Mecano
Encyclopedia
Mecano was a Spanish
pop
band whose debut coincided with La Movida Madrileña
(Madrilenian Groove), a sociocultural movement that occurred in Madrid
, Spain
during the 1980s. Although Spanish music critics do not consider the band one of the most representative ensembles of the aforementioned cultural wave, Mecano found commercial success in the '80s and the early '90s, both in its native country and Latin America
, France
, and Italy
with 25 million worldwide sales. Most of the lyrics were written by one of the Cano brothers from a male perspective, and were mainly sung by Ana Torroja
in a melodic, childlike voice while preserving that male perspective; this gave the group its distinctive, playful and sexually ambiguous style.
and José María Cano
, along with singer Ana Torroja
, in Madrid
in 1981. In a period of cultural experimentation in the newly democratic Spain, Mecano achieved its initial popularity with their debut single, Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar ("I Can't Get Up Today"), a song about youth boredom and hangovers. The initial album, named after the band, became a collection of classics that would later represent La Movida Madrileña.
At the same time, Nacho Cano branched out into producing other bands, and both brothers wrote songs for other pop up-stars. Although those secondary acts wouldn't achieve the level of success Mecano gained, they turned out to be new testing grounds for Mecano.
Having achieved another huge hit in 1986 with Me Cuesta Tanto Olvidarte ("It's So Hard to Forget You"), the band reformed its musical approach with the album Entre el cielo y el suelo ("Between heaven and earth"). The new style emphasized more pop over techno. It also facilitated the export of the music to Latin America. This new versatility was evidenced by Hijo de la Luna
("Son of the Moon"). This song was also submitted by the band as a potential Eurovision Song Contest
entry in 1986, however TVE selected the group Cadillac
.
Their follow-up album, Descanso Dominical ("Sunday rest"), produced two of their most popular singles: La Fuerza del Destino (The force of fate) and Mujer Contra Mujer ("Woman against woman"). The latter deals with a lesbian
relationship, seen through the eyes of a friend, who only later realizes what is going on. It was recorded in French
("Une Femme avec une femme
"), English
and Italian
, giving Mecano their first truly global hit.
Aidalai (nonsense word
meaning, "Oh, Dalai (Lama)"), their following album, was published in 1991 and carried the same success of the previous two works. In 1993 the band announced a "temporary split".
The songs La Fuerza del Destino and El 7 de Septiembre ("September 7") were dedicated to Coloma Fernández Armero, who was Nacho Cano's girlfriend for several years. Actress Penélope Cruz
debuted in the video clip for La Fuerza del Destino. She later had a relationship with Nacho Cano for several years.
In 1998 the band released the album "Ana, Jose, Nacho" that mixed new songs with greatest hits. The band separated later that year and all three members went on to have solo careers, though only Ana found success as a singer. In 2005 keyboardist Nacho Cano wrote a musical based on 32 songs of the group, named after their first single: Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar
.
In 2005, the members of Mecano released a double-CD/DVD package commemorating the 25th anniversary of the creation of the pop-group. The new CD/DVD, Mecanografia (Mecano-graphy), includes a compilation of all their singles, never-before released songs, and a DVD
with videos and early concert appearances.
The Cano brothers, are among innovative musicians in the use of technology, Nacho was one of the first Spanish musicians to own a Fairlight keyboard. (The screen can be seen in the back cover of their only live album).
The Cano brothers have said in an interview for a Mexican magazine that they became known in Mexico via a television network (Televisa) rather than the "dying empire" of CBS Records. This TV company made a special show on the "Ya Viene El Sol" record, broadcast only in Mexico.
Jose Maria also commented, he often locked himself in a room with a dictionary and books to write his songs, while Nacho commented he starts with a rhythm machine, the melody and the lyrics in the last place.
In November 2009 the band reunited with a new song being released later that month.
