Catalan singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat got involved in music at the age of 17, when he got his first guitar, to which he dedicates one of his earliest songs, "Una guitarra."
In early 60's the young artist participated in a pop band playing along with classmates at Barcelona's Agronomy School, doing mainly Beatles stuff and Italian 'pop-of-the-era' songs translated to Spanish.
In 1965, while singing in a radio show called Radioscope, host Salvador Escanilla helped him to get a record deal with local label Edigsa where he recorded his first EP, as well as became part of Els Setze Jutges, a group of Catalan artists aiming to promote a renaissance of Catalan culture after Spanish Franco's dictatorship and make it spread into popular classes.
Joan Manuel Serrat's first live stage performance in 1967 at the Catalan Music Palace, established definitely his name as one of the most important artists inside the 'Nova cançó' ('New Song') movement in Catalonia.
Next year, Spain originally entered Serrat in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968 to sing "La, la, la", but he asked to sing it in Catalan, to which the Spanish authorities would not agree. This would be the first time he came into conflict with the language politics of Francoist Spain, because of his decision to sing in his native Catalan language, repressed by Franco. After the incident, Serrat was hurriedly substituted by Massiel, who won the contest with her Spanish-language version. By that time Serrat's songs were banned and his records burned in the streets. He then traveled to South America and participated in the Rio de Janeiro's World Music Festival, where he took first place with the song "Penélope."
In 1969 Serrat released an album containing songs with texts of Antonio Machado, a well known Spanish poet of late 19th-early 20th century. This album gave him immediate fame in all Spain and Latin America though, in spite of this, his decission to sing in Spanish was still criticized in some nationalistic Catalan circles.
The release of 1971's Mediterráneo LP consolidated the artist worldwide. In 1976, Joan Manuel Serrat was acclaimed for the first time in the U.S.A. while performing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
In late 1974, Serrat was exiled in Mexico due to his condemnation of arbitrary executions under Franco's regime. It wasn't until Franco's death (November 20, 1975) that Serrat was able to return to his homeland.
In January of 1995, the Spanish government gave him a medal for his contribution to the Hispanic culture. That same year, a tribute album called Serrat, Eres único was made to honor his career, featuring artists such as Diego Torres, Ketama, Rosario (Flores), Joaquín Sabina, and Antonio Flores. In the year 2000, the Spanish Association of Authors and Editors (SGAE) awarded him with one of ten Medals of the Century.
In October 2004 he revealed that he had been undergoing treatment for cancer of the bladder and in November that year he cancelled a tour of Latin America and the USA in order to undergo surgery in Barcelona, where he still lives. By that time, his wonderful song "Mediterráneo" was selected as the most important song of the 20th century in Spain.
His recovery was satisfactory, and in 2005 he went on a tour again ("Serrat 100×100") around Spain and Latin America with his lifelong producer and arranger, Ricard Miralles.
A second volume of Serrat, eres único was also released this year, featuring Alejandro Sanz, Estopa, and Pasión+Vega. Around the same time, Cuban artists such as Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, Chucho Valdez, and Ibrahim Ferrer came together to make another tribute CD, Cuba le canta a Serrat.
Source: Wikipedia®
Algo Personal
Joan Manuel Serrat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Como cachorros de buenas personas,
Que hurtaban flores para regalar a su mamá
Y daban de comer a las palomas.
Probablemente que todo eso debe ser verdad,
Aunque es más turbio cómo y de qué manera
Llegaron esos individuos a ser lo que son
Hombres de paja que usan la colonia y el honor
Para ocultar oscuras intenciones
Tienen doble vida, son sicarios del mal.
Entre esos tipos y yo hay algo personal.
Rodeados de protocolo, comitiva y seguridad,
Viajan de incógnito en autos blindados
A sembrar calumnias, a mentir con naturalidad,
A colgar en las escuelas su retrato.
Se gastan más de lo que tienen en coleccionar
Espías, listas negras y arsenales
Resulta bochornoso verles fanfarronear
A ver quién es el que la tiene más grande.
