He realized very quickly that he wasn't made for studying, but he was good at soccer. He played in the lower ranks of Astur CF, at the time a reserve team for Real Oviedo. Afterwards, he worked as a waiter in several bars and spent all night out, living experiences that would later go on to make up the lyrics of his songs. In 2001, he joined a group called "El bosque de Sherwood", and soon after recorded a demo with only three songs, "Sin noticias de Holanda", "El informe del forense", and "Vuelvo a traficar".
In February 2003, Melendi released his first solo disc, called "Sin noticias de Holanda" with twelve songs. In December 2003, this disc was rereleased with two new songs, "Asturias" and "Moratalá". However, he reached true fame with the 2004 Vuelta a España chose his song "Con la luna llena" as its official theme. In May 2004, he started a small tour around Spain, selling 50,000 copies of his CD, making it a Gold Album.
In 2005, he released his second solo CD, "Que el cielo espere sentao", which has sold more than 200,000 copies. Later that same year, he rereleased the album with three new songs, "El Nano", "La dama, and "El vagabundo y Carlota", and a Live concert DVD recorded in Oviedo. He also became a father that year, and received the Onda award for Best Song of the Year for "Caminando por la vida".
In November 2005, he received seven Platinum Discs for his two albums. "Sin noticias..." received four and "Que el cielo..." three.
In 2006, it was announced that he would be one of the main stars in the PSP game "Gangs of London". Melendi played Mr. Big, an evil gangster. He also wrote the song "Gangs of London" for the occasion, going on to film a video amidst police lights and sirens. The videogame was launched on August 1 of that year in the UK and on September 6 in Spain; EMI stepped in to distribute his CDs worldwide.
Melendi in Valladolid.
He also wrote the song "Volveremos" (We Shall Return) for Real Oviedo. The singer is also involved in the production of the film "Vuelvo a traficar: The Film" (I'm Dealing Again).
"Mientras no cueste trabajo" was released on November 13, 2006 in two formats: a normal CD with 12 songs, and a special edition, with 16 songs and a DVD with extras. The disc was rereleased on September 29, 2007 with four new songs, "Firmes", "El rey de la baraja", "La aceituna", and "Me gusta el fútbol".
In 2007, he received the "Best Tour" award from the "Premios de la Música" ceremony held in Cordoba. He also did an advertising campaign for Canal+ Spain entitled "Me gusta el fútbol" (I Like Football), for which he wrote a song of the same name.
In 2007, he stood trial for provoking an incident while under the influence of alcohol on a flight from Madrid to Mexico City that required the pilot to return to Madrid two hours after takeoff[1][2]. He was released after testifying. Soon after, he was given the "Left Foot" award from Spanish radio station Cadena 100 for this incident.
Currently, Melendi directs his Blue Donkey Music company, helping young singers start their careers. He's offered contracts to four groups, Algunos Hombres Buenos, Rasel, La Dama y Belo, and Los Susodichos. This last group was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Rock Vocals. Algunos Hombres Buenos left the label in 2008.
On August 9, 2008 he presented his new single, "Un violinista en tu tejado" from his album Curiosa la cara de tu padre on Spanish radio station Los 40 Principales. The album was released on September 16, 2008. On December 12, Los 40 Principales awarded him their award for this album.
On March 17, 2009 he released a new double CD, Aún más curiosa la cara de tu padre, including the original disc and another with nine new songs and links to exclusive content on his website.
Cuestión de Prioridades
Melendi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
que las baladas, ya no sean para dos
q tus latidos, que antes eran de cualquiera,
ahora solamente suenan por amor
Que el prisionero ya no pose con cadenas
que las melenas no son sólo rock and roll
que una moneda nunca compre un sentimiento
Y que la falda sea tan corta como quieras
que el problema es del que mira y no encuentra explicación.
A mi me preocupan más los niños que mueren de hambre
pero si me apuras me dan más pena sus madres
perdonen sus gobernantes es tan mi ignorancia
no entiendo que en pleno año dos mil
A mil kilometros de aquí
se estan muriendo de hambre
que la metralla se convierta en chocolate
para comerla o fumarla, que mas da
Que mi hijo sea del sexo que sea,
tenga una salud de hierro
y se parezca a su mama
y que la vida no se pierdan las pateras
que los desastres naturales se repartan
Que perro flaco parecen todo son pulgas
nunca he visto un maremoto arrasar quinta avenue
que las ropas esten sucias, o esten rotas
casi nunca están estan reñidas
con tener buen corazón
ESTRIBILLO
Se estan muriendo de hambre!
y no les dams de comer
nos lo gastams todo en tanques pa podernos defender
¿¿De qué?? ¿¿de quién??
de vuestros putos ombligos, mercenarios, arrogantes
que se den por aludidos son los putos asesinos, queee
los estaís matando de hambre...
