Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar
Encyclopedia
Hoy no me puedo levantar (English: Today I Can't Get up) is a Spanish musical
, with music and lyrics by Nacho Cano
, former member of the band Mecano
. Based on 32 of the band's greatest hits and named after their first single, the musical centers on a pair of impoverished musicians trying to be part of La Movida Madrileña
, after the fall of Francisco Franco
's dictatorship
. Through an analysis of the 1980s, the musical portrays the condition of these boys trying to survive in Madrid, under the shadow of drugs
and AIDS
. The musical ran for four seasons in Madrid
's Rialto Theatre (former Movistar
Theatre) and for one season in Mexico City
's Centro Cultural Telmex. It was produced by Drive in Spain and OCESA Teatro
in Mexico
.
countries. Although the band split in September 1992, their songs continued to be very popular. This was one of the reasons why Ángel Suarez, after seeing the success Broadway musicals have in Madrid, imagined the first musical completely produced in Spain using songs from Mecano. Together with Nacho Cano and José Manuel Lorenzo, they developed a story, written by David Serrano, around the lyrics that were made popular by the band.
The play is set on Madrid in 1981 and revolves around Mario, a guy from a small town who wants to move to the city following the dream of creating his own band (Hoy no me puedo levantar). He and his best friend, Colate, are prepared to leave their town but Colate's girlfriend, Ana, doesn't want him to leave. After Mario promises that he will take care of Colate, she finally agrees and they set off to Madrid (Quiero vivir en la ciudad). In Madrid, they go to many bars but they are not allowed to play at any. They arrive at El 33, where they finally take job as waiters in order to earn the money that they badly need to survive and buy instruments. They also find out that there will be a band contest and the winner will be able to record an album. Afterwards, they go to another bar to find more members for their band; there they meet Panchi and Guillermo (Hoy no me puedo levantar (reprise)/No hay marcha en Nueva York). Back in El 33, Guillermo tries to create a new look for the band with the help of some gay stylists (Maquillaje) and Mario meets a girl named Maria, falling in love with her; later he confesses his love but she is not interested in him (Por la cara). Guillermo introduces them to Patricia and, thanks to Panchi, they discover drugs and start smoking marijuana (Hawaii-Bombay). Panchi introduces Colate to Churchi, a very popular drug dealer in Madrid, and they start using cocaine
. Ana goes to Madrid to visit Colate but is disappointed when she finds him drugged with many people sleeping in the same room and decides to leave (Quédate en Madrid). Anselmo, the owner of El 33, teaches Mario bulerias
to conquer Maria (Una Rosa es Una Rosa) but she still refuses. Maria tells Patricia about the infidelities of men and propose to become lesbians, later she rectifies saying it was a joke (Mujer contra Mujer). After Panchi interrupts the scene, Maria is troubled because she thinks Mario is just going to hurt her (Lía). Colate spends all the money they have been saving to buy their instruments in drugs, and he tells the band members it was stolen from him. Anselmo decides to pay for the instruments and be the manager of the band, so they change their name from Cielo to Rulé (Me colé en una fiesta). Rulé gets to the final of the contest and they win (No controles). Afterwards the band members celebrate. At the party, Churchi gives Colate a bag with heroin as a gift for his success. Mario and Maria have a fight, but at the end, Maria gives in and they start going out (Medley 1).