Se arman hasta los dientes en el nombre de la paz,
Juegan con cosas que no tienen repuesto
Y la culpa es del otro si algo les sale mal.
Entre esos tipos y yo hay algo personal.
Y como quien en la cosa, nada tiene que perder.
Pulsan la alarma y rompen las promesas
Y en nombre de quien no tienen el gusto de conocer
Nos ponen la pistola en la cabeza.
Se agarran de los pelos, pero para no ensuciar
Van a cagar a casa de otra gente
Y experimentan nuevos métodos de masacrar,
Sofisticados y a la vez convincentes.
No conocen ni a su padre cuando pierden el control,
Ni recuerdan que en el mundo hay niños.
Nos niegan a todos el pan y la sal.
Entre esos tipos y yo hay algo personal.
Pero, eso sí, los sicarios no pierden ocasión
De declarar públicamente su empeño
En propiciar un diálogo de franca distensión
Que les permita hallar un marco previo
Que garantice unas premisas mínimas
Que faciliten crear los resortes
Que impulsen un punto de partida sólido y capaz
De este a oeste y de sur a norte,
Donde establecer las bases de un tratado de amistad
Que contribuya a poner los cimientos
De una plataforma donde edificar
Un hermoso futuro de amor y paz.
In Joan Manuel Serrat's song "Algo Personal," he discusses his personal feelings towards corrupt politicians and their hypocrisy towards their public image. The first verse describes how these individuals may be seen as good people in their communities, but it is unclear how they got to where they are and who they serve when they raise their flag. Serrat paints a picture of these individuals as "hombres de paja" or "straw men" who use their reputation and honor to hide their true intentions. He suggests that their actions are a result of their evil nature rather than a simple mistake.
The second verse discusses how these corrupt politicians travel with protocol, security, and anonymity in order to spread lies and propaganda with ease. They use their wealth to accumulate spies, armaments, and blacklists. Serrat criticizes their bravado and their desire to outdo one another with the amount of power they wield. He suggests that these politicians are willing to go to any lengths in the name of peace, even if it leads to violence and destruction.
In the final verse, Serrat describes how these individuals use fear and manipulation to control the population. They do not care about the people they represent, and they will do anything to preserve their power. Serrat suggests that there is a personal connection between himself and these corrupt politicians. He is affected by their actions and their disregard for the well-being of others.
Overall, "Algo Personal" is a condemnation of corrupt politicians and a reminder to the public to stay vigilant and aware of the actions of those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
Probablemente en su pueblo se les recordará
It's likely they'll be remembered in their town
Como cachorros de buenas personas,
As good people when they were young
Que hurtaban flores para regalar a su mamá
Who stole flowers to give to their mother
Y daban de comer a las palomas.
And fed pigeons.
Probablemente que todo eso debe ser verdad,
It's probably all true.
Aunque es más turbio cómo y de qué manera
But it's murkier how and in what ways
Llegaron esos individuos a ser lo que son
Those individuals became who they are
Ni a quién sirven cuando alzan las banderas.
Or who they serve when they raise their flags.
Hombres de paja que usan la colonia y el honor
Straw men who use cologne and honor
Para ocultar oscuras intenciones
To hide dark intentions.
Tienen doble vida, son sicarios del mal.
They have a double life, they're hitmen of evil.
Entre esos tipos y yo hay algo personal.
There's something personal between me and those guys.
Rodeados de protocolo, comitiva y seguridad,
Surrounded by protocol, entourage, and security
Viajan de incógnito en autos blindados
They travel incognito in armored cars
A sembrar calumnias, a mentir con naturalidad,
To spread slander, to lie with ease
A colgar en las escuelas su retrato.
To hang their portrait in schools.
Se gastan más de lo que tienen en coleccionar
They spend more collecting than they have
Espías, listas negras y arsenales
Spies, blacklists, and arsenals.
Resulta bochornoso verles fanfarronear
It's embarrassing to see them brag
A ver quién es el que la tiene más grande.
To see who has the biggest one.
