am a huge fan, as are so many others in Los Angeles. His music transcends language barriers. It is my pleasure to declare today, April 30, Alejandro Sanz Day in Los Angeles." - Perry. Sanz is an ARTIST with capital letters, capable of transcending language barriers and conquering his space in a non-Spanish speaking country. Over the years, he has performed regularly in the United States, bringing magic to Americans and leaving his mark in every city he has passed through. Los Angeles has become a historic stage for Alejandro Sanz concerts. A day that became unforgettable and has since been celebrated with much joy, excitement and enthusiasm by his faMs around the world. We are all over the world, but there is a feeling that unites us and makes us one: this unconditional love we feel for Alejandro. We are all unique, we come from different families, cultures, cities, countries and yet our hearts beat in sync to the sound of his songs Photo: Jaume de Laiguana
"It's an honor. My mother would be very proud of me. I'm thrilled with this recognition because at the end of the day there are many hours of work in the recording studio and in different countries. That's the beautiful part of it all. Getting to know those places, making friends and enjoying the people at the concerts. And I already have my day, like St. Patrick's Day." - Alejandro Sanz There is no greater gift than to be one and nothing more. A day for history... for your history, which is as much ours as it is yours. We celebrate you yesterday, today, tomorrow and always... and every April 30.
Photo: Salva Muste
HAMBRECERO.ES
HOPE FOR TURBULENT TIMES ÁLVARO CUADRADO, FROM A YOUNG AGE, DEDICATES HIS LIFE TO GENERATING POSITIVE IMPACT AND GENERATING A NONCONFORMIST SPIRIT TO IMPROVE THE WORLD. With a degree in audiovisual communication and a regular presence in the media for his impact projects, he appears in the rankings as one of the most influential and successful young people in Spain, with important mentions also at international level. Committed to social projects, he founded Square Ventures, an innovation consulting firm, of which he is the current president, and from where he has launched many social and environmental projects, until the most recent of them, Hambrecero.es, with which he has achieved the feat of bringing more than nine million food rations to the families most affected by the pandemic by covid-19, families without income, homeless people, immigrants without resources and health services, in addition to the one that keeps him busy today, perhaps of much greater humanitarian significance, and that we will discuss in this article. Square Ventures exceeds all its expectations with Hambrecero.es. All this started as an idea of Álvaro to help his neighbors on the first day of quarantine by covid-19, and he persevered so much with that project that, a year later, it has managed to be one of the initiatives with the greatest impact during the pandemic, having delivered 1,537 tons of food to 1,097,857 families.
CUADRADO SAID: "I STARTED WITH 50 LITERS OF MILK IN AN UBER AND WE HAVE ALREADY DELIVERED MORE THAN 1,500 TONS OF FOOD IN TRUCKS ALL OVER SPAIN AND LATIN AMERICA TO THOUSANDS OF NEEDY FAMILIES". HambreCero.es leads the National Alliance Against Hunger, with a presence in some thirty Spanish cities, involving a hundred companies that donate food and more than two hundred agents on the ground. The Corporate Social Responsibility departments of large corporations have seen in HambreCero.es an ideal partner not to throw food away, supporting the initiative many media and celebrities such as Alejandro Sanz, Ruth Lorenzo, Javier Pereira, Carmen Ruiz, Manu Vaqueiro, Ester Acebo or Itziar Castro. But in this evolution of things and the great objectives of HambreCero.es, also with the goal of internationalizing its campaign in Latin America, where it has been helping countries such as Colombia, Honduras and Panama for months, barbarism and war arose when Russia invaded Ukraine last March. Photos: HambreCero
In direct communication with the Government of Ukraine, the Community of Madrid has asked HambreCero to take charge of the aid collected at the Zendal Hospital. In addition, the Spanish Air Force has given us food to take to the field. For the action in Ukraine we have the support of organizations and companies such as Jeune, Mercedes Benz Financial Services, Adrián Hoteles, companies from Talavera de la Reina, Mensajeros de La Paz, Bomberos que Ayudan, Aaqua, Kabira River & Events, Aquanima, Cofran95, Oatly, Cabify, Pescadors de Roses, Rotary Moldova, Aguado, Sennder, Loginova, Sesé, Marcontran, Decoexsa... Square Ventures has developed its own methodology, based on previous experiences in the Indonesian earthquakes, impact actions in Namibia, pandemic relief in several countries, as well as in the La Palma volcano and currently sheltering Afghan women from the Taliban yoke.
