La Oreja de Van Gogh
Encyclopedia
La Oreja de Van Gogh
is a Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated Spanish
pop
band from Donostia-San Sebastian
. The name of the band refers to the famous post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh
who cut off the lobe of his own ear. Their characteristically poetic songs (both lyrics and music) are written mainly by band members Pablo Benegas, Xabi San Martín and Amaia Montero. The themes of their songs typically include love, friendship and relationships. Since their debut, they have sold more than 6 million copies worldwide of their albums.
In November 2007, lead singer Amaia Montero
announced that she would be leaving the group to begin a solo career. Her replacement, Leire Martínez
, was announced in July 2008, along with the band's first single "El Último Vals
" from their album titled A las cinco en el Astoria
which was released on September 2, 2008. Leire was discovered on the Spanish reality show Factor X
.
or Pearl Jam
. They met Amaia Montero
at a friend's party, and after listening to her singing "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Sinéad O'Connor
), Benegas convinced her to join the group. After several meetings in local cafés, they decided on the name that Amaia preferred, "La Oreja de Van Gogh" (Van Gogh's Ear), an allusion to the famous painter's cutting of his own ear.
They won a pop-rock music festival in San Sebastián
under the new name, and after some calls and hard work, in 1998 they recorded their first album Dile al sol
(Tell the Sun). They were successful and rose to fame in 2000 with the publication of El viaje de Copperpot
(Copperpot's Journey, a reference to Chester Copperpot in the movie "The Goonies"). Three years later, they published Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida
(What I Told You While You Were Sleeping) and in 2006, they published Guapa
(Beautiful).
as the new vocalist and the new song "El Último Vals" as the first single of their new album A las cinco en el Astoria
(At Five O'Clock At the Astoria).
Compilations
is a Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band from Donostia-San Sebastian
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
. The name of the band refers to the famous post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
who cut off the lobe of his own ear. Their characteristically poetic songs (both lyrics and music) are written mainly by band members Pablo Benegas, Xabi San Martín and Amaia Montero. The themes of their songs typically include love, friendship and relationships. Since their debut, they have sold more than 6 million copies worldwide of their albums.
In November 2007, lead singer Amaia Montero
Amaia Montero
Amaia Montero Saldías , also known as the original vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh between 1996 and 2007, is a singer/songwriter from Basque Country, Spain. Including her work with the band, Montero has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide.-Background:Amaia Montero is the daughter of José...
announced that she would be leaving the group to begin a solo career. Her replacement, Leire Martínez
Leire Martínez
Leire Martínez Ochoa , is a Spanish Basque singer-songwriter, current lead vocalist of the band La Oreja de Van Gogh after Amaia Montero's departure in 2007....
, was announced in July 2008, along with the band's first single "El Último Vals
El Último Vals
"El último vals" is the first single from the album A las cinco en el Astoria by the Spanish pop/rock group La Oreja de Van Gogh. It is also the first single released after the departure of the former lead singer of the group Amaia Montero and with the new singer Leire Martínez...
" from their album titled A las cinco en el Astoria
A las cinco en el Astoria
A las cinco en el Astoria is the fifth full-leight album released by La Oreja de Van Gogh, their second album to receive a Grammy nomination, and the first with new lead vocalist Leire Martínez. It was released in three editions: CD, CD+T-Shirt, and Digipack...
which was released on September 2, 2008. Leire was discovered on the Spanish reality show Factor X
Factor X (Spain)
Factor X is the Spanish version of the British television music competition The X Factor, created by Simon Cowell. The show, which airs on Cuatro, follows series 2-3 of the British format, with three categories, mentored by one judge each, whom choose the acts to represent the category in the live...
.
Fronted by Amaia Montero
"Los Sin Nombre" (Those Without Name) was the original name of the band when it was formed by the four men of the group while in college : Xabi San Martín, Pablo Benegas, Álvaro Fuentes and Haritz Garde. They recorded covers of songs from bands like U2U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
or Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
. They met Amaia Montero
Amaia Montero
Amaia Montero Saldías , also known as the original vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh between 1996 and 2007, is a singer/songwriter from Basque Country, Spain. Including her work with the band, Montero has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide.-Background:Amaia Montero is the daughter of José...
at a friend's party, and after listening to her singing "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
), Benegas convinced her to join the group. After several meetings in local cafés, they decided on the name that Amaia preferred, "La Oreja de Van Gogh" (Van Gogh's Ear), an allusion to the famous painter's cutting of his own ear.
They won a pop-rock music festival in San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
under the new name, and after some calls and hard work, in 1998 they recorded their first album Dile al sol
Dile Al Sol
Dile al sol is Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh's debut album released by Sony Music Entertainment in May 1998. The album was very successful in Spain, selling more than 800,000 copies there....
(Tell the Sun). They were successful and rose to fame in 2000 with the publication of El viaje de Copperpot
El Viaje De Copperpot
El viaje de Copperpot is Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh's second studio album, issued by Sony Music Entertainment on September 11, 2000. It was the band's first album to feature a bonus track....
(Copperpot's Journey, a reference to Chester Copperpot in the movie "The Goonies"). Three years later, they published Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida
Lo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La Dormida
Lo Que te Conté Mientras te Hacías la Dormida is the third studio album of the Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh issued by Sony Music Entertainment in April 2003. On May 10, 2004, Sony Music issued a special edition of Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida for the French market,...
(What I Told You While You Were Sleeping) and in 2006, they published Guapa
Guapa
Guapa is the fourth studio album released on April 25, 2006, by Spanish Pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh. On December 5, 2006, Más guapa was released exclusively in Spain and Mexico. Two months later, on February 13, 2007, the album was also released in Chile...
(Beautiful).
