Ana Torroja is a Spanish vocalist, and was the lead singer of the million-s… Read Full Bio ↴Ana Torroja is a Spanish vocalist, and was the lead singer of the million-selling trio Mecano. Daughter of a noted engineer, she was born in Madrid on December 28, 1959, and met José María Cano while studying economics at university. The two became good friends, and José María soon introduced Ana to his younger brother Nacho. Upon hearing Ana singing along to his brother's compositions on the guitar, Nacho suggested that the three should form a band, and in 1981 Mecano was born.

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.

Jugando al escondite
Ana Torroja Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Otra vez
jugando al escondite inglés
siempre apareces sin avisar
te gusta sorprender
cómo estás
no es tu forma de saludar
miras de frente sin parpadear
sin responder porqué

y tú vendrás
para llevarme al más allí
me abrazarás
fuerte, fuerte que no me escape
y yo me ire
dehando tantas cosas por hacer
rondarás
como el guardian y el trovador
cada escenario, cada rincón
sabes donde buscar
no hay patrón
en tu manera de actuar
a veces paciente, a veces voraz
y otras tan natural
y tu vendrás
para llevarme al más allí
me abrazarás
fuerte, fuerte que no me escape

y yo me iré
dejando tantas cosas por hacer

Overall Meaning

Ana Torroja’s song “Jugando al Escondite” tells the story of a love affair. The singer is describing her partner's behavior, and how it makes her feel. The title, “Jugando al Escondite inglés,” means “Playing English Hide-and-Seek,” which refers to the act of hiding and then suddenly appearing to surprise someone. The singer is acknowledging that her partner has a tendency to surprise her in unexpected ways, and she enjoys the feeling of being taken off guard.

Throughout the song, the singer describes how her partner looks at her with an unwavering gaze, suggesting that he is always watching her. She also talks about how he knows where to find her, no matter where she goes. The lyrics suggest that her partner is possessive and controlling, but she still finds it alluring. She describes how her partner will come to take her to "the other side," which could refer to a metaphorical journey or even death. Regardless, the singer seems ready and willing to follow her partner wherever he may lead her.

Overall, the song suggests the complex nature of love and how it can lead us down unexpected paths. The singer is aware of the power dynamic in her relationship, yet she is still drawn to the thrill of the unknown and the dangerous.

Line by Line Meaning

Otra vez
Once again, the situation repeats itself

jugando al escondite inglés
Playing a game of hide and seek, but with a twist

siempre apareces sin avisar
You always show up unexpectedly

te gusta sorprender
You enjoy surprising people

cómo estás
How are you doing?

no es tu forma de saludar
It’s not how you usually say hello

miras de frente sin parpadear
You look straight ahead without blinking

sin responder porqué
Without giving a reason why

y tú vendrás
And you will come

para llevarme al más allá
To take me to places beyond this world

me abrazarás
You will hug me