Lo que se me ocurra

No me pidas que sonria
Que estoy triste
vida mía

This time I'll talk about a record that's been with me for a long time: Aidalai by Mecano.

I remember being in the car with my family listening to this. I liked the songs, but I had a hard time understanding the lyrics. First, because the band used lost of unusual words, poetic figures, and Spain-only terms on top of it all. Now, some fifteen years later, I am totally awestruck by the sheer quality of both the music and the words. Also, I suppose that my current personal situation has a lot to do with it; many of the lyrics are about lost love.

Ana Torroja, the lead singer, has the voice of an angel, and she uses it to great effect. It is clear, sometimes child-like, but never shrill or annoying. That voice, together with some exquisite lyrics, made me cry like I'd never cried before. I'm sad, but I have a hard time crying now. I've cried a lot during the last weeks. Still, this album managed to make me feel miserable. How can this be good, you ask? Because I find it liberating, and, enjoyable even. I don't know, maybe I am a bit masochistic... Nevertheless, I know that anyone willing to listen to this album a couple of times will be able to understand the sensations it can transmit.

Of course, not all the songs are depressing: some noteworthy exceptions are Bailando salsa or Una rosa es una rosa. Just don't expect all-out feel-good rush: the lead singer's voice is always soft, she never screams or anything. If you want more energy, look somewhere else.

The lyrics are in Spanish, of course, but I'll attempt a translation of my favourite bits:

Y es que tú eres lo que más quiero
Y sin ti la vida es un cero

And you are the thing I love the most
And without you life's a zero
(El fallo positivo)

Tu, y sin ti yo no
Tu, y sin ti ya no

You, and without you I'm not
You, and without you not anymore
(Tú)

The second quote is the one that suffers the most. The first verse means something closer to I don't exist, complemented by the second one (not anymore), but it uses a really clever way of repeating the age-old idea without you I'm nothing.

My favourite songs: Tú (brilliant lyrics), El 7 de septiembre (ditto), Naturaleza muerta (great dynamics), Una rosa es una rosa (energetic, instrumentally astounding).

Totally recommended, but especially if you speak Spanish or want to improve your skills.