Se arman hasta los dientes en el nombre de la paz,
They arm themselves to the teeth in the name of peace
Juegan con cosas que no tienen repuesto
They play with things that have no replacement
Y la culpa es del otro si algo les sale mal.
And it's the other's fault if something goes wrong.
Entre esos tipos y yo hay algo personal.
There's something personal between me and those guys.
Y como quien en la cosa, nada tiene que perder.
Like someone who has nothing to lose.
Pulsan la alarma y rompen las promesas
They sound the alarm and break promises.
Y en nombre de quien no tienen el gusto de conocer
And in the name of someone they don't have the pleasure of knowing
Nos ponen la pistola en la cabeza.
They put a gun to our heads.
Se agarran de los pelos, pero para no ensuciar
They grab each other by the hair, but not to dirty themselves
Van a cagar a casa de otra gente
They go poop in other people's houses.
Y experimentan nuevos métodos de masacrar,
And try new methods of massacre
Sofisticados y a la vez convincentes.
Sophisticated and convincing at the same time.
No conocen ni a su padre cuando pierden el control,
They don't even know their father when they lose control
Ni recuerdan que en el mundo hay niños.
And don't remember there are children in the world.
Nos niegan a todos el pan y la sal.
They deny us all bread and salt.
Entre esos tipos y yo hay algo personal.
There's something personal between me and those guys.
Pero, eso sí, los sicarios no pierden ocasión
But, the hitmen never miss the opportunity
De declarar públicamente su empeño
To publicly declare their effort
En propiciar un diálogo de franca distensión
To facilitate a dialogue of frank relaxation
Que les permita hallar un marco previo
That allows them to find a previous framework
Que garantice unas premisas mínimas
That guarantees some minimum premises
Que faciliten crear los resortes
That make it easier to create the springs
Que impulsen un punto de partida sólido y capaz
That drives a solid and capable starting point
De este a oeste y de sur a norte,
From East to West and from South to North,
Donde establecer las bases de un tratado de amistad
Where to establish the foundations of a friendship treaty
Que contribuya a poner los cimientos
That helps to lay the foundation
De una plataforma donde edificar
Of a platform where to build
Un hermoso futuro de amor y paz.
A beautiful future of love and peace.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: J.M. SERRAT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ceciliomezquita2454
GENIAL
simple
o complicadamente
genial
A oración y palabra
a sarcasmo y amor
frase a frase
Un ejemplo de cómo
bien se debe decir
y escribir
como todos y único
Maldito Serrat
mío y bien bendito del mundo
No te mueras NUNCA
Maldito SERRAT .
@anibalrivadulla9783
Es como si la hubiera escrito ayer, tantos años escuchándola
@jorgeluncio4934
Hoy en mi amada Argentina... que tristeza 😢😢 gracias Nano❤
@darioibanez4097
Uno de mis temas preferidos de Serrat , esos esos tipos siempre siguen vigentes en todo el mundo desgraciadamente..😢😊
@carlosrivarola3675
Siempre vigentes porque los mantenemos en el poder con votos y en las mesas de café
@gabrielcifuentes8631
Que lamentable q estas nuevas generaciones no escriban temas de este calibre!!! Que crack serrat!!!!!
@fabiansantos1134
Para escribir temas como este hay que tener sensatez, juicio critico y una pisca de honrades a la hora de reflexionar, debe ser difícil hoy en día encontrar gente así y mucho mas difícil encontrar gente de este calibre, me refiero a Serrat...salu2
@nachinba
Dos increíble maestros, ojalá vivieran por siempre.❤
@monicahaydeecampos7528
Maravilloso tema "Algo Personal" es un disfruté escucharte. Un Grande el Nano Serrat!!!✨️❤️🎶🎵🎶❤️✨️🎤🎧💖
@merchepaz9482
No te mueras nunca SERRAT !!
@mariarosasanjuangomez2028
Joan y la cancion de los politicos como los describe csda vez mas falsos pero ahi siguen engsñando al mundo no tienebprlosxski tsmpico son asi fslsis😅😮😢🎉😂❤