Joan Manuel Serrat moves the public from Quito with his ‘singing vice’ | Culture | Entertainment

A shimmer of purple, orange and blue lights, the flawless execution of piano, violin, double bass, saxophone and percussion, and an epic chorus that repeated “Give it, give it, give it”, was the starting signal for the nostalgic and emotional concert of the Spanish Joan Manuel Serrat, this Saturday, in Quito.

The applause and joy of the public overflowed when the figure of the singer-songwriter appeared, with gray hair and deep eyes, dressed in a blue jacket and jeans. After the first melody, Serrat dedicated his emotional words to the attendees: “Thank you for being here, thank you for joining me”… The 79-year-old Catalan singer mentioned that this would be his farewell concert, but that he preferred to think of it as a party.

Joan Manuel Serrat began a concert tour called The vice of singing 1965-2022, around the world, which began in New York last April and will end in Barcelona, ​​Spain next December. These days he is on his tour of Latin America. That is why he commented that he still has a few concerts left before he retires “from this wonderful job that life has given me”.

In this heartfelt presentation of great connection with his audience, Serrat made a journey through the iconic themes of his entire artistic career: My childhood, El carrousel del Furo, Lucía, Señora, Something personal, accompanying his presentation with beautiful animations that were shown on the giant screens arranged in the Rumiñahui Coliseum.

The singer recalled the poetry of Miguel Machado, singing Onion Lullabies, poem that was written from prison by Machado when his wife had told him that they had nothing to eat, and that they made do with bread and onions. During the presentation of this poem set to music by Alberto Cortez, a particularly moving moment was experienced. He followed up with for freedom and other songs like Penelope Y Today could be a great day.

There was also time to reflect on where the world is going and he regretted that his song stop (Father in Catalan) that talks about the destruction of nature and pollution continues after several decades of being written. Mediterranean, Those little things, Y songs They were the songs that already announced that, as Serrat warned, “everything that begins must end, and that the ideal is to finish well”. People chanted the latter at the top of their lungs. The verse “Blow by blow, verse by verse” resounded in the Rumiñahui. The audience applauded standing up and Serrat and his musicians raised their hands in gratitude.

But the singer-songwriter still gave the public a few more minutes with part of his musical work made up of “lyrics that sing or music that speaks”. There was space to remember the children with Those crazy little guys. He also dedicated to his audience Paper boat. Your name tastes like weed to me Y Party.

The public was satisfied. David Armijos, who attended the meeting, considered that it was a spectacular and historic concert. “It is the farewell of a genius. The concert has been incredible, the songs were very heartfelt, an emotional concert that we have enjoyed”, he said.

Susana Aragón considered that these songs shared by Serrat are true poems that have been followed by her since the beginning of her career: “We are from the same era,” she said. “This is tenderness, this is love,” she assured, moved. Jetty Sandoval described the experience as very exciting and a privilege to have been able to listen to such good music and such excellent musicians.

Margarita Lasso, an artist from Quito, also said she was moved to have been able to share music and poetry “that have been part of the narrative of our lives”.

The event, organized by Top Shows, started at 20:00 with the presentation of the Ecuadorian guitarist Hugh Noriega, who performed Spanish music.