And HambreCero.es is urgently raising funds and food to be sent to the citizens who are suffering the devastation of their lives. And it is doing so in such a way that it is managing to send more aid to Ukraine than several European Union governments. HambreCero.es sent a press release to the media in this sense that we transcribe for our readers, because, in these turbulent times, it is essential to highlight the work of those who squander solidarity for those most in need, of those who make so many efforts and give their souls to reach out to human beings who live the most tragic situation they have gone through in their existence. They are an example, a reference, a guide and a light for humanity:
However, HambreCero remains our most ambitious project: we exceed 120 food donors and 370 organizations that help us distribute food in more than 40 cities. In the last two years we have distributed almost 3 million kilos of food. We have been awarded the Civil Merit Medal, Guardian Angels, Inclusion and Empowerment Award, Magallanes-Elcano LAB, Pandemic Heroism Award, Godmother Foundation, winners of Merit Awars Latin America in FIN 2021 and an Impact Recognition by JEUNE. Our goal is to help the most vulnerable civilian population that needs everyone's support. "Looking the other way makes you an accomplice to the atrocity. We wish we were not necessary, but we are clear that we will always be on the side of the vulnerable and innocent" Álvaro Cuadrado - President of Square Ventures and HambreCero.
More than 500 tons of aid have already been delivered to the war-affected population in Ukraine, including within the country. Our project already managed to donate more than 9 million food rations during the pandemic and is still present in ten countries.
It is also necessary to highlight that in a first shipment of food to the area, that first time when everything is nerves and uncertainty when traveling to a place in conflict and with risk to life, part of the logistics was in charge of Fundación Sesé, who provided a truck for the transport, through the necessary and fundamental mediation of the platform La Fuerza del Corazón, of Alejandro Sanz.
Leopolis, Ukraine, March 21, 2022. The quick response of Alvaro Cuadrado, founder of HambreCero.es, on the first day of the Russian invasion, together with the experience and agility of Square Ventures in natural disasters during the last years, has made us one of the projects with the greatest social impact in Ukraine during this war. This week we will reach 576 tons, transported in sixteen truck trailers and six mega trailers. To date, 214 tons have already been delivered, more than several European Union countries. HambreCero is one of the few organizations that have been able to enter Ukraine, taking trucks into the interior of the country, not just staying at the border. This past Saturday, March 19, Alvaro Cuadrado and his team headed for Ukraine for the second time, to recently bombed areas, in order to coordinate the action from the front line.
From this publication, we wish Álvaro Cuadrado and all his team the best of fortune to help as many more human beings in vulnerable situations as possible. You are very necessary. Can hunger be fought? It can and hambrecero.es/ @hambrecero.es @squareventures @alvarocuadrado
they're
doing
it:
Photo: Jaume de Laiguna
Photo: Jaume de Laiguna
FAVORITE SON OF ANDALUCÍA
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF ANDALUCÍA. DECREE 17/2022, OF FEBRUARY 22, GRANTING THE TITLE OF FAVOURITE SON OF ANDALUCÍA TO MR. ALEJANDRO SÁNCHEZ PIZARRO, 'ALEJANDRO SANZ'. Decree 602/2019, of December 3, which regulates the honorary distinctions of the Autonomous Community of Andalucía and creates the Catalogue of Awards granted by the Administration of the Junta de Andalucía, establishes in its articles 2 and 4 the Title of Favourite Son of Andalucía as the highest honorary distinction that the Administration of the Junta de Andalucía can confer in recognition of the merits, actions and exceptional or extraordinary services performed by individuals or legal entities, groups or entities for the benefit of Andalucía Mr. Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro, Alejandro Sanz, was born in Madrid on December 18, 1968, son of parents from Cádiz. His father, Jesús Sánchez Madero, was from Algeciras and his mother, María Pizarro Medina, from Alcalá de los Gazules. With more than 25 million albums sold throughout his career, Alejandro Sanz is the Spanish artist with the highest number of Grammy Awards in history, accumulating a total of 4 as well as 25 Latin Grammy Awards. Photos: Reproduced from Internet
IN 2017, HE WAS ALSO HONORED BY THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY AS PERSON OF THE YEAR, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS CAREER AND SIGNIFICANT PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS. His musical vocation came to him as a child. His father was a musician, and he started playing the guitar when he was seven years old and at the age of 10 he was already composing his own songs. From his debut in 1991 (Viviendo Deprisa) to the present day, all of his albums have been certified platinum in Spain, Latin America and the United States. Throughout his career, Sanz has collaborated with renowned artists from around the world, including Alicia Keys, Shakira, Destiny's Child, Laura Pausini, the Corrs, Ivete Sangalo, Emeli Sandé, Juanes, Juan Luis Guerra, Marc Anthony, Alejandro Fernández, Camila Cabello, Nicky Jam and the legendary Tony Bennett. Alejandro Sanz was chosen as Europe's representative at the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to perform an emotional version of the classic "Imagine" (the immortal work that John Lennon recorded in 1971), arranged by Hans Zimmer, along with four other figures from the world of music: John Legend representing the American continent, Keith Urban for Oceania, Angelique Kidjo for Africa, and the voices of the Suginami Children's Choir of Japan as representatives of Asia. Socially committed, Alejandro Sanz has also been recognized for his involvement with non-governmental organizations such as Save the Children, Greenpeace and Doctors without Borders.
