De Música Ligera (song)
Encyclopedia
"De Música Ligera" is a song and single of the Argentine rock
band Soda Stereo
and was written by the vocalist and guitarist of the band, Gustavo Cerati
. It was part of the fifth album by the band, Canción Animal
, and was included as track number six. It is one of the most famous and symbolic song of the group, whose musical influence has been remarkable in the history of Latin rock for over two decades. This song is considered a hymn of latin rock and of rock in Spanish
.
It was the last song of the legendary "last concert" of Soda Stereo in 1997 (El Último Concierto
), in which the band split. At the end of that song Gustavo Cerati thanked the fans of the band with a phrase that became famous: "Gracias... totales" (Spanish
for: "Thank you... totally!"). This moment is remembered as one of the all-time most exciting in the history of Latin rock.
In the first two verses, Cerati says that "ella durmio" (while she was sleeping) "al calor de las masas" (in the heat of the masses), he awoke "queriendo soñarla" (wanting to dream about her). The expression is beautiful and complex: it expresses a clash of states that are worlds apart (sleep and wakefulness), but also the desire to dream of that which has awoken him, to be reunited with her in his own dream. It also expresses her unconsciousness, lulled by the effect of the masses, faced with his lucidity, he can not help waking up and seeing things as they are. [2]
Then he says that "algún tiempo atrás pensé en escribirle" (Some time ago I thought about writing to her) but mysteriously informs us that he could not overcome "las trampas del amor" (the traps of love). However, the song itself is saying that he could not because of "the traps of love." [2]
Cerati finally tells everyone that he will not send "cenizas de rosas" (ashes of roses), nor he will avoid a secret touch "ni pienso evitar un roce secreto," confirming the duality that awakens "aquel amor de música ligera" (the love of light music).
Regarding the theme and the lyrics, Gustavo Cerati
once said :
The names are in reference to the most used sequence of notes in all rock & pop, inherited from '20s jazz.
This sequence is utilized to teach bass, and has been widely played by hundreds of bands, in different octaves and variations. Examples of it are:
BabyShambles - Fuck Forever
Clan Of Xymox - Michelle
The Offspring - Self Esteem
's parents had, which were named named "Light Classics of all Times"
Like the lyrics, the music is deceptive: simple and complex simultaneously. The whole song is built from the riff and supported by the sequence carried out by the guitar. Four chords (Bm, G, D, A), emphasize the progression from G to D, where the power of the song is concentrated. The complexity of the harmony stems from the fact that the drop from D to G occurs in the middle of each verse and not the beginning or end as the effect could suggest at first glance. And it is exactly this lack of coordination between the singing and harmony which gives rise to the irresistible attraction that has become one of most successful songs in the history of Latin rock.
Cerati has said that:
Charly
remembered that:
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Soda Stereo
Soda Stereo
Soda Stereo were an Argentine rock band who are recognized as one of the most influential and important Latin American and Ibero-American bands of all time...
and was written by the vocalist and guitarist of the band, Gustavo Cerati
Gustavo Cerati
Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark is an Argentine rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He was the frontman, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead songwriter of the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential bands of latin rock music. In the early 90s, with...
. It was part of the fifth album by the band, Canción Animal
Canción Animal
Canción Animal is the seventh album released by the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, released in December, 1990...
, and was included as track number six. It is one of the most famous and symbolic song of the group, whose musical influence has been remarkable in the history of Latin rock for over two decades. This song is considered a hymn of latin rock and of rock in Spanish
Rock en Español
Rock en español is the Spanish-language rock music. While the term is used widely in English, it is used in Spanish mainly to distinguish such music from "Anglo rock." It is a style of rock music that developed in Latin American countries and Latino communities, along with other genres like...
.
It was the last song of the legendary "last concert" of Soda Stereo in 1997 (El Último Concierto
El Último Concierto
El Último Concierto is a live album recorded by Argentine rock band Soda Stereo. The album was released in 1997 as two different albums, El Último Concierto A and El Último Concierto B. The album was recorded on September 20 at the last concert by the band at the River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires...
), in which the band split. At the end of that song Gustavo Cerati thanked the fans of the band with a phrase that became famous: "Gracias... totales" (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , 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...
for: "Thank you... totally!"). This moment is remembered as one of the all-time most exciting in the history of Latin rock.
