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Transcript

Emmanuel

Hello! Welcome to Estudio Billboard. I'm Leila Cobo, and I want to thank all of you who are here in the studio, and those of you who are tuning in at home. During this hour, we will enjoy excellent music and conversation. I hope you enjoy this unique show. Estudio Billboard starts here!

With more than 25 years of experience and 17 records, he has performed his songs on stages around the world. He is the son of a bullfighter and a Spanish flamenco singer. He was raised in an environment surrounded by artists, sculptors and poets. Naturally, his love of art was born then. He has performed with many different artists, but his undeniable sensitivity and unmistakable style make him unique. He is back on the market with "Retro," a DVD that captures his hit songs during several concerts he performed in Mexico. Let's learn a part of his long career.

At home, art was everywhere. My mother was a singer, and my father was a bullfighter. Everyone at home used to sing, and every boy at home wanted to be a bullfighter. But more than wanting to be a bullfighter, I wanted to study music.

Yo qué sé dónde va, dónde vive, y todo está mal, y siempre es igual. Y yo qué sé, yo no soy detective, la paso fatal. La chica de humo.

"La Chica de Humo" is still a hit...even today. It has always been difficult to change this song because it is very famous... It was made in such a way that it is difficult to change. That is why we made the music using a retro concept. And honestly, we had a lot of fun.

Toda la vida...

I can't sing simple songs. I don't know how to sing them. I don't like singing them. I don't like doing something so easy. I like to give it my all. I keep on singing. I keep on having a normal career. I haven't produced a record for almost three years now. Here, in the United States, many people ask me, "How have you managed to continue singing after so many years?" Well...By taking care of myself.

Stay tuned. We are about to learn some stories about Emmanuel's life and music. We'll be right back.

Detenedla ya, que es una ladrona, detenedla...

[clapping]

He was born on April 16, in Mexico, and was named Jesús Emmanuel Acha Martínez. He is the son of the actress and flamenco singer Conchita Martínez and the matador Raúl Acha "Rovira." When his mother died, he moved to Madrid with his father and four brothers. His dream was to be a bullfighter, but he had an accident during a bullfight. His father advised him that he should dedicate himself to music, because if a bull attacked him again, he would be killed. He was discovered as a singer in 1976, thanks to a singing contest organized by "El Heraldo", in Mexico. In 1980, he met the Spanish composer Manuel Alejandro, and he became well-known in Spain with his album Íntimamente. He is a true icon for Latin music with songs like "Chica de Humo," "Toda la Vida" and "Bella Señora." He is also a very spiritual person who helps take care of the environment through his foundation "Hombre Naturaleza." Let's welcome the singer-songwriter Emmanuel.

[clapping]

Welcome!

Hi, beautiful.

Emmanuel, thanks for coming.

Thanks for having me.

You just got off of a plane.

Yes.

How can you look so put together?

Because it's early.

[laughing]

I'm fine, I'm fine.

When people travel for five hours, they look...

When you have this career, you get used to being like a piece of luggage, right? You get unpacked... you get packed...

After all these years... Do you follow any guidelines... any routines that help you to continue looking so...?

I have always liked to play sports, but that's all. Well...I never did drugs.

And you eat well.

I never smoked or drank... But I do like women.

Good, a good vice.

I believe we all have happiness inside. It doesn't come from outside. It's inside of you. Your ability to be happy depends on how you see life and not on what you drink or put into your body.

There are many similarities between those two lives, right? The life of a bullfighter and the musician's life... Don't you think so?

Yes. The musician's life is more demanding. In the end, the bullfighter has to be strong physically. You are risking your life. I mean... As a singer, I get on stage. I sing, and I give myself to the audience, but I don't risk my life. I give you my life, but I don't risk it.

When you started, your first great love was bullfighting. You wanted to be a bullfighter. In fact, that's what you did initially.

My first love, when I was 13... when I was young...was music.

What is your first memory concerning music? I imagine you have plenty of memories but... Is there anything that you remember specifically? Maybe your mother... singing something? I don't know... Any clear picture in your mind about the moment when you became interested in music?

My grandmother used to sit me on her lap. She used to sing very nicely. She would rock me on her lap while she was doing something, and she would sing to me at the same time.

She would sing flamenco to you.

Yes. But the bull calls to you... In that situation... You see those people as heroes, right? You see them as super heroes. So, I wanted to be like those men. I heard that they go out into the bullring... One of the guys had been attacked by the bull, and the bull had injured his leg. So he tied... He made a tourniquet, and he continued fighting. Those things do happen. Maybe many of you don't know about this, but those things do happen in the world of bullfighting. He made a tourniquet because he was bleeding, and he continued the fight because of his pride... his desire to win... and his craziness altogether. When you are 8 years old, and you hear that, you say, "Wow, Superman is not a bullfighter!"

What did your father say when he learned that you wanted to be a bullfighter?

At my house, everyone went crazy. They said, "No."

They were scared to death.

I don't think any bullfighter wants his son to be a bullfighter.

I guess if you compare being in a bullring... with a bull in front of you that can kill you... going on stage and singing in front of 20,000 people seems pretty easy.

It's not that easy. It's just a different bull that you have in front of you. To be honest... The first time I went on a stage to sing, I wasn't afraid. I felt... I had felt very frightened before...in the bullring. At that moment, when you have your cape... and the guy before you has finished... when it's your turn... there is silence... People are there, but you can't hear them. You can't even hear those who are right next to you. You are thinking, "What is about to come through that door?" So, when a bull that has never been in the ring before, comes out... That is something else, ok? When I was on stage for the first time, I wasn't scared, but I did feel nervous.