THUS BEGAN THIS STORY FULL OF GREEN AND WHITE, OF PEACE AND HOPE, LIKE THE FLAG OF THE BLESSED LAND OF ALEJANDRO'S ROOTS.
Medal of Andalucía in 2000, Adopted Son of the city of Cadiz and Carnival crier in 2005, he is an Adopted Son of the city of Seville and has recently obtained his own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is clear therefore that Don Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro, 'Alejandro Sanz', has sufficient merits to be awarded the title of Favourite Son of Andalucía. By virtue thereof, at the proposal of the President of the Junta de Andalucía and after deliberation of the Governing Council at its meeting of February 22, 2022, D I S P O N G O: To grant Mr. Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro, 'Alejandro Sanz', the Title of Favourite Son of Andalusia, with all the honours provided for in Decree 602/2019, of December 3. Seville, February 22, 2022. Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, President of the Regional Government of Andalusia.
My name is Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro, I was born in Madrid and Cádiz, and grew up halfway around the world. I had no other plan for tonight, and I can't think of a better plan for the next 20 years than to continue singing to you". Alejandro Sanz, to his audience. Más es Más concert. Madrid, June 24, 2017. You can be a citizen of the world, you can be born in Madrid, New York or Beijing, but what makes you be from a place is carried in your blood and soul. And Alejandro carries Andalucía in his whole being, That is why, although he is born in Madrid, he is also born in Cadiz -Andalucía, he is also Andalusian.
Manuel Alejandro opened the gala with a piano performance of one of his most emblematic songs, Háblame del mar, marinero, who acknowledged having taken Andalusia everywhere and, above all, as he said, inside, affirming that he still spoke Andalusian despite having lived in Madrid for seventy years. The theater, on its feet, gave a standing ovation to the performance of the 90-year-old composer, who wanted to remember his mother and his wife, who are no longer with us: "I share this award with my wife, who left me," he declared emotionally, and recalled that his in-laws were from Cordoba and Granada. "Everything stayed in our land," he said.
I am the son of Mary and Jesus: the one from Alcalá and the one from Algeciras. I am the younger of two. My older brother from August; from December 18, I am the younger of the two. I was always introverted, I was afraid, I was gone. I liked poetry, flamenco and my bujío..." - BIO (album SANZ)
The one in Alcalá and the one in Algeciras. Andalucía by flag. Always honoring it. Life dedicated to her. And so it has always shown.
The event, hosted by the presenter Eva González, took place amidst the joy of the attendees and viewers, and the different awards and personalities and entities awarded in this edition were presented.
After having received several Andalusian distinctions, last February 28, the mother Andalucía would go further in their pampering and honors to Alejandro.
But if anyone was the star of the event -with Manuel Alejandro's permission- it was Alejandro Sanz.
Already in 2000, he received the Medal of Andalucía. He is an Adopted Son of the city of Cadiz and was the town crier of its Carnival in 2005, and he is also an Adopted Son of the city of Seville. The title of Favourite Son, the Manuel Clavero Arévalo Medal, as well as the different Medals of Andalucía, are the highest awards granted by the Andalusian Government in recognition of exceptional or extraordinary actions, services and merits, carried out in different fields, which have benefited Andalucía. And Alejandro has spent a lifetime taking his Andalusian land by the hand all over the world.
MAESTRANZA THEATER. SEVILLE. DAY OF ANDALUCIA, FEBRUARY 28TH. DAY MARKED IN RED IN THE CALENDAR OF THE ANDALUSIANS, PROUD TO BELONG TO THEIR LAND. Exciting morning full of illusion for the green and white land. The institutional act was marked this year by a heartfelt remembrance of the parents and origins of the winners. Alejandro, in addition, for more emotion, was going to be accompanied by his godfather, also awarded, the composer Manuel Alejandro. Photos: Reproduced from Internet
And it was his turn. And the whole theater exploded with pride to see him take the stage, including, of course, the excitement of some of the fans present and that of this magazine. The interpreter of "Corazón partío" took the floor on behalf of all the award winners, thanking the authorities present and all those gathered there for the distinction:
Thank you for this moment of absolute happiness that you have given me today", evoking his childhood to embellish this moment: "Everything in life has been worth it for this moment in which I am reunited with my deepest roots: doubts, disappointments, travel, fatigue, the desire to leave everything behind, loneliness at times. I don't know if they are aware of what they have done, but right now I have a little boy inside me jumping for joy".