Some years have passed and Rulé's album has been a big hit. Colate and Panchi are smoking marihuana in the roof of El 33 and they fantasize about Dalí
and Laika
("Eungenio" Salvador Dalí/Laika). Afterwards, Anselmo, Mario and Guillermo find them in the roof and tell them they are going to produce the theme of a TV show (Aire). Colate goes back to his apartment and has a drug overdose (Perdido en mi habitación). Some months later they all get together in El 33 to celebrate that their single Aire is a number one hit. Maria doesn't stay long because she has to work the next day and leaves, but she forgets her purse. When she returns she finds Mario making out with another girl, she gets mad and leaves. Mario writes a song for her, but Maria is offended by the song and they break up (Cruz de Navajas). Mario goes to find Colate but he is not at his apartment. When he is about to leave, Colate walks in with a bag of heroin in his hand, Mario realises this and tries to convince him to stop using drugs, getting into a fight (Barco a Venus). Mario decides to become a solo artist and leaves the band (El uno, el dos y el tres). Four years after the band won the contest, Maria shows up in El 33 looking for Mario, but he is not there. She and Anselmo talk about Mario's career and are depressed (El 7 de septiembre). When Maria is leaving, Mario walks in and spend the night together (Hijo de la Luna
). On New Year's Eve of 1987, Maria, Anselmo, Colate, Panchi and Guillermo get together to celebrate (Un año mas). Colate is very skinny and weak and leaves the party early. Colate goes to find Mario in his new apartment but Mario refuses to talk to him and throws him out. The audience learns that Colate has AIDS and he wanted to say goodbye to Mario. Colate phones Ana who is now pregnant and married and says goodbye; afterwards Colate hangs himself in his apartment (El fallo positivo). Panchi finds Colate's body and cries. Mario hears the news from Colate and feels very guilty and lonely (Me cuesta tanto olvidarte). Mario goes to the cemetery where he finds all his old friends. After they leave Mario stays behind and Colate's ghost appears to him (No es serio este cementerio); he tells Mario to go back to Madrid and form the band with Anselmo, instead of him, and get Maria back. Mario does this and goes back to El 33 to meet Maria (La fuerza del destino/ Vivimos siempre juntos/ Medley 2).
Act Two
is broken many times stating that the events shown are a musical, showing crew members and interacting with the public (actors come down from the stage and dance, sing and even place wigs and costumes on members of the audience). A large screen in stage shows live images from the public, the actors, the orchestra, along with other pre-recorded videos, which ultimately become important part of the play. Also, in one scene, the characters discuss the plot and their performance in the play.
) sings a short part at the beginning of the song No Controles
; this was made as a reference/parody of the real group Flans
(c.f. Flan) which made popular the song in Mexico. All the pre-recorded videos were reshot to set some scenes of the play in Mexico City. The interaction with the audience is nearly missing, except for Maquillaje, Me colé en una fiesta, and the finale.
Ana Torroja
, Gloria Trevi
, Ha*Ash, Moenia
and Christian Chávez
from RBD
have been special guests to appear in the musical. On May 2007, when the Mexican production turned its first anniversary, the play had the special performances of Nacho Cano and the rock/pop band Motel
. On 15 July 2007 the Mexican production closed for the first season; aftermath the play went on tour through Mexico and Latin America in the modality of Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar, el Concierto (see below).
did, including several persons that have seen the play more than a hundred times. On September 2007, after two years of its opening, it was announced that the musical has been seen by more than 1,500,000 spectators, making this play the most successful original production in Spanish of all times.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, with music and lyrics by Nacho Cano
Nacho Cano
Ignacio Cano Andrés, aka Nacho Cano, is a Spanish arranger, composer, musician and record producer. He studied solfège and was one of the members of the Spanish group Mecano along with his brother José María Cano and Ana Torroja.He has released 4 solo albums, including Vivimos siempre juntos with...
, former member of the band Mecano
Mecano
Mecano was a Spanish pop band whose debut coincided with La Movida Madrileña , a sociocultural movement that occurred in Madrid, Spain during the 1980s...
. Based on 32 of the band's greatest hits and named after their first single, the musical centers on a pair of impoverished musicians trying to be part of La Movida Madrileña
La Movida Madrileña
La Movida Madrileña was a countercultural movement that took place mainly in Madrid during the Spanish transition after Francisco Franco's death in 1975...