Mecano also recorded many of their songs in Italian, such as: Figlio Della Luna (Hijo De La Luna), Croce Di Lame [Cruz de Navajas ("Cross of Knives")], Un Anno Di Più [Un Año Más ("One More Year (is gone)")], Uno Di Quegli Amanti [Los Amantes ("The Lovers")], Per Lei Contro Di Lei [Mujer Contra Mujer], Il Cinema [El Cine], Vado A Nuova York [No Hay Marcha En Nueva York ("Though Luck in New York")], Fermati A Madrid [Quédate En Madrid ("Stay in Madrid")], Mi Costa Tanto di Scordarti [Me Cuesta Tanto Olvidarte], Responso Positivo [El Fallo Positivo ("Positive Sentence")], Anna e Miguel [Naturaleza Muerta ("Still Life")], Una Rosa e Una Rosa [Una Rosa es Una Rosa ("A Rose is a Rose")], Tu ("You") (Italian version), "Dalai Lama" (Italian version), Il 7 Di Settembre [El 7 De Septiembre] and "La Forza Del Destino" [La Fuerza del Destino].
Mecano recorded some songs in French including: Une Femme Avec Une Femme [Mujer Contra Mujer], Dis-Moi Lune D'Argent [Hijo De La Luna], "Une Histoire À Trois" [El Uno, El Dos, El Tres ("The One, The Two, and The Three")], Nature Morte [Naturaleza Muerta], Le Paradis Artificiel [El Lago Artificial ("The Artificial Lake")], Toi [Tú], "J.C." (French version) and "Le 7 Septembre" [El 7 de Septiembre].
and Celia Cruz
. Also, the unpublished song Lía was sung by Ana Belén
. The Euro-dance-band Loona
covered the song "Hijo de la luna" in 1998 and achieved a major hit with it. Laura Branigan
recorded a version of "Mujer Contra Mujer" on her flop 1993 album Over My Heart
. In 2008, Mexican singer Daniela Romo
included the song on her album, Sueños de Cabaret.
In 2004, Mexican
pop singer Fey
recorded the album La Fuerza Del Destino
, an album consisting of 12 Mecano covers. This album was nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards in 2005. Costa Rica
n Latin grammy winners, Editus covered the song "Hijo De La Luna" in their album Siempre....
Non-Spanish covers include Sarah Brightman
, who covered the songs "Tú", "Hijo de la luna", "Naturaleza Muerta". Mario Frangoulis
covered "Hijo de la luna" and "Naturaleza Muerta." The Belgian-Spanish Belle Perez
did the same. Greek singer Eleni Dimou covered "Hijo de la luna" translating it in Greek ("Πέφτει το φεγγάρι" - "Moon is falling").
The Spanish heavy metal band Stravaganzza
covered the song "Hijo de la luna" in their most recent studio work: an EP called Hijo del Miedo (Son of Fear).
Recently the crossover soprano Geraldine Larrosa covered a French/Spanish version of "Naturaleza Muerta".
In their 2008 album, Tales of Ithiria
, the German
symphonic metal
band Haggard
made a cover for "Hijo de la Luna".
The Finnish
symphonic metal
band Katra
made a cover in finnish of "Hijo de la Luna" as "Kuunpoika" in their 2008 album Beast Within
The Italian
extreme gothic metal band Theatres des Vampires
made a cover of "Hijo de la Luna" in their 2011 album Moonlight Waltz
In 2009, Mexican singer, Gloria Trevi, sang a live cover of the song "Hijo de la Luna" on the Mexican television show, "El Show de los Sueños."
Music of Spain
The Music of Spain has a long history and has played an important part in the development of western music. It has had a particularly strong influence upon Latin American music. The music of Spain is often associated abroad with traditions like flamenco and the classical guitar but Spanish music...
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 whose debut coincided with 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...
(Madrilenian Groove), a sociocultural movement that occurred 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...
, Spain
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...
during the 1980s. Although Spanish music critics do not consider the band one of the most representative ensembles of the aforementioned cultural wave, Mecano found commercial success in the '80s and the early '90s, both in its native country and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
with 25 million worldwide sales. Most of the lyrics were written by one of the Cano brothers from a male perspective, and were mainly sung by 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...
in a melodic, childlike voice while preserving that male perspective; this gave the group its distinctive, playful and sexually ambiguous style.
History
The musical group was started as a synth-pop ensemble (música tecno in Spanish) by brothers NachoNacho 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...
and José María Cano
José María Cano
José María Cano is a Spanish composer, once a member of the Spanish pop group Mecano, and more recently a conceptual artist.-Biography as a musician:...
, along with singer 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...
, 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...
in 1981. In a period of cultural experimentation in the newly democratic Spain, Mecano achieved its initial popularity with their debut single, Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar ("I Can't Get Up Today"), a song about youth boredom and hangovers. The initial album, named after the band, became a collection of classics that would later represent La Movida Madrileña.