Alejandro continued speaking under the attentive gaze of everyone present because, of course, he was speaking with his soul, excited and creating wonderful sensations. As always. He remembered his family when he received the award. He said he heard his mother's outrageous laughter saying "my child is an eminence", something that brought more than one tear to the audience, as well as his father's "olé bajito", always "mused". To his parents, "María la de Alcalá and Jesuli el de Algeciras", he dedicated the title of Favorite Son of Andalucía. But he also had a memory for "the songs of the kitchen" of his aunt Pepi, from Algeciras, and the concerts in New York, in the company of his uncle Paco: "I have a treasure of affections and I carry them all in this precious moment", he said. He also wanted to pay tribute to the masters of flamenco who are no longer here but who continue to keep him company: "I want to and must remember flamenco, to which I owe the sea of doubts where I drown my duels". He remembered Chati, Diego, Enrique Morente, Camarón, until his voice broke when he evoked his compadre Paco: "It's hard for me, it's hard for me to go on", he said with his heart in his hand. He then turned to the composer Manuel Alejandro to recall the distinction obtained by both of them: "From all the orphandries Andalucía frees me today and chooses me among its sons together with my godfather. Double honor, double pride, godfather, life owed it to us", he said while he looked for Manuel Alejandro, sitting next to the rest of the award winners on the stage.
Dedicating his last words to his mother Andalucía, Alejandro, a Madrilenian from Cadiz, a proud Andalusian son, made the whole theater breathe authentic poetry born from his soul, now, green and white: "Forgive me, my mother, for looking for you in every verse, in every note and take my broken soul forever so you can put it on the headboard of your bed or on top of your bedspread; keep it, Andalusia, which was already yours in pieces and now it is all yours", ending with a resounding "Long live Andalucía". That was the finishing touch. The authentic culmination of the act for the history that, already as favorite son, Alejandro gave to his mother and to all the Andalusians, when, accompanied to the piano by Alfonso Perez, he sang the Hymn of Andalusia with a very personal version, with his well-known broken voice, and with flamenco "quiños". All the art and charm of Alejandro was poured there. Thus ended the ceremony of delivery of Medals of Andalucía and titles of Favorite Son at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, with the emotion overflowing in a devoted audience that wrapped the gala in tears of passion for what they were living there. Nobody was heartbroken, Alejandro. We had it full of pride for you, because, as that hymn you sang masterfully says, the white and green flag, returns after centuries of war to say peace and hope under the sun of our land [...]. Alejandro: We, the men of light that, to men, we gave the soul of man, your mother Andalusia, Spain and humanity, we feel happy for you, for your white and green heart like the flag of your proud Andalusian mother.
We have chosen each other, I have chosen Andalusia and now Andalucía chooses me, there is no greater demonstration of love," said Sanz. "I chose Andalusia as a source of inspiration, as the mother of my longings, and everything I have achieved in my life I have done to make my mother proud."
Note from the writer of the article: This Andalusian from Cordoba, if before she already loved you since God was working, after having invented Andalucía and the hymn of our peace and hope again, she loves you even more. Proud Andalusian for my land and for you, brother.
Photos: Web Official AS
BUT YOU'RE NOT LEAVING YET
From the hand of the director...
Why doesn't she leave that afternoon?
I love these thousand and one ways that Alejandro Sanz has to talk about love, so many ways to live it, to feel it, so many stories that are being lived through his songs.
Normally when I write this article I am living inside the song, something specific and very personal, that makes me feel reflected in each verse.
This time, I confess, it was very different. The name of the song intrigued me: because that afternoon "she" should not leave.
I went up to my express paradise and traveled inside that afternoon.
A
woman
with
a
strong
personality,
she
valued
her
freedom.
I look at you love and you change your gaze...
Feeling free was what gave meaning to her life.
The poet from the first stanza makes his declaration of
No commitments, no need to live and wake up every day
intentions.
next to the same person.
He conveys his love for someone who is certainly not
Even knowing it was ephemeral, he couldn't let her go.
living it with the same intensity and loving devotion. There is no way to contain love, because it breaks all Whether or not he is living within the same feeling, there is a loving excitement, a flame that grows day by day within him.