Fronted by Leire Martínez
In 2007, Amaia Montero left the group and Xabi, Pablo, Álvaro and Haritz held an audition looking for a new vocalist. In July 2008 they presented Leire MartínezLeire Martínez
Leire Martínez Ochoa , is a Spanish Basque singer-songwriter, current lead vocalist of the band La Oreja de Van Gogh after Amaia Montero's departure in 2007....
as the new vocalist and the new song "El Último Vals" as the first single of their new album A las cinco en el Astoria
A las cinco en el Astoria
A las cinco en el Astoria is the fifth full-leight album released by La Oreja de Van Gogh, their second album to receive a Grammy nomination, and the first with new lead vocalist Leire Martínez. It was released in three editions: CD, CD+T-Shirt, and Digipack...
(At Five O'Clock At the Astoria).
Discography
Studio albums- 1998: Dile al solDile Al SolDile al sol is Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh's debut album released by Sony Music Entertainment in May 1998. The album was very successful in Spain, selling more than 800,000 copies there....
- 2000: El viaje de CopperpotEl Viaje De CopperpotEl viaje de Copperpot is Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh's second studio album, issued by Sony Music Entertainment on September 11, 2000. It was the band's first album to feature a bonus track....
- 2003: Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormidaLo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La DormidaLo Que te Conté Mientras te Hacías la Dormida is the third studio album of the Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh issued by Sony Music Entertainment in April 2003. On May 10, 2004, Sony Music issued a special edition of Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida for the French market,...
- 2006: GuapaGuapaGuapa is the fourth studio album released on April 25, 2006, by Spanish Pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh. On December 5, 2006, Más guapa was released exclusively in Spain and Mexico. Two months later, on February 13, 2007, the album was also released in Chile...
/Más GuapaGuapaGuapa is the fourth studio album released on April 25, 2006, by Spanish Pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh. On December 5, 2006, Más guapa was released exclusively in Spain and Mexico. Two months later, on February 13, 2007, the album was also released in Chile... - 2008: A las Cinco en el AstoriaA las cinco en el AstoriaA las cinco en el Astoria is the fifth full-leight album released by La Oreja de Van Gogh, their second album to receive a Grammy nomination, and the first with new lead vocalist Leire Martínez. It was released in three editions: CD, CD+T-Shirt, and Digipack...
- 2009: Nuestra casa a la izquierda del tiempoNuestra casa a la izquierda del tiempoNuestra casa a la izquierda del tiempo is an album released by La Oreja de Van Gogh. It contains new versions of songs released by La Oreja de Van Gogh in all the previous albums, in new versions recorded with Leire Martinez and the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra...
- 2011: Cometas por el cielo
Compilations
- 2003: La Oreja de Van Gogh - Gira 2003
- 2004: París (Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormidaLo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La DormidaLo Que te Conté Mientras te Hacías la Dormida is the third studio album of the Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh issued by Sony Music Entertainment in April 2003. On May 10, 2004, Sony Music issued a special edition of Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida for the French market,...
French edition) - 2006: LOVG 1996-2006
- 2008: LOVG - Grandes éxitos
Filmography
- 1999: Dile al solDile Al SolDile al sol is Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh's debut album released by Sony Music Entertainment in May 1998. The album was very successful in Spain, selling more than 800,000 copies there....
- VHS - 2002: El viaje de CopperpotEl Viaje De CopperpotEl viaje de Copperpot is Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh's second studio album, issued by Sony Music Entertainment on September 11, 2000. It was the band's first album to feature a bonus track....
- VHS & DVD - 2003: Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormidaLo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La DormidaLo Que te Conté Mientras te Hacías la Dormida is the third studio album of the Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh issued by Sony Music Entertainment in April 2003. On May 10, 2004, Sony Music issued a special edition of Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida for the French market,...
, Gira 2003 CD+DVD - 2010: Un viaje por el Mar Muerto, their first full-length feature film, which was filmed in Israel in collaboration with other artists. Included as a bonus disc in the special edition of Nuestra casa a la izquierda del tiempoNuestra casa a la izquierda del tiempoNuestra casa a la izquierda del tiempo is an album released by La Oreja de Van Gogh. It contains new versions of songs released by La Oreja de Van Gogh in all the previous albums, in new versions recorded with Leire Martinez and the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra...
.
Tours
- 1999-2000: Dile al Sol Tour
- 2001-2002: El Viaje de Copperpot Tour
- 2003: Gira Movistar Activa
- 2003-2005: Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida Tour
- 2006-2007: Guapa Seat Tour
- 2007: Gira LKXA
- 2009: A las cinco en el Astoria Tour
- 2009: Juntos e Inolvidable Tour
- 2009 - 2010: Nuestra casa a la izquierda del tiempo
Songs for other artists
- "Ni Una Sola PalabraNi Una Sola Palabra"Ni Una Sola Palabra" is the first official single released from Paulina Rubio's Spanish language album Ananda. It is Paulina's third American pop hit, entering at #98 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.-The song:...
" - Paulina RubioPaulina RubioPaulina Susana Rubio Rue is a Mexican singer and actress. Rubio achieved international stardom with her fifth studio album, Paulina... - "Amores DormidosAmores Dormidos"Amores Dormidos" was the second single from Edurne's debut album Edurne. It was released in Spain only, and it was written by La Oreja de Van Gogh. The song was the original soundtrack for a Herbal Essences shampoo advert in Spain, where Edurne appeared in.This song is also found on the album Más...
" - EdurneEdurneEdurne García Almagro better known as Edurne is a Spanish pop singer. She came sixth in the fourth edition of the Spanish television series Operación Triunfo in 2005.She is the girlfriend of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.-Discography:... - "Qué Va A Ser" - Fran Perea
- "Adelante" (BBVA theme song) - Naiara