, after the fall of Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
. Through an analysis of the 1980s, the musical portrays the condition of these boys trying to survive in Madrid, under the shadow of drugs
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. The musical ran for four seasons in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
's Rialto Theatre (former Movistar
Movistar
Movistar is a major Spanish mobile phone operator owned by Telefónica Móviles. It operates in Spain and in many Latin American countries. It is the largest carrier in Spain with 22 million customers and 41.58% of market share. Its principal competitor in Latin America is America Movil...
Theatre) and for one season in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
's Centro Cultural Telmex. It was produced by Drive in Spain and OCESA Teatro
Ocesa Teatro
OCESA Teatro is a division of Grupo CIE. It is dedicated to produce and promote theater, especially in Mexico City, being the largest producer in Mexico and Latin America.-History:...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
History
In the 1980s Mecano became a very successful and influential band in Spain and many other Spanish speakingHispanophone
Hispanophone or Hispanosphere denotes Spanish language speakers and the Spanish-speaking world. The word derives from the Latin political name of the Iberian Peninsula, Hispania, which comprised basically the territory of the modern states of Spain and Portugal.Hispanophones are estimated at...
countries. Although the band split in September 1992, their songs continued to be very popular. This was one of the reasons why Ángel Suarez, after seeing the success Broadway musicals have in Madrid, imagined the first musical completely produced in Spain using songs from Mecano. Together with Nacho Cano and José Manuel Lorenzo, they developed a story, written by David Serrano, around the lyrics that were made popular by the band.
Act One
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. Ana goes to Madrid to visit Colate but is disappointed when she finds him drugged with many people sleeping in the same room and decides to leave (Quédate en Madrid). Anselmo, the owner of El 33, teaches Mario bulerias
Bulerias
Bulería is a fast flamenco rhythm in 12 beats with emphasis in two general forms as follows:1 2 [3] 4 5 [6] 7 [8] 9 [10] 11 [12]or...
to conquer Maria (Una Rosa es Una Rosa) but she still refuses. Maria tells Patricia about the infidelities of men and propose to become lesbians, later she rectifies saying it was a joke (Mujer contra Mujer). After Panchi interrupts the scene, Maria is troubled because she thinks Mario is just going to hurt her (Lía). Colate spends all the money they have been saving to buy their instruments in drugs, and he tells the band members it was stolen from him. Anselmo decides to pay for the instruments and be the manager of the band, so they change their name from Cielo to Rulé (Me colé en una fiesta). Rulé gets to the final of the contest and they win (No controles). Afterwards the band members celebrate. At the party, Churchi gives Colate a bag with heroin as a gift for his success. Mario and Maria have a fight, but at the end, Maria gives in and they start going out (Medley 1).
Act Two
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
and Laika
Laika
Laika was a Soviet space dog that became the first animal to orbit the Earth – as well as the first animal to die in orbit.As little was known about the impact of spaceflight on living creatures at the time of Laika's mission, and the technology to de-orbit had not yet been developed, there...
("Eungenio" Salvador Dalí/Laika). Afterwards, Anselmo, Mario and Guillermo find them in the roof and tell them they are going to produce the theme of a TV show (Aire). Colate goes back to his apartment and has a drug overdose (Perdido en mi habitación). Some months later they all get together in El 33 to celebrate that their single Aire is a number one hit. Maria doesn't stay long because she has to work the next day and leaves, but she forgets her purse. When she returns she finds Mario making out with another girl, she gets mad and leaves. Mario writes a song for her, but Maria is offended by the song and they break up (Cruz de Navajas). Mario goes to find Colate but he is not at his apartment. When he is about to leave, Colate walks in with a bag of heroin in his hand, Mario realises this and tries to convince him to stop using drugs, getting into a fight (Barco a Venus). Mario decides to become a solo artist and leaves the band (El uno, el dos y el tres). Four years after the band won the contest, Maria shows up in El 33 looking for Mario, but he is not there. She and Anselmo talk about Mario's career and are depressed (El 7 de septiembre). When Maria is leaving, Mario walks in and spend the night together (Hijo de la Luna
Hijo de la Luna
"Hijo de la Luna" is a song written by José María Cano performed originally by the Spanish band Mecano with lead singer Ana Torroja. It appeared on their 1986 album, Entre el cielo y el suelo and had great success all over the Spanish speaking world, as did the album...