"There's nothing like stripping your whole body and reving up your arousal." A statement by the poet clarifies this love imbalance between them, the most touching thing is that he knew the reason and yet he threw himself headlong into it.
He knew that she was fleeting, that she was totally detached from life, a person who had no interest in living a great love, in being just one with him.
While he wanted to live an eternal love, she wanted something fleeting.
the barriers imposed by reason.
Photos: Web Official AS
"You're leaving, sweetheart, aren't you?" She asked a question knowing the answer.
The poet looked at her and found impatience. He felt that what he wanted most was to run out the door and never come back.
"I knew it all along, you're fleeting and yet I took a chance. I'd do it again." But who said he cared that she was fickle and transient? He took a chance and confessed that he would do it all over again.
Many things could go through his mind at that moment, but the one thing that certainly did not go through was the feeling of giving up, of letting her go as if nothing had happened.
What was missing on her part, in him there was a double portion of good feelings.
"Whisper to me, that I want your lips to brush my idleness and kiss me and kiss me." The poet had neither the intention nor the power to bind her in the relationship because it was never a secret that she was fleeting.
It was like waiting for millions of flowers to bloom in autumn, even
knowing
that
this
season
is
nature's
season
of
rebirth,
where no species blooms.
The poet would let her go freely, without holding her back.
But that did not mean he would not keep her present in his thoughts.
He tried until the end, knowing that the inevitable was coming.
"Though I cling with the strength of a million suns and tear out my soul with my hands. And though my eyes dry up from crying I know I can do nothing at all..."
To find more precise words and more ardent feelings than these, for the moment, I do not think it is possible.
The feeling of helplessness at the end completely overcame him, even if he could tear out the soul with his hands, he could do nothing.
But now, why this afternoon she would not go?
He knew she deserved more. He fought tirelessly, respected her at all times, he certainly loved her as no one had ever loved her before.
He wanted to feel her warmth one last time. To find one last kiss, one last whisper.
He could not allow her to leave that afternoon without saying goodbye.
"But you're not leaving yet, love, you're not..." And she didn't leave... at least not that afternoon.
SI TÚ ME MIRAS It is the feeling of having shared with you, half a life...
Photos: Web Oficial AS
l a i c e Sp
Special IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO TRAVEL BACK TO ALEJANDRO SANZ'S FIRST ALBUMS AND IN THIS EDITION WE GO BACK TO THE EARLY 90'S TO TALK ABOUT THE MASTERPIECE "SI TÚ ME MIRAS". He had all the qualities of an artist with incalculable projection, something Spanish music needed at the time. After the debut of his first album "Viviendo Deprisa", Sanz became a superstar, a Spanish phenomenon who attracted crowds wherever he went. He sold a huge amount of copies, he was living the fullness of his fame. He could no longer leave the house like anyone else, there were always thousands of attentive fans waiting for him. Alejandro's life changed completely and now the public was even more eagerly awaiting his next release. Before starting the production of his new album, Sanz had toured extensively in 1992. It was a period of transition for the boy from Moratalaz, in which he went through complicated moments, he had all the weight of fame on his back, it was a lot to assimilate in such a short time. It was a vital stage of personal and professional learning. Íñigo Zabala (Warner Music) said that the second albums of the artists, when they have a great success in their first album, are more difficult to obtain the same result.
"EVERY RECORD IS A WHOLE NEW CHALLENGE. PEOPLE WHO BUY A RECORD DON'T BUY IT THINKING ABOUT WHETHER YOU'VE SOLD TWENTY-ONE MILLION OR NOT. THEY EITHER LIKE IT OR THEY DON'T. BUT THE PREVIOUS SUCCESS SERVES TO MOTIVATE YOU. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING TO SEE WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THEIR OWN WORK. SO YOU TAKE IT MORE SERIOUSLY. IT'S ALWAYS DIZZYING TO HAVE AN EMPTY ROLE. BUT, FORTUNATELY, I'VE NEVER HAD A BIG CREATIVE CRISIS. MAYBE IN THE SECOND ALBUM IT WAS HARDER FOR ME, BECAUSE I WAS FACING THE MONSTER OF SUCCESS FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH IS A VERY POWERFUL MONSTER, IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S SCARY. SUCCESS IS SCARY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES WITH FAME, WHICH IS VERY COMPLICATED. BUT YOU GET PAST THAT AND YOU GO ON YOUR WAY. AND IN THE END THAT'S WHAT I AM. THAT'S WHAT I DO. I COMPOSE SONGS AND I SING THEM." ALEJANDRO SANZ
Photos: Reproduced from Internet
I'll show you how to say "I love you" without speaking...
