It could have been another city, but circumstances and logistics came together so Joan Manuel Serrat He will start this Wednesday very close to the Mediterranean, which he loves so much. last time in concert to ports and people of this sea that glorified him as one of the great storytellers.
Because even though it’s true that your voice doesn’t belong in the past, his pre-filled forehead is now clearing and his knees bend his stance, It is also true that where his characters remained eternal and did not come to sing, he went on for a long time, according to them, in a simple and intimate show that lasted more than two hours and about two dozen songs. Being before everyone else ceased to be his. “They won” apostille
“I came here to say goodbye in person. They can always say if we can’t get results because the circumstances are tough.: ‘I was there and saw you fall’‘, he said sarcastically, amid the complicit laughter of the 6,000 people gathered in Murcia’s bullfighting arena, this is the first stop of this farewell in Spain.
A lot was said about his health when the news broke. withdrawal from scripts came as a surprise half a year ago. In 2020, he experienced the serious fall of his friend. Joaquin Sabina in the middle of the “show” and then the pandemic separated him from his audience for too long.
At the time, he thought that his artistic life’s “ending date” would be decided by himself, not any other outside force, hence the “tour” that began in April to visit everyone who goes door to door in America. Celebrated her music on a trip that will take her on more than 50 dates in Spain (many sold out) Until definitive anchorage in his hometown of Barcelona in December.
He gave a single slogan for your pleasure tonight.: “Every nostalgia is forbidden because everything will come”, With his leap into Spanish with “Ara que tinc vint anys” (1967), “La Paloma” (1969) and his approach to the poems of Miguel Hernández and Antonio Machado, he embarked on a timeless journey through his Catalan origins. also some of his recordings from the early 80’s and from there to his most recent work.
“Dale que dale que dale”, José Más started singing from the keyboards at 10:10 p.m.An introduction to Hernández’s poetry, which is like a scourge armed with the contributions of six other musicians, among them Ricard Miralles on piano, his eternal collaborator and arranger.
At that moment, the star jumped onto the stage in a plain gray suit to bring to life stories that were stories from all over Spain between fantasy and reality: ‘My childhood’, ‘El carousel del Furo’, ‘Romance de Curro el Palmo’ or ‘Señora’ ‘, among the emotional milestones of his career ‘Lucía’ or ‘I do nothing but think of you’.
The stage, barely decorated with a red curtain in the background, a table and an occasional chair, The intimate room where Serrat wanders while sharing his memories and, after a hesitant start, thoughts in a voice that became more confident.
The first big applause came. “Onion Lullabies” by Miguel Hernández, the barely whispered moments have become one of the most emotionally connected, and here seems to be consistently linked to a ‘For Freedom’, allegedly always portrayed by the works of the keen British graffiti artist Banksy.
Then there is a certain air of imagination in the repertoire, ‘Canço de Bressol’, as in ‘noi de Poble Sec’, when he recreates the lullaby in which his mother put him to sleep, also with ‘Es capricious hand danger’, ‘Los memorias’ and ‘Aquellassmall Things’, a lethargic infusion of music that wakes the crowd when ‘Today may be a great day’ explodes, ‘Your name tastes like grass’ or, of course, ‘Mediterranean’.
Those first chords were enough to awaken the senses of this town, which was born in the shelter of blue that Serrat sang with the guitar in his hand, among the images that glorify Serrat’s greatness “From Algeciras to Istanbul” but do not forget his source of inspiration. misery, fences and small boats. He managed to say “Thank you very much” excitedly among the applause.
Composed half a century ago, recognizing the damage to the environment and condemning political inaction, that ‘Pare’ took on another meaning not far from the dying Mar Menor, a particularly sensitive message in one region. “where they have a historical problem where they coexist on land, sea and air”. “I express my absolute solidarity,” he said.
“Fun string, string string” ended with the indispensable ‘Cantares’, then the ‘Fiesta’ celebration and a ‘Penélope’ still sitting at the station in her Sunday dress. his inexhaustible hope. And then, in response, a mother and daughter stood up with a short message on their banner that said everything: “Thank you, Serrat.”