). On New Year's Eve of 1987, Maria, Anselmo, Colate, Panchi and Guillermo get together to celebrate (Un año mas). Colate is very skinny and weak and leaves the party early. Colate goes to find Mario in his new apartment but Mario refuses to talk to him and throws him out. The audience learns that Colate has AIDS and he wanted to say goodbye to Mario. Colate phones Ana who is now pregnant and married and says goodbye; afterwards Colate hangs himself in his apartment (El fallo positivo). Panchi finds Colate's body and cries. Mario hears the news from Colate and feels very guilty and lonely (Me cuesta tanto olvidarte). Mario goes to the cemetery where he finds all his old friends. After they leave Mario stays behind and Colate's ghost appears to him (No es serio este cementerio); he tells Mario to go back to Madrid and form the band with Anselmo, instead of him, and get Maria back. Mario does this and goes back to El 33 to meet Maria (La fuerza del destino/ Vivimos siempre juntos/ Medley 2).
Musical Numbers
Act One- Overture
- Hoy no me puedo levantar
- Quiero vivir en la ciudad
- Hoy no me puedo levantar (reprise)
- No hay marcha en Nueva York
- Maquillaje
- Por la cara
- Hawaii-Bombay
- Quédate en Madrid
- Una rosa es una rosa
- Mujer contra mujer
- Lía
- Me colé en una fiesta
- No controles
- Medley 1 (J.C., El amargo del pomelo, Los amantes, No controles, Quédate en Madrid, Tú, Te busqué, Sube Sube, La fuerza del destino)
Act Two
- "Eungenio" Salvador Dalí/Laika
- Aire
- Perdido en mi habitación
- Cruz de Navajas
- Barco a Venus
- El uno, el dos y el tres
- El 7 de septiembre
- Hijo de la Luna
- Un año mas
- El fallo positivo
- Me cuesta tanto olvidarte
- No es serio este cementerio
- La fuerza del destino
- Vivimos siempre juntos
- Medley 2 (Naturaleza muerta, Dalai Lama, Cruz de Navajas, Maquillaje, No es serio este cementerio, Me colé en una fiesta, Vivimos siempre juntos, Hoy no me puedo levantar)
Interaction and Multimedia
The musical is an interactive play where the public is encouraged to dance and sing in all musical pieces, especially in the last medley. The Fourth WallFourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
is broken many times stating that the events shown are a musical, showing crew members and interacting with the public (actors come down from the stage and dance, sing and even place wigs and costumes on members of the audience). A large screen in stage shows live images from the public, the actors, the orchestra, along with other pre-recorded videos, which ultimately become important part of the play. Also, in one scene, the characters discuss the plot and their performance in the play.
En tu Fiesta me Colé
A modified version of the play called En tu Fiesta me Colé ("I Crashed your Party") was showed in Madrid, Spain. This was a condensed version of the musical (an hour and a half) without the sex and drug themes portrayed in the original, created especially to bring whole families to the theater.Mexican production
On 24 May 2006 a Mexican production opened in Mexico City with Nacho Cano involved in the casting and codirection. This production was almost identical to the original and had a few minor changes in order to be suitable for the Mexican audience. The name of Panchi was changed to Chakas and the name of Anselmo was changed to Venancio, and is the only character portrayed as a Spaniard (although the play takes place in Spain); also a group called Las Gelatinas (The GelatinsGelatin dessert
Gelatin desserts are desserts made with sweetened and flavored gelatin. They can be made by combining plain gelatin with other ingredients or by using a premixed blend of gelatin with additives...