You give me the strength to keep on making mud my path... Alejandro calmly accepted the arrival of Nacho Mañó as co-producer. On the other hand, "El Capi", who had produced "Viviendo Deprisa" and sold more than a million copies and was on board "Si Tú Me Miras", thought that taking risks was not necessary since everything had gone so well. It was as if I was still on the same path. Success was practically assured. Following the rhythm of the first album was like "bread for today and hunger for tomorrow".
"THE SECOND OPTION WAS, KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE AN ARTIST WHO IS A GREAT SINGER-SONGWRITER, WHO IS GOING TO BE, IN MY OPINION, THE GREATEST LATIN ARTIST, TO TAKE RISKS AND ABOVE ALL TO ENHANCE OR GIVE PRIORITY TO THE IMAGE AS AN ARTIST OVER OTHER THINGS: AS A SINGER-SONGWRITER, AS A COMPOSER, AS A MUSICIAN, AS AN ARTIST TO LAST." ÍÑIGO ZABALA The idea was as clear as the morning light: both Íñigo and Alejandro had the desire and the purpose to do something different, it was time to mature in every way, from the sound to the album cover. Íñigo Zabala, who has always been concerned about making well-directed albums, proposed Nacho Mañó (from Presuntos Implicados) to lead the new and challenging project that was about to begin. The approach was to transform the image of the boy who sang romantic songs for girls his age, into a mature and more experienced artist, thus extracting Alejandro's full potential.
Having Nacho Mañó made it very clear the path they wanted to follow. He was a producer who could do anything to make the album sound different from the previous one and mainly change the concept of how the public saw Alejandro. The quality of the arrangements, among other crucial points, highlighted Nacho's quality even more.
There were two options to choose from: to stay in the comfort zone, in the same line as the first album, without risks, since Alejandro had already established himself in this scenario, stomping his feet with great successes, or, at the same time, they thought that Alejandro was not seen as a prestigious artist, and for that reason it was necessary to take a step further and take a risk.
I'll dream of you and the store will close....
Production THE PRODUCTION OF THE ALBUM WAS MOVED TO LONDON, IN THE TOWNHOUSE STUDIOS BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND APRIL 1993. A VERY SPECIAL PLACE FOR NACHO MAÑÓ, WHERE PRESUNTOS IMPLICADOS RECORDED THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL ALBUM "SER DE AGUA".
It was an album that did not focus directly on sales, but on launching an album concept. Nacho Mañó was in charge of choosing a team similar to the one that worked on "Ser de Agua", in the same studio. Alejandro had an active contract with El Capi, so it was necessary to unite needs and ideas between the two producers. Although there was a logical disagreement between them at the beginning, they managed to deliver the best with a lot of dedication and potential. The production took its course with a luxury guest... Paco de Lucia.
"BOTH ENGINEERS AND TOP-NOTCH MUSICIANS WERE IMMERSED IN A STUDIO STRUCTURE, MUSICIANS, TECHNICIANS, RENTALS, ETCETERA, TYPICAL OF A BRITISH INDUSTRY, SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES. AND ENOUGH TIME FOR THE RECORDING TO BE DONE WITH THE DEDICATION IT DESERVED, TWO MONTHS AT TOWNHOUSE STUDIOS." - NACHO.
It was a new stage for Alejandro, who left a noisy city where everyone knew him and went to a place where he could walk around as an anonymous person, without worrying about the hundreds of fans on all sides. All the artist's energies had to be focused on his new album, away from any distractions. At that moment he threw himself body and soul into the recording of the album, while living a period of adaptation and learning in London. Photos: Reproduced from Internet
My first song was made..
Paco de Lucía
The admiration and respect Alejandro Sanz felt for Paco de Lucía, his lifelong idol, was never a secret to anyone. "Si tú me miras" was the first collaboration between them. It was the realization of a great dream for Alejandro, who would now have his idol playing on his new album. Paco arrived in London to spend a few hours in the studio... but those hours turned into two or three days.
"I PICKED UP PACO DE LUCÍA AT THE AIRPORT, HE SHOWED UP IN LONDON WITH A REFLECTIVE TRACKSUIT AND A TOILETRY BAG IN HIS HAND. HE JUST THOUGHT HE'D TAP A FEW TIMES AND GO BACK. PACO AND ALEJANDRO GOT ALONG WONDERFULLY IN THE STUDIO, SO THOSE FEW HOURS IN THE STUDIO TURNED INTO SEVERAL DAYS." - CAPI
One of the most fascinating things about Paco de Lucía was his self-criticism and self-demanding nature, perhaps that was the secret of his brilliance. Even when everything was going well, for him there was still something he could improve on to reach perfection. Paco's level of excellence did not follow the normal parameters, he followed the Paco de Lucia parameter (laughs). Surely, that's where his insecurity about what they were planning to do was born. But it didn't take him long to fall in love with the new project. Paco de Lucía collaborated on the Escaparate" and "Mi Primera Canción".