At the same time, Nacho Cano branched out into producing other bands, and both brothers wrote songs for other pop up-stars. Although those secondary acts wouldn't achieve the level of success Mecano gained, they turned out to be new testing grounds for Mecano.
Having achieved another huge hit in 1986 with Me Cuesta Tanto Olvidarte ("It's So Hard to Forget You"), the band reformed its musical approach with the album Entre el cielo y el suelo ("Between heaven and earth"). The new style emphasized more pop over techno. It also facilitated the export of the music to Latin America. This new versatility was evidenced by 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...
("Son of the Moon"). This song was also submitted by the band as a potential Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
entry in 1986, however TVE selected the group Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
.
Their follow-up album, Descanso Dominical ("Sunday rest"), produced two of their most popular singles: La Fuerza del Destino (The force of fate) and Mujer Contra Mujer ("Woman against woman"). The latter deals with a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
relationship, seen through the eyes of a friend, who only later realizes what is going on. It was recorded in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
("Une Femme avec une femme
Une Femme avec une femme
"Une Femme avec une femme" is a 1990 single by Spanish pop band Mecano.-Background and writing:This song is on their seventh album, released in 1988, Descanso dominical ....
"), English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, giving Mecano their first truly global hit.
Aidalai (nonsense word
Nonsense word
A nonsense word, unlike a sememe, may have no definition. If it can be pronounced according to a language's phonotactics, it is a logatome. Nonsense words are used in literature for poetic or humorous effect. Proper names of real or fictional entities are sometimes nonsense words.-See...
meaning, "Oh, Dalai (Lama)"), their following album, was published in 1991 and carried the same success of the previous two works. In 1993 the band announced a "temporary split".
The songs La Fuerza del Destino and El 7 de Septiembre ("September 7") were dedicated to Coloma Fernández Armero, who was Nacho Cano's girlfriend for several years. Actress Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz Sánchez is a Spanish actress. Signed by an agent at age 15, she made her acting debut at 16 on television and her feature film debut the following year in Jamón, jamón , to critical acclaim...
debuted in the video clip for La Fuerza del Destino. She later had a relationship with Nacho Cano for several years.
In 1998 the band released the album "Ana, Jose, Nacho" that mixed new songs with greatest hits. The band separated later that year and all three members went on to have solo careers, though only Ana found success as a singer. In 2005 keyboardist Nacho Cano wrote a musical based on 32 songs of the group, named after their first single: Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar
Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar
Hoy no me puedo levantar 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...
.
In 2005, the members of Mecano released a double-CD/DVD package commemorating the 25th anniversary of the creation of the pop-group. The new CD/DVD, Mecanografia (Mecano-graphy), includes a compilation of all their singles, never-before released songs, and a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
with videos and early concert appearances.
The Cano brothers, are among innovative musicians in the use of technology, Nacho was one of the first Spanish musicians to own a Fairlight keyboard. (The screen can be seen in the back cover of their only live album).
The Cano brothers have said in an interview for a Mexican magazine that they became known in Mexico via a television network (Televisa) rather than the "dying empire" of CBS Records. This TV company made a special show on the "Ya Viene El Sol" record, broadcast only in Mexico.
Jose Maria also commented, he often locked himself in a room with a dictionary and books to write his songs, while Nacho commented he starts with a rhythm machine, the melody and the lyrics in the last place.
In November 2009 the band reunited with a new song being released later that month.
Albums
- 1982: MecanoMecano (album)"Mecano" is the debut album recorded by Spanish synthpop band Mecano in 1982. The album is better known in popular slang as the clock album due to the large clock that appears on the cover. The album produced the hits "Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar", "Me Cole En Una Fiesta", "Perdido En Mi Habitacion"...
- 1983: ¿Dónde Está El País De Las Hadas?Donde esta el pais de las hadas?¿Dónde está el país de las hadas? is the second album recorded by Spanish synthpop band Mecano, in 1983. The album was produced by Jorge Álvarez and Mecano...
(Where is fairyland?) - 1984: Ya Viene el SolYa Viene el Sol"Ya Viene el Sol" is the Third album recorded by Spanish synthpop band Mecano, in 1984. The album was the beginning of a more sophisticated and mature band. It included new sounds in the band's music, using the sampler/workstation Fairlight CMI. After this album the band assumed the production of...
