MacColl began her career in the late 1970s UK punk rock scene, singing backing vocals for Drug Addix. Her UK hits included the 1981 single "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis", a cover of Billy Bragg's "A New England" in 1985, a duet with Shane MacGowan of The Pogues on "Fairytale of New York" in 1987, and a cover of The Kinks' song "Days" in 1989. She was probably most recognizable in the United States as the writer of "They Don't Know" a hit in 1979.
After a break from the music industry for much of the 1990s, several trips to Cuba and Brazil restored MacColl's creative muse, and the world music-inspired (particularly Cuban and other Latin American forms) Tropical Brainstorm, often described as her finest work, was released in 2000.
On 18 December 2000, while swimming in a restricted diving area with her family on a holiday in Cozumel, she was killed in a collision with a powerboat while managing to drag her son out of its path. The boat was owned by Mexican supermarket millionaire Guillermo González Nova (owner of Comercial Mexicana), who was on board with several members of his family. A boathand, José Cen Yam, claimed to have been driving the boat and was found guilty of culpable homicide and, under Mexican law, allowed to pay a fine of 1034 pesos (about USD 90) in lieu of a prison sentence of that many days. However, eyewitnesses contradict Cen Yam's claim to have been driving and also González Nova's claim that the boat was travelling at a speed of only one knot. MacColl's family are campaigning for a judicial review into the events surrounding her death, including an application to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The BBC has featured on several of its channels a documentary by Olivia Lichtenstein, entitled Who Killed Kirsty MacColl?
In 2001, a bench was placed by the southern entrance to London's Soho Square as a memorial to her, after a lyric from one of her most poignant songs: "One day I'll be waiting there/ No empty bench inSoho Square.
Alegría
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
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Deeper and deeper into the sweet water
Filling my senses with happiness and joy
Happiness and joy
Alegria
Happiness and joy
The lyrics of Kirsty MacColl's song "Alegria" seem to describe a sense of peace and contentment that the singer finds in their dreams. When the lyrics say "I close my eyes, another dream arrives", it implies that the singer is actively seeking this sense of tranquility, perhaps as a way of escaping the stress and turmoil of their waking life. The phrase "Deeper and deeper into the sweet water" might be a metaphor for the singer's subconscious mind or innermost thoughts, which are experienced as a calming and immersive force. The repetition of "Happiness and joy" reinforces this feeling of emotional bliss.
It's interesting to note that the word "alegria" translates to "joy" in Spanish, which gives the song's title an added layer of meaning. The choice of using a Spanish word in an otherwise English-language song may also reflect MacColl's heritage – she spent time in both England and Mexico as a child, and her mother was a folk singer who incorporated elements of traditional Latin American music into her repertoire. Additionally, the song's melody and instrumentation draw on Latin American rhythms and instrumentation, with prominent use of acoustic guitar, percussion, and brass instruments.
A number of other factors contribute to the song's soothing and uplifting feel. For instance, the tempo is relaxed and unhurried, giving the listener a chance to sink into the music's gentle, flowing rhythm. MacColl's vocal performance is also noteworthy – her voice is clear and expressive, with a hint of wistful longing that adds emotional depth to the lyrics. Finally, the song's lyrics are relatively sparse and simplistic, relying mainly on repetition and simple imagery to create a dreamlike mood.
Line by Line Meaning
I close my eyes, another dream arrives
As I shut my eyes, a new dream comes forth to my mind
Deeper and deeper into the sweet water
I am gradually submerged into the peaceful and pleasant water
Filling my senses with happiness and joy
My senses are completely filled with overwhelming feelings of delight and merriment
Happiness and joy
These are the emotions that dominate my consciousness
The refrain of the song, which reiterates the main theme of the lyrics
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kirsty Mac Coll
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