The youngest of six children, Cantero was born into a humble family in Las Ventas neighbourhood of Madrid, close to a famous bullring. As a boy he would play truant from school, preferring to spend time imitating his idol, the traditional copla singer Rafael Farina. It was from Farina that Cantero adopted his stage name of "El Fary". Resolute that his lack of height would not stand in the way of success he was determined that his dream of following in his idol's footsteps would one day come true.
Before hitting the big time El Fary worked hard as a gardener and a taxi driver in order to make the money to record his first songs. Once he had recorded and pressed these songs - rumour has it - he sold them to the public himself from a stall in the Rastro (Madrid's weekly street market). At this time he also took part in singing contests on the radio and performed at local fiestas. Only when he was in his early thirties did El Fary start to make money as a singer when he was called to stand in for another singer at a show in Córdoba, Andalusia. Later, the legendary Antonio Molina hired him for a two-month tour.
By the 1970s the copla had fallen from favour with the Spanish record-buying public, but this did not dampen El Fary's enthusiasm and by the end of the decade he was recording poppier songs that found a home in the Spanish hit parade.
In the 1990s El Fary got his break in the world of television where he starred in the show "Menudo es mi padre" as a taxi driver - a role tailor-made for him. The show's title was itself a play on words poking fun at the protagonist's minuscule stature.
During this period El Fary was often the subject of speculation due to rumours of his son's drug addiction or his own alleged mistreatment of his wife. While evidently unpleasant experiences for the man, this sensationalist focus on his private life kept him in the public consciouness of Spaniards for quite some time.
Towards the end of the decade his career was given another boost when film director Santiago Segura premiered his comedy film Torrente - The Dumb Arm of the Law. The protagonist, Jose Luis Torrente (played by Segura himself) was a rude, racist, misogynist, corrupt policeman who was a fan of El Fary. The film featured a new song recorded especially by El Fary himself called Apatrullando la ciudad (Patrolling The City). Both the song and the film were hits, and spawned two sequels, the first of which - Torrente 2 - Mission in Marbella - became the most successful Spanish film (in Spain) of all time (on its release).
With the release of the third Torrente film in 2005 - Torrente 3 - The Protector - a unique piece of El Fary-related spin-off merchandising was produced: the Carrofary - a small rubber replica of the singer designed to be hung from a car's rear view mirror.
Apatrullando la Ciudad
El Fary Lyrics
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The lyrics to El Fary's "Apatrullando la Ciudad" describe the experience of a person who has died and is now in the spirit world, reflecting on their life and contemplating what lies ahead. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of the physical reality of death, with the body lying stiff on a slab of metal in a hospital. However, the focus quickly shifts to the spiritual realm, as the singer's spirit is freed from the constraints of the physical body and is now able to observe it from a distance.
The singer expresses a mix of emotions, including fear, confusion, and uncertainty. They are haunted by doubts about what will happen to them next and what their ultimate fate will be. The lyrics touch on themes of mortality, the afterlife, and the nature of human existence.
Overall, the song offers a poignant reflection on the experience of death and the mysteries that lie beyond our earthly lives. It encourages listeners to ponder their own mortality and to consider the spiritual dimensions of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi cuerpo yace tieso en una loza de metal
My body lies stiff on a metal slab
Solo escucho voces, estoy en un hospital
I only hear voices, I'm in a hospital
Mi espiritu ahora flota no se siente nada igual
My spirit now floats, it doesn't feel the same
Puedo ver mi cuerpo, no lo puedo ni tocar
I can see my body, but I can't even touch it
Ahora me doy cuenta de que acabo de morir
Now I realize that I just died
Me suelto dando gritos ya nadie me puede oir
I scream, but no one can hear me
Mil dudas me atormentan no se cual sera mi fin
A thousand doubts torment me, I don't know what my end will be
Pobre ser humano porque debe ser asi
Poor human being, why does it have to be like this
No se que hay mas alla
I don't know what's beyond
Tengo miedo de llegar
I'm afraid to get there
No se si habra reencarnacion
I don't know if there will be reincarnation
De todo tengo temor
I fear everything
La muerte es un enigma en la existencia terrenal
Death is an enigma in earthly existence
Es el ultimo paso de la vida material
It's the final step of material life
Pienso que mi cuerpo solo fue su habitacion
I think my body was just its dwelling
Mi espiritu lo mira putrefacto en el panteon
My spirit looks at it, rotting in the tomb
No se que hay mas alla...
I don't know what's beyond...
Contributed by Bailey B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.