(Here comes the sun) - 1985: Mecano: En ConciertoMecano: En Concierto"Mecano:En Concierto", is the Fourth album recorded by Spanish synthpop band Mecano, in 1985. The album is the only live album that the band recorded, and it only included the earlier work of the band. It was recorded in-concert during the band's 1984-85 tour. This would be the last album under CBS...
(Mecano in concert) - 1986: Lo Último de MecanoLo Último de MecanoLo Último de Mecano is an album by pop group Mecano. It was released in 1986. This is not an official album; it was published by CBS Records...
(Mecano's latest) (Un-official album published by CBS RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. Album with 4 unpublished songs in studio: 3 songs from 1982 and 1 song from 1984; and 4 live-songs from the Tour at "Frontón De Segovia" in 1985) - 1986: Greenpeace, Salvemos Al MediterráneoGreenpeace, Salvemos Al Mediterráneo (album)Greenpeace, Salvemos al Mediterráneo is a compilation album by various singers with benefits to the non-governmental organization Greenpeace. It was released in 1986. It was edited only in Spain in LP format...
(Let's Save the Mediterranean Sea) (Unofficial album released by RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
-Ariola. Only 1 song by Mecano: "Canción cortita para antes que nos abandone el mar" (Little Short Song Written Before the Sea Abandons Us) - 00 min. 57 seg.) - 1986: Entre el cielo y el sueloEntre el cielo y el sueloEntre el cielo y el suelo is an album by pop group Mecano. It was released in 1986. This was the album that established them as international artists not just in Spain, but also in the Americas, Germany, France and Italy. It was their first release with Ariola Records...
(Between the sky and the ground) (SpainSpainSpain , 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...
edition, 12 songs) - 1986: Entre el cielo y el sueloEntre el cielo y el sueloEntre el cielo y el suelo is an album by pop group Mecano. It was released in 1986. This was the album that established them as international artists not just in Spain, but also in the Americas, Germany, France and Italy. It was their first release with Ariola Records...
(USA & Latin American edition, 10 songs) - 1986: Entre el cielo y el sueloEntre el cielo y el sueloEntre el cielo y el suelo is an album by pop group Mecano. It was released in 1986. This was the album that established them as international artists not just in Spain, but also in the Americas, Germany, France and Italy. It was their first release with Ariola Records...
(FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
edition, 14 songs) - 1988: Descanso DominicalDescanso DominicalDescanso Dominical is an album by pop group Mecano. It was released in 1988. This was the album that reaffirmed their stardom as worldwide artists. It was their second release with Ariola Records...
(Sunday Off) (Edition in SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, 14 songs) - 1989: Figlio Della Luna (ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
edition, 9 songs in Italian + 1 instrumental) - 1990: Descanso Dominical (French edition, 1 song in French + 11 songs in Spanish)
- 1991: AidalaiAidalaiAidalai is an album by pop group Mecano. It was released in 1991 and produced by the group. Its launch was in the middle of rumors of the separation of the group due to differences between Nacho Cano and José María Cano. It was their third release with Ariola Records...
(Edition in Spanish, 12 songs + 1 instrumental) - 1991: Aidalai (Italy edition, 6 songs in ItalianItalian languageItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
) - 1991: Aidalai (France edition, 7 songs in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
). - 1998: Ana/Jose/NachoAna Jose NachoAna José Nacho is a compilation album by the group Mecano. It was released in 1998, and was produced by the group itself. There are two editions: Spain and France...
(Compilation double-album in Spanish: 6 "new" songs + 1 New Version + 23 old hits) - 1998: Ana/Jose/Nacho (French edition, compilation unique-disc: 3 new songs in French + some of 7 "new" songs in Spanish and old songs in French)
Other releases
- Mecano: Obras Completas - 2005 (collection, published in limited and numbered edition. The CDs inside the box are in digipack format. The box contains 8 original-CDs of their official discographyDiscographyDiscography is the study and listing of the details concerning sound recordings, often by specified artists or within identified musical genres...
in Spanish, yet, it doesn't include albums in Italian or French. The box contains: 6 studio-albums + 1 live-album + 1 "CD Bonus" with previously unpublished songs) - Tripack: Mecano: Grandes Éxitos - 2005 (a pack in the shape of 3-gatefoldGatefoldA gatefold is a type of fold used for advertising around a magazine or section, and for packaging of media such as vinyl records.- LP covers :...
that contains 2 audio-CDs (15 songs each one, singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s and non-singles) + 1 DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
with 20 official videoclips) - Digipack: Mecanografía (La Historia En Imágenes) - 2006 (Luxury digipack with 4 DVDs, it contains presentations of Mecano in Televisión EspañolaTelevisión EspañolaTelevisión Española is the national state-owned public-service television broadcaster in Spain. TVE's activities were previously financed by a combination of advertising revenue and subsidies from the national government, but since it's been supported by subsidies only.TVE belongs to the RTVE...