The lyrics of Melendi's song "Cuestión de Prioridades" highlight the importance of shifting our priorities towards love and empathy for other human beings. The opening lines suggest that words should be slower than bullets and that love songs should not be restricted to just two people. The song then goes on to criticize the greed and materialism that drives people to value money and power over basic human needs. The line "pues si de algo me arrepiento es de haber comprado tu amor" (for if there's anything I regret, it's buying your love) speaks to the idea that love cannot be bought or sold.
The song then takes a political turn, discussing the global issue of hunger and the unfair distribution of resources. Melendi's lyrics call out the lack of action and empathy on behalf of those in power, who spend money on tanks instead of providing food for the starving. He urges people to prioritize the needs of others over their own selfish desires and to challenge and hold accountable those in power who perpetuate injustice.
Overall, "Cuestión de Prioridades" is a powerful critique of the state of society and a call to action for people to prioritize love and empathy over materialism and greed.
Line by Line Meaning
Que las palabras, sean mas lentas que las balas
Words should be used cautiously and thoughtfully, unlike bullets that cause immediate harm.
que las baladas, ya no sean para dos
Romantic songs should not just be about two people, but also about other important aspects of life.
q tus latidos, que antes eran de cualquiera, ahora solamente suenan por amor
Your heartbeats, which were once available to anyone, now beat only for love.
Que el prisionero ya no pose con cadenas
Prisoners should not be chained and restricted in their movements.
que las melenas no son sólo rock and roll
Long hair should not just be associated with rock and roll culture.
que una moneda nunca compre un sentimiento
Money can never buy emotions or true feelings.
pues si de algo m arrepiento es de aber comprao tu amor.
The biggest regret is buying someone's love with money.
Y que la falda sea tan corta como quieras
Women should be free to wear whatever they want, without being blamed for attracting attention.
que el problema es del que mira y no encuentra explicación.
If someone finds fault with someone's clothing, it is their problem, not the person wearing the clothes.
A mi me preocupan más los niños que mueren de hambre
Children dying of hunger is a major concern.
pero si me apuras me dan más pena sus madres
Mothers of hungry children suffer even more, making it a heartbreaking situation.
perdonen sus gobernantes es tan mi ignorancia
Apologies to the rulers, as it could just be the artist's lack of knowledge or understanding.
no entiendo que en pleno año dos mil
In the 21st century, it is hard to understand why hunger is still a major problem.
A mil kilometros de aquí
se estan muriendo de hambre
People are dying from hunger a thousand kilometers away.
que la metralla se convierta en chocolate
para comerla o fumarla, que mas da
The singer wishes that bullets would turn into something harmless, like chocolate, that people can consume or smoke without harm.
Que mi hijo sea del sexo que sea, tenga una salud de hierro
The artist hopes their child is healthy, regardless of their gender.
y se parezca a su mama
The child should take after their mother.
y que la vida no se pierdan las pateras
Immigrants should not lose their lives while trying to cross the sea.
que los desastres naturales se repartan
Natural disasters should be distributed in a fair and just manner.
Que perro flaco parecen todo son pulgas
A skinny dog always seems to be infested with fleas.
nunca he visto un maremoto arrasar quinta avenue
Natural disasters usually do not happen in affluent areas like Fifth Avenue.
que las ropas esten sucias, o esten rotas,
casi nunca están estan reñidas
con tener buen corazón
Being poor and wearing dirty or torn clothes does not mean someone does not have a kind heart.
Se estan muriendo de hambre!
People are dying of hunger!
y no les dams de comer
We are not providing them with food.
nos lo gastams todo en tanques pa podernos defender
We spend all our money on tanks to defend ourselves.
¿¿De qué?? ¿¿de quién??
What and whose are we defending ourselves from?
de vuestros putos ombligos, mercenarios, arrogantes
We are defending ourselves from our own selfishness, mercenary motives, and arrogance.
que se den por aludidos son los putos asesinos, queee
Those who identify with the lyrics are the real killers.
los estaís matando de hambre...
We are killing them with hunger.
Contributed by Mackenzie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.