He is an indispensable figure in the summer festivals in Andalucía, as he is the most successful and famous cantaor on the flamenco scene. He is the nephew of Manuel Soto, Sordera, and his nick-name comes from his participation in the choir of the Basilica de la Merced when he was a boy. He started singing in the Jueves Flamencos (Flamenco Thursdays) in Jerez and in the Cádiz tablao La Cueva del Pájaro Azul. The producer Manuel Ríos Ruiz produced his first record when he was thirteen years old. He went to record it in Madrid, where he settled definitively. His good meter resulted in many dancers wanting him by their side, including the Trío Madrid, formed by Mario Maya, El Güito and Carmen Mora. From 1973 to 1983, he joined the company of Antonio Gades, with which he travelled half-way around half the world and took part in the film Bodas de Sangre, by Carlos Saura.
After performing on a few occasions with the Ballet Nacional, he started giving recitals in cultural centres, flamenco peñas (enthusiasts' clubs) and festivals, and he took part in the International Courses of Flamenco Art in the Faculty of Flamencology and Andalusian Folk Studies, as a teacher. In 1986 he was triumphant in the Concurso Nacional in Córdoba, and he settled in the Café de Chinitas in Madrid. Afterwards, José Mercé cemented his reputation in the summer festivals and began to progressively have a stronger personality until he became a mass idol with records like Del amanecer, produced by Vicente Amigo, and Aire, produced by Isidro Sanlúcar.
Primavera
José Mercé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo no sé donde está
Y es que el deseo a mí me tiene desbocado
Instintos que siempre pueden conmigo
Llegan hasta provocar
Que yo me sienta derrumbado
Serenidad que busco y no la encuentro
Y viene la ansiedad, con ella el miedo
Y que la sociedad los ve pecado
La Primavera ya llegó!
La Primavera a mi balcón
Para decirme que estaba soñando yo
El límite del bien y el mal
Yo no sé donde está
Es que el deseo a mí me tiene desbocado
Un animal me siento a veces
Un humano llevo dentro y crece
En este mundo, disfrazado
La voluntad en varias direcciones
La mente debatiendo las mejores
Pesadilla real que acabe hoy
De forma que tolere como soy
La Primavera ya llegó!
La Primavera a mi balcón
Para decirme que estaba soñando yo
In the song "Primavera," José Mercé sings about his struggles with desire and the difficulty in navigating the line between good and evil. He expresses how his instincts often get the better of him, leading him to feel helpless and overwhelmed. He expresses a longing for serenity that seems out of reach, as anxiety and fear often come along with his desires. Mercé acknowledges the societal taboo around acting on one's desires, recognizing that these instincts are often seen as sinful. Despite his struggle, he finds hope in the arrival of spring, which symbolizes a time of renewal and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
El límite de bien y mal
José Mercé is unsure of where the boundary between good and evil lies.
Yo no sé donde está
He is struggling to determine what is right or wrong.
Y es que el deseo a mí me tiene desbocado
His desires have taken control of him, and he feels lost.
Instintos que siempre pueden conmigo
His instincts overpower him, making him feel overwhelmed.
Llegan hasta provocar
His desires and instincts can even cause him to act recklessly.
Que yo me sienta derrumbado
He is left feeling defeated and drained by his inner conflicts.
Serenidad que busco y no la encuentro
He longs for inner peace and calmness, but cannot seem to find it.
Y viene la ansiedad, con ella el miedo
His search is often met with anxiety and fear.
Y que la sociedad los ve pecado
He feels his natural desires and instincts are viewed as sinful by society.
La Primavera ya llegó!
Spring has arrived, and a new beginning is at hand.
La Primavera a mi balcón
Spring brings new hope and a fresh perspective to José Mercé.
Para decirme que estaba soñando yo
Spring reminds him that he was dreaming of a brighter future and a better life.
Un animal me siento a veces
He sometimes feels like a wild animal, ruled by his instincts and desires.
Un humano llevo dentro y crece
He is also a human being, and he strives to develop his better qualities.
En este mundo, disfrazado
He feels like he has to wear a mask in this world.
La voluntad en varias direcciones
He struggles to focus his willpower in one direction.
La mente debatiendo las mejores
His mind is constantly debating what is best for him.
Pesadilla real que acabe hoy
He hopes that his real-life nightmare will end soon.
De forma que tolere como soy
He wants to be accepted for who he is, despite his inner struggles.
Writer(s): Vicente Amigo Girol
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HIPOLITO It's me
Lyrics
El límite de bien y mal
Yo no sé donde está
Y es que el deseo a mí me tiene desbocado
Instintos que siempre pueden conmigo
Llegan hasta provocar
Que yo me sienta derrumbado
Serenidad que busco y no la encuentro
Y viene la ansiedad, con ella el miedo
Instintos que siempre pueden conmigo
Y que la sociedad los ve pecado
La Primavera ya llegó!
La Primavera a mi balcón
Para decirme que estaba soñando yo
El límite del bien y el mal
Yo no sé donde está
Es que el deseo a mí me tiene desbocado
Un animal me siento a veces
Un humano llevo dentro y crece
En este mundo, disfrazado
La voluntad en varias direcciones
La mente debatiendo las mejores
Pesadilla real que acabe hoy
De forma que tolere como soy
La Primavera ya llegó!
La Primavera a mi balcón
Para decirme que estaba soñando yo
oscar sanver
Que grande, de los mejores temas de José Mercé. Buenos recuerdos me trae de los viejos tiempos del 98.
MVP 87
Una maravilla, maestro Merce irrepetible
HIPOLITO It's me
Lyrics
El límite de bien y mal
Yo no sé donde está
Y es que el deseo a mí me tiene desbocado
Instintos que siempre pueden conmigo
Llegan hasta provocar
Que yo me sienta derrumbado
Serenidad que busco y no la encuentro
Y viene la ansiedad, con ella el miedo
Instintos que siempre pueden conmigo
Y que la sociedad los ve pecado
La Primavera ya llegó!
La Primavera a mi balcón
Para decirme que estaba soñando yo
El límite del bien y el mal
Yo no sé donde está
Es que el deseo a mí me tiene desbocado
Un animal me siento a veces
Un humano llevo dentro y crece
En este mundo, disfrazado
La voluntad en varias direcciones
La mente debatiendo las mejores
Pesadilla real que acabe hoy
De forma que tolere como soy
La Primavera ya llegó!
La Primavera a mi balcón
Para decirme que estaba soñando yo
Ana C.
Dios, quien puede contenerse con este hombre y no arrancarse a bailar💃❤
MVP 87
Gracias por existir maestro, nada más que decir.
Sam Hanna
What a wonderful song. In tradistional Flamenco, Jose Merce is a great replacment of Camaron. And I enjoy NovaMenco from the new world. Beautiful...
Vanesa Fernandez
OLEEE PEAZO DE TEMAZO DEL GRAN MAESTRO JOSE MERCE
belen González
Cómo puede ser que tremendo tema tenga tan poco visto :(
Kiko Mcgregor
Temazo del tio José !!
Keren קרן ארנפלד Erenfeld
Love this one :)