(TVE) + extra unpublished songs) - Mecano contributed the song "Canción Cortita Para Antes que Nos Abandone el Mar" to the compilation album "Greenpeace, Salvemos al Mediterráneo" (1985).
Foreign language recordings
Mecano recorded some of their songs in English, one of which was published as a single: "The Uninvited Guest", which is the English version of "Me Colé en una Fiesta" ("I crashed a party"). Other songs recorded in English by Mecano are: Hawaii-Bombay and You, but these were never published on official discs.Mecano also recorded many of their songs in Italian, such as: Figlio Della Luna (Hijo De La Luna), Croce Di Lame [Cruz de Navajas ("Cross of Knives")], Un Anno Di Più [Un Año Más ("One More Year (is gone)")], Uno Di Quegli Amanti [Los Amantes ("The Lovers")], Per Lei Contro Di Lei [Mujer Contra Mujer], Il Cinema [El Cine], Vado A Nuova York [No Hay Marcha En Nueva York ("Though Luck in New York")], Fermati A Madrid [Quédate En Madrid ("Stay in Madrid")], Mi Costa Tanto di Scordarti [Me Cuesta Tanto Olvidarte], Responso Positivo [El Fallo Positivo ("Positive Sentence")], Anna e Miguel [Naturaleza Muerta ("Still Life")], Una Rosa e Una Rosa [Una Rosa es Una Rosa ("A Rose is a Rose")], Tu ("You") (Italian version), "Dalai Lama" (Italian version), Il 7 Di Settembre [El 7 De Septiembre] and "La Forza Del Destino" [La Fuerza del Destino].
Mecano recorded some songs in French including: Une Femme Avec Une Femme [Mujer Contra Mujer], Dis-Moi Lune D'Argent [Hijo De La Luna], "Une Histoire À Trois" [El Uno, El Dos, El Tres ("The One, The Two, and The Three")], Nature Morte [Naturaleza Muerta], Le Paradis Artificiel [El Lago Artificial ("The Artificial Lake")], Toi [Tú], "J.C." (French version) and "Le 7 Septembre" [El 7 de Septiembre].
Unpublished Songs
Some unpublished Mecano songs are Me Do Parle Vous Français ("I Do Speak French"), Me he declarado en guerra ("I've Declared Myself At War"), Cristóbal Colón ("Christopher Columbus"), El Caballo de Espartero ("Espartero's Horse"), Solo ("Alone"), Lía, El Pez ("The Fish"), El Romance de la Niña María Luz ("The Romance of the Girl María Luz"), Arlequín ("Harlequin"), Al Alba ("At Dawn"), ¿Qué Haces Tú en el Mundo? ("What Do you Do in the World?") among others.Covers by other artists
Due to the popularity of their songs, Mecano has been covered by other artists in the Spanish-speaking, as well as in the non-Spanish-speaking world. Songs from Entre el cielo y el suelo have been covered by Montserrat CaballéMontserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé is a Spanish operatic soprano. Although she sang a wide variety of roles, she is best known as an exponent of the bel canto repertoire, notably the works of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi....
and Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
. Also, the unpublished song Lía was sung by Ana Belén
Ana Belén
Ana Belén is the artistic name of María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta, a Spanish actress and singer. She was born on 27 May 1951 in Madrid.- Biography :...
. The Euro-dance-band Loona
Loona
Marie-Jose van der Kolk also known by her stage names Loona and Carisma, is a Dutch singer, songwriter and dancer. She is most noted for her collaboration with DJ Sammy, and performing as a duo under the stage name of DJ Sammy feat. Carisma...
covered the song "Hijo de la luna" in 1998 and achieved a major hit with it. Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan
Laura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
recorded a version of "Mujer Contra Mujer" on her flop 1993 album Over My Heart
Over My Heart
Over My Heart, released in 1993, is the seventh and final studio album by singer Laura Branigan.Over My Heart was Branigan's most personal album and saw her again try her hand at producing, alongside successful producer Phil Ramone...
