After seven Mecano albums and fame in Europe and Latin America, months of continuous touring were taking their toll on the band, especially on Ana who was starting to develop vocal problems. In 1993 the band announced a "temporary split". While José and Nacho composed solo albums, Ana chose to travel round the world to visit places like Hawaii, Bombay and New York, cities she had sung about while fronting Mecano. It was in New York that she set up home and took dance classes.
By 1997 Ana felt confident enough to sing again and moved to London to record her first solo album Puntos cardinales. The album marked a curious change for Ana, as her new songs were not written from a male point of view by the Cano brothers, she felt she could express herself in Spanish as a woman for the first time. The first single from the album A contratiempo was a Spanish cover of an old Bette Midler song, "Bottomless". The video showed a "new" Ana Torroja with plumper lips and other attributes hitherto unseen on the former Mecano star.
In 1998—partially due to the expense and commercial failure of José María's opera project—Mecano reformed for the double-disc greatest hits compilation Ana, José, Nacho, which also featured seven new songs.
In 2006, Ana released "Me Cuesta Tanto Olvidarte", an album which featured 13 of Mecano's greatest hits reborn. "Hijo de La Luna" was remade as a Huapango Jarocho, featuring a whole Mariachi ensemble. "Maquillaje" was given a burlesque, cabaret sound, while "Barco a Venus" was made a Rumba. Other hits included were "Los Amantes" (w/ a Samba makeover), "Mujer Contra Mujer" (in a solo orchestral rendition), "Busco Algo Barato", "Cruz De navajas," and "La Fuerza Del Destino." Amazingly, the title track is nowhere to be seen.
Al Sur
Ana Torroja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
escondida en un rincón
y aunque yo no quiear verlo
sigue amaneciendo
cuando sale el sol
ay que penita
se le ha borrao el color, miralo
es uno de esos dias
se equivocan los sentidos
y hasta me emocionan
las flores de cartón
ni tú me aguantas
ni me aguanto yo, déjalo
y debe haber algun invento
que alivie el mal del desaliento
sigue la luz
no pierdas control
que dice el corazón que sólo son
que sólo son temores
y esto no razón
para no echarle un poco de sal
y gracia a la vida y a la adversidad
que ya no hay sombras
ya no hay soledad
a veces cuando llueven penas
se ahogan en mi voz
y me encierro en el silencio
o en algun recuerdo
sin mucha pretensión
no ayuda ni una lágrima
ni dos, déjalo
y debe haber algun invento
que alivie el mal del desaliento
sigue a la luz
no pierdas control
que dice el corazón
que solo son
que solo son temores
y esto no es razón
para no echarle un poco de sal
y gracia a la vida y a la adversidad
que ya no hay sombras
The lyrics of Ana Torroja's song "Al Sur" are about feeling alone and lost, but also finding strength and hope in difficult times. The song starts with the singer admitting that she's hiding away in a corner, not wanting to face the world, but despite her reluctance, the sun continues to rise and a new day starts. However, it's one of those days when everything seems dull and lacking in excitement, and even the artificial flowers around her have lost their color. The singer feels dejected and emotional, and although no one can comfort her, she still tries to find a way to cope with her sadness.
She then muses about the possibility of some invention that could alleviate the feeling of desolation, but ultimately decides to follow the light and not lose control. She acknowledges that her fears are just that, fears, and not a reason to give up or not add some "salt and grace" to her life. She finds comfort in the fact that there are no longer shadows or loneliness in her life, and even though she may still feel the weight of her sorrows, she knows that she can overcome them. Ultimately, the song is about resilience and hope, and finding strength in oneself even when things seem bleak.
Line by Line Meaning
Me he encontrado sola
I found myself alone
escondida en un rincón
hiding in a corner
y aunque yo no quiero verlo
although I don't want to see it
sigue amaneciendo cuando sale el sol
the sun still rises even though...
ay que penita
oh, what a pity
se le ha borrao el color, miralo
the color has faded, look at it
es uno de esos dias en que falla la ilusión
it's one of those days when hope fails
se equivocan los sentidos y hasta me emocionan las flores de cartón
my feelings are confused and even cardboard flowers bring me emotion
ni tú me aguantas ni me aguanto yo, déjalo
neither you nor I can bear it, let it be
y debe haber algun invento que alivie el mal del desaliento
there must be some invention to cure the ailment of discouragement
sigue la luz no pierdas control
follow the light, don't lose control
que dice el corazón que sólo son que sólo son temores
the heart says they are only fears
y esto no razón para no echarle un poco de sal
and this is not a reason to not add a little salt
y gracia a la vida y a la adversidad que ya no hay sombras
thanks to life and adversity, there are no longer shadows
ya no hay soledad
there is no longer loneliness
a veces cuando llueven penas se ahogan en mi voz
sometimes when sorrows rain down, they drown in my voice
y me encierro en el silencio o en algun recuerdo sin mucha pretensión
and I retreat into silence or some memory without much ambition
no ayuda ni una lágrima ni dos, déjalo
not even one or two tears can help, let it be
y debe haber algun invento que alivie el mal del desaliento
there must be some invention to cure the ailment of discouragement
sigue a la luz no pierdas control
follow the light, don't lose control
que dice el corazón que solo son que solo son temores
the heart says they are only fears
y esto no es razón para no echarle un poco de sal
and this is not a reason to not add a little salt
y gracia a la vida y a la adversidad que ya no hay sombras
thanks to life and adversity, there are no longer shadows
Contributed by Allison K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.