According to Íñigo Zabala, he had the feeling that Paco de Lucía had arrived in London without knowing clearly what was going to happen. Well, Aleajandro was young, he was recording his second album and Paco didn't really know what they were planning for this second album.
My first song was made.
songs
"El
Songs TEN SONGS ARE PART OF THE ALBUM, ALL WRITTEN BY ALEJANDRO SANZ.
Listening to "Tú letra podré acariciar" connects us with the Alejandro Sanz of "Viviendo Deprisa". A warm and direct message to his fans who are always by his side, even with the necessary transformation from one album to the next. "El Escaparate" and "Mi Primera Canción" feature the talent of Paco de Lucía on guitar. "Cómo te echo de menos" and "Cuando acabas tú", are two great songs that perfectly illustrate the balladic and calm tempo they were looking for in the album.
The original arrangement gives rhythm to "Este Pobre Mortal", while the electrifying reggae beat was chosen for "Vente al más allá", along the same lines as other artists at the time. "Cuando acabas tú" is full of contained rage, while "A golpes contra el calendario" is wrapped in tenderness and in that sadness, paradoxically satisfied, of those who finish their work and give way to new blood.
He wrote about what he felt, he was brave to write about his own feelings. What was striking was the maturity in the lyrics of each one and the length of the songs, all of them were over three minutes and "A golpes contra el Calendario" was over five incredible minutes. They were: "Si tú me miras", "Tú letra podré acariciar", "El escaparate", "Cómo te echo de menos", "Cuando acabas tú", "Mi primera canción", "Vente al más allá", "Qué no te daría yo", "Este pobre mortal" and "A golpes contra el calendario". Starting with "Si tú me miras", there is an unequal sentimental relationship between a man and a woman. A hidden love, which could not be exposed for several reasons, one of which was that she had ended a somewhat complicated relationship and the poet had fallen in love with her despite the situation.
The persecuted lover who has to hide his voice...
Launch IN THE END, EVERYTHING THAT ALEJANDRO, NACHO MAÑÓ, CAPI, ÍÑIGO ZABALA AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED PLANNED WAS A GREAT INTERNAL SUCCESS BEFORE THE RELEASE, AS THEY HAD ACHIEVED THEIR OBJECTIVES, TRANSMITTING THE MESSAGE OF ALEJANDRO SANZ AS A MORE MATURE ARTIST.
It was a very well produced album in an international scene with renowned musicians, with a Sanz only twenty-five years old.
"THE ALBUM WAS RECEIVED WITH MORE DIFFICULTY, IT WAS VERY SURPRISING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WHAT EVERYBODY EXPECTED... AND WE GOT THE RESULTS WE WANTED TO GET. IT SOLD FEWER UNITS, BUT IT WAS MORE RECOGNIZED, INCREASED HIS PRESTIGE AS A SINGER-SONGWRITER AND CONTINUED TO SELL A LOT OF UNITS IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING. THE FANS WHO STARTED WITH HIM CONTINUED WITH HIM, AND I THINK WE TOOK A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD AND ACHIEVED THE GOALS WE HAD SET OURSELVES." - ÍÑIGO ZABALA
They took care of every detail, starting with the album cover that conveys a great musician and artist. The video clips demonstrate the stratospheric evolution within the album, which attracted the attention of a more mature audience. The album was released on August 17, 1993, being one of the most important and awaited releases of that year. It quickly entered the charts at No. 1, and the first single "Si tú me miras" went straight to the top of the radio charts. Songs like "Tú letra podré acariciar", "Mi Primera Canción" or "Cómo te echo de Menos" quickly became anthems.
The album did not reach the same number of sales as "Viviendo Deprisa", but it was certainly more important than the first one, breaking the paradigm of the "second album crisis". For Íñigo, the repertoire of the second album was as good as the first one. If the release was the other way around, with the production of "Viviendo Deprisa" he would have achieved the same success, selling a million copies. The point was that the first album surprised in every aspect: the artist, the image, the way of singing, the lyrics. That's why a major change was necessary, to continue surprising. We were all proud that the second album was "better" than the first one. Alejandro had grown as an artist, as a musician and as a composer. He evolved, studied, moved along several paths until he found the one where he felt comfortable. Photos: Reproduced from Internet
There is a child who lives in me..
