Music career and socio-political views
Muguruza has taken part in more than twenty albums, and is one of the most important artists from the Basque Country.
In 1983 he founded a fussion ska hardcore band called Kortatu, with his brother Iñigo and drummer Treku Armendariz, among the first to popularise ska in Spain. In 1988 the group disbanded, but Fermin and Iñigo would meet again in 1990 to create Negu Gorriak, along with Kaki Arkarazo, who had produced Kortatu's last records.
In 1997 collaborated with Dut in a record signed by Fermin Muguruza eta DUT.
Most recently he's developed a solo career, always defending the use of euskera and the need for social justice.
His socio-political views have created problems, especially in Spain outside the Basque Country, where he is continuously accused of being an apologist of ETA, the separatist terrorist organisation. He denies such accusations, expressing a desire towards a pacific process of independence, which he considers on abeyance until both parts would left behind their prejudices. This position, which Muguruza frequently argues for during interviews, contrast with his lyrics, which don't express criticism of ETA's violence — some of them, especially from his early career in the band Kortatu, show respect and estimation for ETA members: For instance, the song "Sarri, Sarri" (a Basque cover of Toots & the Maytals' "Chatty chatty") applauds the escape of two ETA members from prison. This contrasts with his persistent denunciation of the actions of the Basque, Spanish and French governments and police corps as well as of Spanish nationalist terrorist groups. In an international level, Fermin Muguruza holds acute left-wing views that lead him to criticize U.S. government, corporations and the globalization process, all of which he denounces as imperialistic and homogenizing apparatus.
Musically, he has diffused the situation in the Basque country (i.e. the oppression that, in his opinion, Spain has over Euskadi) and, although most of his lyrics are in Basque, his compositions are a melting pot of different cultures, with a big influence of Jamaican (Sisla, Anthony Bä) and electronic music (especially drum and bass), which he commonly mixes over Basque instruments.
Discography
Kortatu
Kortatu/Cicatriz/Jotakie/Kontuz Hi! (1985)
Kortatu (1985)
El estado de las cosas (1986)
Kolpez kolpe (1988)
Azken guda dantza (1988)
Negu Gorriak
Negu Gorriak (1990)
Gure Jarrera (1991)
Gora Herria (1991)
Borreroak Baditu Milaka Aurpegi (1993)
Hipokrisiari Stop! Bilbo 93-X-30 (1994)
Ideia Zabaldu (1995)
Ustelkeria (1996)
Salam, agur (1996)
Fermin Muguruza eta Dut
Ireki ateak (1997)
Fermin Muguruza
Amodio eta gorrotzko kantak (1984-1998) (1998)
Brigadistak Sound System (1999)
erREMIXak (1999)
FM 99.00 Dub Manifest (2000)
Korrika mundu bat euskarara bildu
In-komunikazioa
Irun Meets Bristol. Komunikazioa
Sala Apolo, Barcelona 21/01/04
99-04 DVD + CD
Xomorroak (Bizitza lorontzian)
In-komunikazioa
Fermin Muguruza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aurpegi alaiak ikusi ahal nituen
Tristura ordea, iluntasuna besterik ez nuen sentitzen
Baina zorioneko aurpegien jaia omen zen
Bizitzaren antzerkian porrotketa
Legaleon T-ren hots sekretua
Amodioa eta heriotza, bi eremutan bananduta
Konstante aldakor bakarra: denboraldia da
Bagh Chal edo
Tigre mugimendua
Dragoi gordea
Nepalgo jokoan bezala
Bi jokalari frogatzen
Estrategia dohaiak
Gaitasunak eta gabeziak taula batean
“Bihotzaren mende dagoena
Ttikitu egiten da lakuan
Denboraldiaren lakuan
Bihotzaren mende dagoena”
In-komunikazio osoa
Bakardadea, iluntasuna
Tristezia, ondoeza, histura
In-komunikazio osoa
The lyrics of Fermín Muguruza's song In-Komunikazioa convey a complex mixture of emotions and themes. The first verse talks about a big celebration, which the singer could see happy faces at. However, despite the joy surrounding the festivities, the singer only feels the darkness and sadness within himself. This contrast sets the scene for the theme of communication, or the lack thereof, that runs throughout the song.
The second verse delves deeper into this theme, exploring love and death, two emotions and experiences that are nearly impossible to communicate effectively. The third verse introduces a concept of constant change and the passage of time, which is depicted through the reference to the game "Bagh Chal" and the tiger's movements. The final lines of the song reveal the ultimate message – the importance of communication in relationships and how without it, one will always feel isolated and alone. The repeated line “In-komunikazio osoa” underscores this message, meaning "complete lack of communication."
Overall, the song talks about the challenges of communication, our need for it, and the emotional turmoil that can result when it is missing. The lyrics are poignant and powerful, and the use of metaphors and imagery adds to the complexity of the messages being conveyed.
Line by Line Meaning
Jai zen, jaiegun handia omen
It was a celebration, a great day
Aurpegi alaiak ikusi ahal nituen
I could see joyful faces
Tristura ordea, iluntasuna besterik ez nuen sentitzen
However, I only felt sadness and darkness
Baina zorioneko aurpegien jaia omen zen
But it was a day to celebrate happy faces
Bizitzaren antzerkian porrotketa
The play of life, a defeat
Legaleon T-ren hots sekretua
The secret of the sound of the Legaleon T
Amodioa eta heriotza, bi eremutan bananduta
Love and death, separated in two fields
Konstante aldakor bakarra: denboraldia da
The only constant change: time
Bagh Chal edo
Bagh Chal or
Tigre mugimendua
The movement of the Tiger
Dragoi gordea
The captured dragon
Nepalgo jokoan bezala
Like in the game of Nepalgo
Bi jokalari frogatzen
Testing two players
Estrategia dohaiak
Strategic gifts
Gaitasunak eta gabeziak taula batean
Abilities and shortcomings on the same table
“Bihotzaren mende dagoena
"What is in the heart"
Ttikitu egiten da lakuan
Reduced to a small space
Denboraldiaren lakuan
In the space of a lifetime
Bihotzaren mende dagoena”
"What is in the heart"
In-komunikazio osoa
Complete lack of communication
Bakardadea, iluntasuna
Solitude, darkness
Tristezia, ondoeza, histura
Sadness, regret, tension
In-komunikazio osoa
Complete lack of communication
Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.