Lyrics
The lyrics of "De música ligera" are surprisingly short, just seven verses. Their meaning is cryptic and intentionally ambiguous: a love of light music, which Cerati recalls as something finished ("nada más queda" (nothing else remains)), but also as a permanent presence ("nada nos libra" (nothing frees us)).In the first two verses, Cerati says that "ella durmio" (while she was sleeping) "al calor de las masas" (in the heat of the masses), he awoke "queriendo soñarla" (wanting to dream about her). The expression is beautiful and complex: it expresses a clash of states that are worlds apart (sleep and wakefulness), but also the desire to dream of that which has awoken him, to be reunited with her in his own dream. It also expresses her unconsciousness, lulled by the effect of the masses, faced with his lucidity, he can not help waking up and seeing things as they are. [2]
Then he says that "algún tiempo atrás pensé en escribirle" (Some time ago I thought about writing to her) but mysteriously informs us that he could not overcome "las trampas del amor" (the traps of love). However, the song itself is saying that he could not because of "the traps of love." [2]
Cerati finally tells everyone that he will not send "cenizas de rosas" (ashes of roses), nor he will avoid a secret touch "ni pienso evitar un roce secreto," confirming the duality that awakens "aquel amor de música ligera" (the love of light music).
Regarding the theme and the lyrics, Gustavo Cerati
Gustavo Cerati
Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark is an Argentine rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He was the frontman, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead songwriter of the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential bands of latin rock music. In the early 90s, with...
once said :
The names are in reference to the most used sequence of notes in all rock & pop, inherited from '20s jazz.
This sequence is utilized to teach bass, and has been widely played by hundreds of bands, in different octaves and variations. Examples of it are:
BabyShambles - Fuck Forever
Clan Of Xymox - Michelle
The Offspring - Self Esteem
Music
The title and spirit of the song was taken from some albums Gustavo CeratiGustavo Cerati
Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark is an Argentine rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He was the frontman, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead songwriter of the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential bands of latin rock music. In the early 90s, with...
's parents had, which were named named "Light Classics of all Times"
Like the lyrics, the music is deceptive: simple and complex simultaneously. The whole song is built from the riff and supported by the sequence carried out by the guitar. Four chords (Bm, G, D, A), emphasize the progression from G to D, where the power of the song is concentrated. The complexity of the harmony stems from the fact that the drop from D to G occurs in the middle of each verse and not the beginning or end as the effect could suggest at first glance. And it is exactly this lack of coordination between the singing and harmony which gives rise to the irresistible attraction that has become one of most successful songs in the history of Latin rock.
Cerati has said that:
Charly
Charly Alberti
Carlos Alberto Ficicchia Gigliotti , known by his stage name Charly Alberti, is an Argentine rock musician, better recognized as the drummer of the influential argentine rock band Soda Stereo. Because of this, he is considered one of the most important musicians of latin and Spanish rock...
remembered that:
Music Video
The music video was directed by Alfredo Lois and shows the band performing the song. He adopted a colorful and intentionally amateur style with background of flowers and colors that reminds one of "Hippies". See it here.Related Circumstances
- The song was the first release from the album Canción AnimalCanción AnimalCanción Animal is the seventh album released by the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, released in December, 1990...
(Animal Song) and made the group famous in 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...
, thus completing its presence in the Latin world.
- In the farewell concert (1997), De música ligera was the last song. Gustavo Cerati announced it with the following words, «tengo una buena canción para cantar» (I have a good song to sing) and he closed with the now mythical expression, «Gracias Totales» (total thanks).
- In Brazil, the song was covered by the Os Paralamas do Sucesso, with the title De Música Ligeira on the album "9 Luas" (1996), and by the group Capital InicialCapital InicialCapital Inicial is a Brazilian rock band that flourished in the 1980s, saw a resurgence in the late '90s, and extended into the 2000s.-History:...
, with the title À Sua Maneira (version: Dinho Ouro Preto).
Versions
- The version performed in «El Último ConciertoEl Último ConciertoEl Último Concierto is a live album recorded by Argentine rock band Soda Stereo. The album was released in 1997 as two different albums, El Último Concierto A and El Último Concierto B. The album was recorded on September 20 at the last concert by the band at the River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires...
» (The Farewell Concert), on the stage of River PlateClub Atlético River PlateClub Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
, on September 20, 1997, can be considered one of the most emotional moments of the band, and one of the most glorious moments of Latin American Rock. The song, sung as a duet with the audience, immediately expressed the shared feelings between the band and its fans of the pain of farewell. This sentiment reached its climax when Cerati held a long «nada más quedaaaaaa» (nothing else stays). The song ended with an improvisation between the three musicians, and the famous phrase «Gracias Totales» (Total Thanks). Then, with a final and classic G to D progression, the very existence of Soda Stereo itself was ended. See it here.
- It was also performed several times in the concerts of the tour, "Me Verás Volver" (You will see me return) and was even included in the album.