Básico
Well, I behaved like a nearly finished actor...
Básico BÁSICO WAS A PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR "SI TÚ ME MIRAS". The idea arose to record the concept of " Concierto Básico", where Alejandro could defend his voice and talent live.
It was recorded in 1993, in the Cinearte studios in Plaza Conde de Barajas, with Nacho Mañó as producer, and it was an impressive show. Alejandro had Paco de Lucía by his side to make the night even more unforgettable. When it was released in 1994, it reinforced the idea of the potential of the second album. Through "Básico" they managed to send the message that the second album was as special as the first. Once again the purpose was fulfilled.
"Sitting with my guitar in front of the spotlight, I discovered that my shadow is the part of me that even the light despises." - Alejandro Sanz
The recording of the live acoustic album was in collaboration with "Los 40 Principales" who were previously inspired by the television channel "MTV" which launched a musical format known worldwide as "MTV Unplugged" and which was a great success with great artists. In Spain, "Los 40" gave the name "Concierto Básico" to this format of shows. The opportunity to record in acoustic five songs from "Viviendo Deprisa" and five from "Si Tú Me Miras" was a key moment. A limited edition of forty thousand copies was released and sold very well in Spain and Latin America. Photos: Reproduced from Internet
You always write so sincerely...
Alejandro ON MANY OCCASIONS ALEJANDRO HAS SAID THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MATURE ALBUMS OF HIS ENTIRE CAREER. BETTER THAN WRITING ABOUT IT, IS TO READ WHAT ALEJANDRO HAS TO SAY:
"For me that album was one of the most successful, excluding "Más". Obviously, it wasn't in sales. But despite everything that was going on in my personal life - I was living a very rough love, very difficult, I had blood in the middle, I had laughter, I had tears, I had fights, I had madness, I had to wake up at three in the afternoon in a dive in Madrid asking for help... one of the albums I love the most came out." "Above all, because in that record there is Paco de Lucía, who is the greatest thing that could have happened to me as a musician; because Nacho Mañó was doing that production; because of the way the songs are, and because of the courage there was... or the ignorance. Bravery comes with ignorance in any case." "In the end, it's one of the most mature records I've made, a giant step up from the first one, and that created a respect among a certain type of people who were interested in me and who appreciate what that record means in my career, because it's cutting through everything. After you've sold a million records and all the young girls like you, to become for a while a totally obscure person, I think it was a brave step and I'm glad about that."
"Si tú me miras" was the pillar that allowed Alejandro to reach so far in his thirty-year career. All this effort he dedicated was fundamental for his development as a person and as an artist. It was not an album to project his career, but it was about the steps he would have to take, being master of his own decisions, having the intelligence and wisdom to choose, not for the easiest, but for what would give him a future, taking risks to consolidate himself as an artist, musician and singer. The daring to venture into unknown territories, the creative effort, the hours in the studio extracting knowledge from other important musicians, the first collaboration with Paco de Lucia, were crucial to shape this young artist who had a bright future ahead of him. Time proved Alejandro Sanz right, because today "Si tú me miras" is a more current album than the first one, which remains constant.
I could caress your handwriting...
Photos: Web Oficial AS
The sun has shone again.... The sun has shone again.... In a long moment of reflection on how unpredictable and magical life is, I came across the ignition point of our journey through this world. It's about the people who stand beside us and make our journey worthwhile. And you, Alejandro, are one of those people who make my journey worthwhile. Between our experiences, happy memories and unforgettable moments, it is inevitable to go through a hurricane or any other kind of catastrophe without losing ground. In my longest winter you taught me to dance in the rain, and when I didn't have the strength to dance, You opened the umbrella and kept me from getting wet. You turned on the light of life and made me find hope, when that was no longer part of my walk. There are moments that change us and transform our stories forever. Your music sustained me and here we are, me writing you and you reading me. Is it a coincidence? Strong hearts always find each other. Winter is gone. The sun is shining again. The heart is warm. Dreams are pulsing. Smiles became daily. It wasn't a fluke, it had to be... And it was because of you. You are part of the fabric of me as a person and how strong I have become, without your music we wouldn't be here having this moment. This is the absolute power of almost imperceptible things. Through your music you make magic. You transmit passion for your work. Art and poetry go through your skin naturally. Your strength to fight for a better world is inspiring. I am so grateful and happy to have you so present in my life that it cannot be translated into any language. Your life gives me life... and that's why the sun is shining again. I love you from here to Mars.
- By Larissa Fecher
Photos: Reproduced from Internet