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.
Quiero Ser Feliz
Melendi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
despertarme junto a ti,
con las penas y alegrías
que se van por la nariz
la cuesta en café del mar
de aquel puesto de París
que vendía en el talego
fuerza y ganas de vivir
los enterrados en vida
que por 5000 tristezas
tienen sólo 1 alegría
si falla la primitiva
siempre quedará el cupón
es que yo quiero ser feliz
y volaaaar
como volaba Peter Pan
hacía nunca jamás
como vuelan los olores
como voló la abeja maya
como vuelan los rumores
y las balaaaas
que porque no sé
a que huelen las cosas
que no huelen
que porque no sé
el color de las rosas
que tu prefieres
que porque no sé
como hacerte un reino
solo con papel
el recargo de esa peli
que nunca devolví
las montañas de tu cuerpo
retratadas por Dalí
las entradas del concierto
del tick tack de tu reloj
y el dulce sabor del viento
que se escapa de tu voz
la mirada mas profunda
es el mechero que quemo
las palabras de la carta
en que te declaré mi amor
que por escribir con h
cerraste tu corazón y
es que yo quiero ser feliz
y volaaaar
como volaba Peter Pan
hacia nunca jamás
como vuelan los olores
como volo la abeja maya
como vuelan los rumores
y las balaaaas
que porque no sé
a que huelen las cosas
que no huelen
que porque no sé
el color de las rosas
que tu prefieres
que porque no sé
como hacerte un reino
solo con papel
que porque no sé
a que huelen las cosas
que no huelen
que porque no sé
el color de las rosas
que tu prefieres
que porque no sé
como hacerte un reino
solo con papel
no quiero fingir
quiero ser feliz
y si vienes luego
con las vacas flacas
yo te cantaré
pa´ sobrevivir
en cualquier rincon
que quieran oír
a este tu trobador
vengo a pedirte perdon
no quiero fingir
quiero ser feliz
y si vienes luego
con las vacas flacas
yo te cantaré
pa´ sobrevivir
en cualquier rincón
que quieran oír
a este tu trobador
vengo a pedirte perdón
The lyrics of Melendi's song Quiero Ser Feliz, which means "I Want to be Happy," describe the simple and everyday things in life that bring the singer happiness. The song starts by mentioning the sound of a rooster's crow that wakes him up next to his lover, with all their sorrows and joys being released through their nose. He then reflects on a coffee stand in Paris that sold strength and will to live, despite the unfairness of death and people who have only one joy among five thousand sorrows. He contemplates the possibility of winning the lottery, but also knows that he could find happiness in smaller things like a coupon.
In the following verses, he revels in the memories of his lover and the items associated with her, like the mountains and curves of her body captured by Dalí or the sound of her voice's sweetness. He also continues to mention the small things he does not know, such as the smell of unscented things or what color roses his lover prefers. However, he doesn't want to pretend or fake happiness and just wants to sing to survive and make people happy.
The song's central message ultimately emphasizes the idea that happiness lies in the little things and will come if one takes pleasure in the present moment instead of waiting for something better.
Line by Line Meaning
El canto de ese gallo
Waking up to the crow of a rooster
despertarme junto a ti,
Waking up next to you
con las penas y alegrías
With both sorrows and joys
que se van por la nariz
That vanish through the nose
la cuesta en café del mar
The hill in Coffee of the Sea
de aquel puesto de París
From that stand in Paris
que vendía en el talego
That sold in the bag
fuerza y ganas de vivir
Strength and will to live
la injusta pena de muerte
The unjust death penalty
los enterrados en vida
Those buried alive
que por 5000 tristezas
Who, despite 5000 sorrows
tienen sólo 1 alegría
Have only 1 joy
si falla la primitiva
If the lottery fails
siempre quedará el cupón
There will always be the coupon
es que yo quiero ser feliz
I just want to be happy
y volaaaar
And fly
como volaba Peter Pan
Like Peter Pan used to fly
hacía nunca jamás
Towards Neverland
como vuelan los olores
Like how scents fly
como voló la abeja maya
Like how Maya the Bee flew
como vuelan los rumores
Like how rumors fly
y las balaaaas
And the bullets
que porque no sé
Because I don't know
a que huelen las cosas
What things smell like
que no huelen
Things that don't have a scent
el color de las rosas
The color of your favorite roses
que tu prefieres
That you prefer
como hacerte un reino
How to make a kingdom for you
solo con papel
Using only paper
el recargo de esa peli
The late fee for that movie
que nunca devolví
That I never returned
las montañas de tu cuerpo
The mountains of your body
retratadas por Dalí
Portrayed by Dalí
las entradas del concierto
The concert tickets
del tick tack de tu reloj
From the ticking of your clock
y el dulce sabor del viento
And the sweet taste of the wind
que se escapa de tu voz
That escapes from your voice
la mirada mas profunda
The deepest gaze
es el mechero que quemo las palabras de la carta
Is the lighter that burned the words of the letter
en que te declaré mi amor
In which I declared my love for you
que por escribir con h
That for misspelling an h
cerraste tu corazón y
You closed your heart and
es que yo quiero ser feliz
I just want to be happy
no quiero fingir
I don't want to pretend
y si vienes luego con las vacas flacas
And if when you come, times are tough
yo te cantaré pa´ sobrevivir
I'll sing to survive
en cualquier rincon que quieran oír
In any corner where someone wants to listen
a este tu trobador
To this troubadour of yours
vengo a pedirte perdon
I come to ask for your forgiveness
quiero ser feliz
I want to be happy
y si vienes luego con las vacas flacas
And if when you come, times are tough
yo te cantaré pa´ sobrevivir
I'll sing to survive
en cualquier rincón que quieran oír
In any corner where someone wants to listen
a este tu trobador
To this troubadour of yours
vengo a pedirte perdón
I come to ask for your forgiveness
Contributed by Katherine Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.