Mythical songs like “L’últim tirabol” (The last turn), “Jo vull per demà” (I want for tomorrow) or “Soc d’un país” (I’m from a country) have turned into really classics of the Catalan independence movement.
In 1990 Sergi Valero, Francesc Ribera and Josep Maria Gomez formed the band and soon Toni Romero, August Gendrau and Francesc Xavier Martinez (who played together in a band of Berga) joined it, as well as Jordi Castilla. They started with a concert in Cercs (near Berga), and after some other concerts over the region, in 1991 they played for their first time in Barcelona, in the Cotxeres de Sants.
Early in 1992 they recorded their first record “Amb el rock a la faixa” (With the rock in the waist), produced by Reyes Torino, who also produced next works: “Segona assemblea” (Second assembly, 1993) and “La diplomàcia de la rebel·lia” (The diplomacy of the revolt, 1994). In this record they had the collaboration of the Basque band “Negu Gorriak”.
In 1995 they edited their fourth record, “Cal seguir lluitant” (Fight must continue), with a quality jump on musical terms.
In 1997 they made their first live record, “Brams al Liceu” (Brams at the Lyceum), recorded on “La Capsa” (The Box), a music hall in El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona.
After a trip to Nicaragua of some band members comes their sixth record, “Nena de Nicaragua” (Girl of Nicaragua, 1998)
The seventh record, “Tot és possible” (Everythingl is possible) meant another improvement of the lyrics and the music of the band, after a change of record company and producer.
In 2001 they issue “Aldea Global Thematic Park” (Global Village Temathic Park), where they keeped on with their incisive political and social criticism.
In 2003 appeared their last recording studio work, “Energia” (Energy), with quite optimistic songs on it.
“Sempremés” (For ever more, 2005) is their farewell record, live recorded in their last show, in Berga. The concert concentrated about 15,000 band fans. Their last work is presented with a double CD with more than two hours of music and the live record on DVD.
El president
Brams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
que no ens el mereixem
llegeix el diari Avui, porta barretina,
puja al Pedraforca tot xiulant
La Santa Espina.
De dia és president,
de dia és honorable,
de nit quan no hi ha gent
I a Sant Jaume tots els dies
poc després que es pongui el sol
no vegis quines orgies
munta el president Pujol.
I cardant pels despatxos,
fent-se palles al balcó,
tots els consellers borratxos
o bé amorrats al piló.
A la Marta la florista
me li fot algun polvet
i ella no aparta la vista
d'aquell lliri sempre dret.
Jordi Pujol, sexe, droga,
i rock'n'roll
Amb en Lluís que pren amfetes
van de tripis fins al cul
i es fan un munt de petes
de marihuana i de ful.
Duran Lleida i Cullell
fan el que en Jordi els mana
no duen coca de forner
duen coca colombiana,
i els veig tan feliços
quan la coca han esnifat
tot corrent pels passadissos
de la Generalitat.
En contra del que semblava
ni sardana ni gregorià
a en Jordi el que li agrada
és el hard-core i l'ska.
En Pujol a la guitarra
amb perruca fins als peus,
Roca toca la bataka,
Gasòliba fa les veus.
En Maragall d'enveja es mor
des d'allà l'Ajuntament
en sentir-los tocar el rock,
el rock del President
The song El President by Brams is a satirical and critical portrayal of the former president of Catalonia, Jordi Pujol, and his alleged scandalous behavior behind closed doors. The lyrics begin by stating that the people of Catalonia do not deserve a president like Pujol. He is depicted as someone who wears a traditional hat and climbs mountains, but also someone who may not be in control of his emotions and actions when no one is watching.
The second verse describes how the president hosts wild parties at the palace of Sant Jaume, with his councillors getting drunk and acting inappropriately. The lyrics suggest that Pujol himself may be involved in sexual and drug-related activities, as well as being interested in genres like hard-core and ska. The final verse has a surreal and funny touch, as it portrays the president and his team as a group of rock stars, with Pujol playing guitar and his councillors performing vocals and drums. The mayor of Barcelona, Pasqual Maragall, watches them from his office, jealous of their musical talent.
Overall, the song is a manifestation of the Catalan people's disappointment with their leader and the political system he represents. It exposes the hypocrisy and corruption of Jordi Pujol's government and condemns the lack of transparency and integrity in Catalan politics. The use of humorous and sarcastic language lends itself to a biting critique of the political establishment and raises questions about the true motives and priorities of those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
Tenim un president
We have a president
que no ens el mereixem
that we don't deserve
llegeix el diari Avui, porta barretina,
He reads the newspaper Avui, wears a barretina (Catalan hat)
puja al Pedraforca tot xiulant
Goes up Pedraforca (mountain) whistling
La Santa Espina.
The Holy Thorn.
De dia és president,
During the day, he is the president
de dia és honorable,
During the day, he is honorable
de nit quan no hi ha gent
At night when there are no people
si li creuen els cables.
if he gets agitated.
I a Sant Jaume tots els dies
And in Saint James (Square) every day
poc després que es pongui el sol
shortly after sunset
no vegis quines orgies
You can't imagine what orgies
munta el president Pujol.
President Pujol organizes.
I cardant pels despatxos,
And sorting through the offices,
fent-se palles al balcó,
Masturbating on the balcony
tots els consellers borratxos
All the drunk counselors
o bé amorrats al piló.
Either clinging to the pole.
A la Marta la florista
To Marta the florist
me li fot algun polvet
She gives him some blow
i ella no aparta la vista
And she doesn't look away
d'aquell lliri sempre dret.
From that always upright lily.
Jordi Pujol, sexe, droga,
Jordi Pujol, sex, drugs,
i rock'n'roll
and rock'n'roll
Amb en Lluís que pren amfetes
With Lluís who takes amphetamines
van de tripis fins al cul
They take drugs to the extreme
i es fan un munt de petes
And get a bunch of high
de marihuana i de ful.
from marijuana and hash.
Duran Lleida i Cullell
Duran Lleida and Cullell
fan el que en Jordi els mana
Do what Jordi tells them to do
no duen coca de forner
They don't bring bakery coke
duen coca colombiana,
They bring Colombian cocaine,
i els veig tan feliços
And I see them so happy
quan la coca han esnifat
When they have snorted the coke
tot corrent pels passadissos
Running through the hallways
de la Generalitat.
of the Government (Catalan autonomous government).
En contra del que semblava
Contrary to what it seemed
ni sardana ni gregorià
Neither sardana nor Gregorian
a en Jordi el que li agrada
Jordi likes
és el hard-core i l'ska.
Hardcore and ska.
En Pujol a la guitarra
Pujol on guitar
amb perruca fins als peus,
with a wig down to his feet,
Roca toca la bataka,
Roca plays the drums,
Gasòliba fa les veus.
Gasòliba sings.
En Maragall d'enveja es mor
Maragall dies of envy
des d'allà l'Ajuntament
From the Town Hall
en sentir-los tocar el rock,
when he hears them play rock,
el rock del President
The President's rock
Writer(s): Sol Lake, Pierre Jacob Copyright: Almo Music Corp.
Contributed by Scarlett J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.