Born to an Argentine mother and an American father, he lived most of his childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area, but moved with his family to Buenos Aires at the age of 12.
Johansen made a brief appearance in the local rock scene with the band Instrucción Cívica in the 80s (only album Obediencia Debida in 1985), but went to New York in 1990. There he met and married his Argentine wife, with whom he has a daughter. He played in the CBGB's club for long years, until he created a group, and in 2000 recorded the album with the same name, The Nada, a mix of different Latin sounds with modern pop, funk and rock.
During the same year, and with the new album in his hands, he returned to Argentina, where he currently lives. The album was relatively successful and Kevin and the group went on tour as far as Spain.
By the end of 2002 Johansen recorded Sur o no sur. Again, Kevin surprises with a combination of Latin music, pop, and humour.
During 2003, Kevin became a huge success in Argentina, playing in June at the Gran Rex Theatre, the largest Buenos Aires hall. Again in Spain, he promoted his new album with concerts in Madrid and Barcelona, this time with bigger audiences. He also performed during the MTV Latino awards, from where he continued a concerts tour to Miami, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco prior to the release of the album in United States.
In 2004 he continues with concerts in Mexico, Chile, Belgium and again Spain (now in many different cities) with an even greater response from the people and the media. At the Latino Grammy Awards, Sur o no sur was nominated for "Album of the year", "Song of the year" (La Procesión) and "Best Music Video" (La Procesión).
In between trips, Johansen recorded his third album (relased as Kevin Johansen + The Nada, City Zen, which was well-received both by fans and the media. The cover of his susequent album, Logo, was drawn by cartoonist Liniers.
No Me Abandones
Kevin Johansen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fui pendenciero, inconsciente y tantas otras cosas
No fui "Om", ni fui "Zen"
Nunca fui dueño de virtudes como la paciencia.
Y sin embargo quiero significar cuánto más te puedo dar...
Te dé mis soles, te dé mis lunas.
Te dé mis penas, mis alegrías.
Te dé hasta todo lo que no tenía...
No me abandones hoy, mi vida.
No me abandones, todavía.
Yo no te hubiera abandonado por lo mismo
que tú me vas a abandonar...
Te dé mis sueños, mis pesadillas.
Te dé hasta todo lo que no tenía...
No me abandones hoy, mi vida.
No me abandones, alegría.
No me abandones, esperanza.
No me abandones, todavía...
Yo no te hubiera abandonado por lo mismo
que tú me vas a abandonar...
Dame otra chance, con un poquito de romance
y una buena performance, para que te canse....
Pero no te asustes, es pa' que te guste,
para que te encante, no pa' que te espante!
No me abandones... (repeats).
The lyrics of "No Me Abandones" by Kevin Johansen + The Nada speak to the singer's admission of past faults and mistakes, including being unfaithful, cruel, and reckless. Despite this, the singer expresses a deep desire to give more to their partner: "Y sin embargo quiero significar cuánto más te puedo dar" ("And yet I want to show how much more I can give you"). The singer promises to give their partner everything they have, including their joys, sorrows, dreams, and nightmares, and pleads with them not to abandon them.
The chorus is particularly poignant, with the singer repeating the plea "No me abandones" ("Don't abandon me"), adding desperate qualifiers like "todavía" ("yet") and "alegría" ("joy"). The singer acknowledges that they wouldn't have abandoned their partner in the same way that they are being abandoned, communicating a sense of betrayal and heartbreak.
Overall, the song conveys a complex mix of guilt, remorse, love, and longing. It highlights the human tendency to make mistakes and hurt others, but also the capacity for growth and redemption. The lyrics suggest that even when we have been deeply flawed, we still have something to offer and a deep need for connection and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Si, fui infiel. Si, fui cruel
I admit that I cheated and I was merciless
Fui pendenciero, inconsciente y tantas otras cosas
I was argumentative, reckless, and so much more
No fui "Om", ni fui "Zen"
I wasn't calm or collected
Nunca fui dueño de virtudes como la paciencia.
I never possessed the virtue of patience.
Y sin embargo quiero significar cuánto más te puedo dar...
Despite my shortcomings, I still want to show you how much I can offer...
Te dé mis soles, te dé mis lunas.
I'll give you my suns, I'll give you my moons.
Te dé mis noches de claras y oscuras.
I'll give you my nights of clarity and darkness.
Te dé mis penas, mis alegrías.
I'll give you my sorrows, my joys.
Te dé hasta todo lo que no tenía...
I'll give you everything I didn't have...
No me abandones hoy, mi vida.
Don't leave me today, my love.
No me abandones, todavía.
Don't leave me yet.
Yo no te hubiera abandonado por lo mismo que tú me vas a abandonar...
I wouldn't have left you for the same reason you're leaving me...
Te dé mis sueños, mis pesadillas.
I'll give you my dreams, my nightmares.
Dame otra chance, con un poquito de romance y una buena performance, para que te canse....
Give me another chance, with a little bit of romance and a good performance, to make you tired...
Pero no te asustes, es pa' que te guste, para que te encante, no pa' que te espante!
But don't be scared, it's so you like it, so you love it, not so you run away!
No me abandones... (repeats).
Don't leave me... (repeats).
Contributed by Carter G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Camilo Salgado B
Esta canción me ha acompañado para enseñar a mis estudiantes, parte de lo que es el duelo y una de sus etapas más representativas.
Gracias por crear estás buenas rolas.
Saludos desde Colombia🇨🇴
Lole_Stereo
Amo ésta canción. Gracias, Kevin! ❤️🙏
Magalí Yamuni
Este tema es masterpiece 💜
Lo que suena, Dios!! 🔥
Lando Vlz
Que belleza de canción! Increible! Cambios de nota, la letra, a masterpiece indeed
Blass Pedraza
Fantástico. La vuelvo a escuchar después de casi 10 años. El gusto el mismo.
Daniel Serrudo
Ideal para dedicarsela a alguien al cual le fallaste
Alejandra Salega
Kevin haciendo un hermoso son... Cómo me sorprende siempre este artista. 😍
Helena Riera
Canción inigualable
Gaston Muñoz
gran tema! gracias por subirlo!
Xeco Rojo
Lo escuché, lo pinché, lo saqué, lo canté, lo olvidé y hoy lo reencontré.