. In 2008, Mexican singer Daniela Romo
Daniela Romo
Daniela Romo is a Mexican singer, actress and TV host. Daniela Romo was born Teresita Presmanes Corona in Mexico City to Teresa Corona. Her parents never married, and Daniela and her sister Patricia were raised by their grandmother...
included the song on her album, Sueños de Cabaret.
In 2004, Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
pop singer Fey
Fey (singer)
Fey is a Latin Grammy Award-nominated Mexican pop artist that became a pop teen idol for her country in the mid 1990s. Her height is 5 ft 2in .-Biography:...
recorded the album La Fuerza Del Destino
La Fuerza Del Destino
La Fuerza del Destino is Fey's fifth studio album, released in December 2004. The album contains twelve tracks the popular Spanish band Mecano made famous in the 80s and early 90s....
, an album consisting of 12 Mecano covers. This album was nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards in 2005. Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n Latin grammy winners, Editus covered the song "Hijo De La Luna" in their album Siempre....
Non-Spanish covers include Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
, who covered the songs "Tú", "Hijo de la luna", "Naturaleza Muerta". Mario Frangoulis
Mario Frangoulis
Mario Frangoulis is a Greek tenor and is best known for his song, "Vincerò, Perderò". He sings in Italian, Spanish, English, French, and Greek; he is fluent in all 5 languages.-Early life:...
covered "Hijo de la luna" and "Naturaleza Muerta." The Belgian-Spanish Belle Perez
Belle Perez
Maribel Pérez , best known by her stage name Belle Perez, is a Flemish musician and songwriter.Born in Neerpelt to Spanish parents as María Isabelle Pérez Cerezo, the Flemish singer was discovered for her musical talents by Patrick Renier at a local talent show in 1997 at the age of 21...
did the same. Greek singer Eleni Dimou covered "Hijo de la luna" translating it in Greek ("Πέφτει το φεγγάρι" - "Moon is falling").
The Spanish heavy metal band Stravaganzza
Stravaganzza
Stravaganzza is a Symphonic metal/Gothic metal band from Madrid, Spain formed in 2004, the band has since released 3 studio albums and one EP. They combines element of extreme metal such as gothic metal, death metal, doom metal and black metal with heavily orchestrated symphonic metal and...
covered the song "Hijo de la luna" in their most recent studio work: an EP called Hijo del Miedo (Son of Fear).
Recently the crossover soprano Geraldine Larrosa covered a French/Spanish version of "Naturaleza Muerta".
In their 2008 album, Tales of Ithiria
Tales of Ithiria
- Reception :Tales of Ithiria received favourable reviews from the critics. The German issue of Metal Hammer noted a perfect arrangement of instruments and vocalists but criticised the short net playtime of music on the album, which consists of frequent narrations between the tracks...
, the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band Haggard
Haggard (band)
Haggard is a German symphonic metal musical group founded in 1991. The group combines classical music and early music with doom metal.-Background:...
made a cover for "Hijo de la Luna".
The Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band Katra
Katra
Katra or Katra Vaishno Devi, as it is popularly known, is a small town in Jammu and Kashmir, India, situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located...
made a cover in finnish of "Hijo de la Luna" as "Kuunpoika" in their 2008 album Beast Within
The Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
extreme gothic metal band Theatres des Vampires
Theatres des Vampires
Theatres des Vampires is an Italian gothic metal band with strong black metal influences, mostly noted for the predominant theme of vampirism within their lyrics.-History and background:In 1994, Alessandro Nunziati form Theatres des Vampires....
made a cover of "Hijo de la Luna" in their 2011 album Moonlight Waltz
Moonlight Waltz
Moonlight Waltz is the ninth studio album by the Italian extreme gothic metal band Theatres des Vampires. A music video for the song "Carmilla" was filmed on August 28 and 29, directed by David Bracci, who worked on most of Dario Argento's films in the past decade, and has also directed the "Lilith...
In 2009, Mexican singer, Gloria Trevi, sang a live cover of the song "Hijo de la Luna" on the Mexican television show, "El Show de los Sueños."
External links
- Zona Mecano Official Site
- Mecanohi Official Site of hi5
- Ana Torroja Official Site of Ana Torroja