There are several artists using this name, chronologically:
1) A British… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists using this name, chronologically:
1) A British rock band (1967 - 1973)
2) A disco group signed to New York Salsoul Records (1970's-1980's)
3) A Spanish indie pop band (1991 - 1993)

1) Family was British rock band from Leicester, England, active between 1967-1973. Their music has been described as a masterful blend of Blues-Rock, Prog-Rock, Art Rock and Psychedelia.

Family's debut single "Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens/Gypsy Woman" was released by Liberty in the autumn of 1967. While the single received praise from critics, it received very little airplay, due to its rather complex, uncommercial nature. Family's debut album, Music in a Doll's House, was released in July 1968 and it was produced by Traffic's Dave Mason and Jimmy Miller on a 4-track machine at Olympic Studios, London. The band's line-up: Roger Chapman (vocals/harmonica/tenor saxophone), Charlie Whitney (guitars/vocals), Rick Grech (bass/violin/cello/vocals), Rob Townsend (drums/percussion), and Jim King saxophone/flute/harmonica/vocals). Bandleader Tubby Hayes and his brass section played on "Old Songs New Songs". An extraordinarily ambitious album, 'Music In A Doll's House' marked an audacious beginning of what was a rather mixed career for Family. Many of the sounds conjured up in the studio had never been heard before - more incredible given that the album was created on a 4-track. The band's ability clearly transcended the available technology. Chapman's unusual vibrating delivery did not appeal to everyone, but it's a remarkable voice all the same. The musicianship and the unusual arrangements on this album found favour with fans who regarded it as a rather surreal musical feast. Music In A Doll's House is a truly innovative album and years ahead of it's time. The album charted respectably in the UK (reaching No. 35 in the UK album charts) and received considerable airplay from well-known British radio personality John Peel. It did not chart in the US. Interestingly, Mike Batt got his first big break in record production on this album by arranging "Mellowing Grey".

Family's 1969 follow-up, Family Entertainment, toned down the psychedelics of their previous offering, and featured their first UK hit "The Weaver's Answer." For the 1970 release A Song For Me, they developed a more aggressive sound, gaining them a larger European following. That year they played at several major rock festivals including the Isle Of Wight music festival and Holland's Kralingen Festival. Both of which were included in the documentary films Message To Love and Stomping Ground. The next release, Anyway, featured a side of a live performance of new material at Fairfield Hall in Croydon, England, as well as a side of new studio recordings.
The bar was raised in 1971 with Fearless, but the band's biggest success was yet to come, in 1972's Bandstand, featuring hits "Burlesque" and "My Friend the Sun". This was followed by the underrated but enjoyable It's Only a Movie, where the band's sound was augmented by Tony Ashton of Ashton Gardner and Dyke on piano.
Family disbanded in 1973 and former members went on to play in the bands King Crimson, the Streetwalkers and Stud.

2) Family were a disco group who formed in the 1970's and released the single 'Music (Listen To The Music)', on the Salsoul label which was later re-released on the Suss'd 2007 compilation 'Deep Disco Culture Vol. 2'.

3) Family was a Spanish indie band active 1991-1993 formed by Javier Aramburu and Iñaki Gametxogoikoetxea. They released just one album in 1993 titled Un soplo en el corazón," a tribute to the film by Louis Malle. In 2003 Spanish magazine Rockdelux released an album with the same songs played by other Spanish bands to celebrate 10 years from probably one of the best Spanish albums of 90's.

En el rascacielos
Family Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Desde aquí domino el gran país
Este rascacielos es gigante
Alguna tarde
Siempre de octubre
Despejado todo el horizonte
Veo claro el porvenir

Desde aquí domino el gran país

Este rascacielos es gigante
Las ilusiones
Y algún recuerdo

Van dibujando en el firmamento
Un caminito de estrellas multicolor

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Family's song "En el rascacielos" speak to the power of perspective and the sense of grandeur one can feel when looking out from a tall building. The singer boasts of their ability to "rule" over their vast country, as they sit atop this giant skyscraper. The repeated use of the adjective "gigante" (giant) emphasizes the overwhelming scale of the building and its significance in the singer's mind.

However, despite this grandiosity, the lyrics also contain a sense of wistfulness and nostalgia. The singer references memories and dreams that they feel are being written in the sky, alluding to the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing those moments. The use of the phrase "un caminito de estrellas multicolor" (a little path of multicolored stars) is particularly poignant, conjuring up an image of a beautiful but fleeting moment that will soon fade away.

Overall, the song captures the conflicting emotions that can arise when someone is in a position of power or authority - there is a sense of pride in what has been accomplished, but also a sense of loss for what has been left behind.

Line by Line Meaning

Desde aquí domino el gran país
From this towering building, I oversee the vast and mighty land

Este rascacielos es gigante
This skyscraper is enormous

Alguna tarde
On some afternoons

Siempre de octubre
Always in October

Despejado todo el horizonte
The entire horizon is clear

Veo claro el porvenir
I see the future clearly

Las ilusiones
The dreams

Y algún recuerdo
And some memories

Van dibujando en el firmamento
Are being etched in the sky

Un caminito de estrellas multicolor
A path of multicolored stars

Contributed by Carson J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.