) sings a short part at the beginning of the song No Controles
No Controles
No Controles is a song originally written by Nacho Cano, a member of the Spanish band Mecano.The song was first made popular in Spain and Europe in 1983 by the band Olé Olé, with Vicky Larraz on vocals....
; this was made as a reference/parody of the real group Flans
Flans
Flans was an all female Mexican pop music group, which enjoyed popularity from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. Its members were the singers Ivonne Margarita Guevara García, Ilse María Olivo Schweinfurth and Irma Angélica Hernández Ochoa...
(c.f. Flan) which made popular the song in Mexico. All the pre-recorded videos were reshot to set some scenes of the play in Mexico City. The interaction with the audience is nearly missing, except for Maquillaje, Me colé en una fiesta, and the finale.
Ana Torroja
Ana Torroja
Ana Torroja is a Grammy Award-nominated Spaniard singer. She is the lead singer of the pop trio Mecano, considered one of the most popular pop bands from Spain during the 1980s and 1990s. Mecano split in 1998 and she embarked on a solo career.-Biography:Ana Torroja met José María Cano while...
, Gloria Trevi
Gloria Trevi
Gloria Trevi is a Mexican pop-rock singer-songwriter. She was described as the "Supreme Diva of the Mexican Pop" by the music channel VH1 and sold over 20 million records.-Biography:...
, Ha*Ash, Moenia
Moenia
Mœnia is a Mexican electronica/synth pop/ambient/alternative rock group.-History:Although originally consisting only of Juan Carlos Lozano as lead vocalist on 1997's debut album Mœnia and its companion remix album Mœnia Mixes, since the 1999 release of Adición+, Mœnia has consisted of vocalist...
and Christian Chávez
Christian Chávez
For the Argentine footballer, see Cristian Manuel Chávez.Christian Chávez is a singer and actor best known for his role as Giovanni Méndez López in the telenovela Rebelde and its spin off teen band RBD...
from RBD
RBD
RBD was a two-time Latin-Grammy nominated Mexican pop group that gained popularity from Televisa's teen drama series Rebelde. RBD sold over 17 million digital downloads and over 20 million albums worldwide in four years since their formation, according to EMI...
have been special guests to appear in the musical. On May 2007, when the Mexican production turned its first anniversary, the play had the special performances of Nacho Cano and the rock/pop band Motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
. On 15 July 2007 the Mexican production closed for the first season; aftermath the play went on tour through Mexico and Latin America in the modality of Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar, el Concierto (see below).
Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar, el Concierto
After the great success of the Mexican production, OCESA Teatro and Nacho Cano created a new condensed production of Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar, that opened September 20, 2007 in Mexico City. This new version centers entirely in the songs, but not leaving aside the main plot. Four songs were deleted (Maquillaje, Hawaii-Bombay, Lía and "Eungenio" Salvador Dalí/Laika) and a song was added (Ay que pesado). The length is approximately two hours, one hour and a half less than the original musical.Madrid Original Cast
The Madrid Original Cast of Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar was as follows:- Mario: Miquel Fernández
- María: Inmaculada Cuesta
- Colate: Javier Godino
- Guillermo: Andreu Castro
- Panchi: Diego París
- Ana: Fanni Alcázar
- Anselmo: Javier Navares
- Patricia: Graciela Peña
Mexico City Original Cast
The Mexico City Original Cast of Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar was as follows:- Mario: Alan Estrada
- María: Fernanda Castillo
- Colate: Luis Gerardo Méndez
- Guillermo: José Daniel Figueroa
- Chakas: Rogelio Suárez
- Ana: Jannette Chao
- Venancio: Gerardo Gonzalez
- Patricia: Valeria Vera
Reception
The play was a complete success in both Spain and Mexico, having various sell-outs. It has also created a cult-like following among teenagers like RENTRent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
did, including several persons that have seen the play more than a hundred times. On September 2007, after two years of its opening, it was announced that the musical has been seen by more than 1,500,000 spectators, making this play the most successful original production in Spanish of all times.