When you are singing, you are very animated. Every time your name is mentioned, people imitate movements that are typical of you. Could that be something that you transferred from the bullring to the stage? Have you ever considered that?

It could be. It could be. I used to exercise a lot. You train a lot... just like boxers. You imitate a shadow with a crutch. You imagine the animal... I used to like rock music, but I also liked romantic music, right? So, you move your feet and dance. Even a romantic song from a hard rock band or from a heavy metal band is more important than a rhythmical song from the same band. Everyone falls in love. Everyone has to say, "I love you." And you say it, "I love you." Everyone does. Every human being has a very personal side... Every artist and every musician does. They write about it, and those songs become hits, ok? So, I started singing romantic songs. But inside of me... because of my musical background as a kid, there was something about the movements, and I couldn't force myself to make them. I couldn't sing and move at the same time. I started changing my songs... adding more rhythm to them. A need for body language started to come out. Many people tell me, "That's dancing." I don't know if it is dancing or not, but I do know it is body language that comes out of me at that second. It has to do with what I am feeling, and what my body is asking me to do.

When we come back from the break, I want to talk some more about how you went from bullfighting to music. You are also telling me about your need for romance and your need to move. Can you sing a song for us that blends those two aspects of your personality?

It's difficult to sing one that blends those two areas, but it would be "Detenedla Ya." There are three different elements in that song. The song changes, and it has a very special energy. It starts very softly, but then it explodes and brings out many things in your body.

Tell us about the story behind "Detenedla Ya."

That story is cool. Manuel Alejandro wrote it. We were finishing recording the album called Pobre Diablo. He called me and played a song in a bolero style. He told me, "This song is not for you." I told him, "Why are you playing it?" He said he wanted my opinion. He was going to give it to an artist. I won't say who...

Tell us!

No, he will hate me if I do. So, he started to sing it as a bolero. It was something like this:

Detenedla ya...

That is how he sang the song.

Que es una ladrona, detenedla.

I started listening to the lyrics, and I heard the three changes in the song. I said, "Wow! That is a great song, especially because of what the lyrics talk about!" I discovered the melody later because that's how he sang it. I told him, "Listen, don't give it to anyone." He replied it was a very mature song for me. I said, "No. Let's make it seem younger. Let's turn it back 15 years. Let's take 20 years off of it. Let's change it!" And it was wonderful. It was a hit.

You know what? We have a wonderful piano player here.

Is he going to sing?

He can sing, too, I think, but I told him that we would have a wonderful singer here.

Yo tenía mi vida llena, había dicho en cualquier rincón, siempre estaba mi alma abierta, por si ella pedía amor. Yo tenía mis manos llenas y vacías me las dejó, que la busquen por donde sea y me dé lo que se llevó. Detenedla ya, que es una ladrona, detenedla ya. Detenedla ya, que es una ladrona, detenedla, que se ha robado el sueño de mis ojos y me ha dejado noches que no acaban, que se ha llevado de mi vida todo por no dejar, no me ha dejado nada. Detenedla ya, que es una ladrona, detenedla ya.

Good!

[clapping]

You almost stood up and made some of your movements! You were about to do that! Ha, ha, ha. Very beautiful. That's what music does.

I think music creates something in the audience, and something completely different in the one who is playing it. I am very excited right now, you know?

So are we.

I am carried away by what is going on.

Well, now...

...there are some differences there.

...I want to talk about this later... after we return from the break because I like that topic. Stay tuned. We'll be back with the musical magic of Emmanuel.

[clapping]

It is a social song that deals with many things... the fifth moon is a woman playing pool who bleeds from her ear. She is not young or old. She is playing. She is society. She is sick, ok?

[clapping]

We continue with Estudio Billboard and one of the most important artists from Latin music, Emmanuel. You just performed the wonderful song called "Detenedla Ya." I am amazed by the fact that those songs are still around. They are still important 10, 15, or 20 years later. Why?

They have to have a special appeal. They are still current because of the way that they were composed... the way they were developed... and the way that they are sung. They are still around, but you have to keep them updated. You always have to bring things back to today. You can't get stuck in what you have done. You have to move on. You are on a train... Life continues. If you don't get on that train, it is going to leave you behind. But, you have to get on. I believe it mainly has a special appeal and the essence stays.

So, first you need to have a song, and later you need someone who wants to perform it again. According to what you are saying, you choose your songs very carefully. How do you pick them?

I like to sing songs like the one I just sang. I wish they were all like that.

All of the ones you sing are like that.

Not all of them. Some are rhythmical songs that don't have that kind of appeal, but you still have to make them. During a show, I can't give you sugar all of the time. It becomes like molasses. It is too much sugar, too sweet. I can sing a romantic song, but afterwards I have to sing something that has some rhythm and a message. "La Última Luna" is that kind of a song.

Yes.

La cuarta luna... tururún turún... era una cuerda de prisioneros, tururún turún... A rope of prisoners. ...que caminando seguían los railes de un tren viejo...

It's society, it's humanity, that old train.

Tenía los pies ensangrentados y las manos... y las manos... y las manos sin sus guantes. Pero no te alarmes, el cielo está sereno, y no hay bastantes prisioneros.

So, many of those who are inside, should be outside, and many of the ones who are outside, should be inside? It is a song that deals with many things... the fifth moon is a woman playing pool who bleeds from her ear. She is not young or old. She is playing. She is society. She is sick, ok?

Yes.

She is not young or old. We don't know how long she is going to last... how long...I mean... That is society...the last moon. When gypsies leave, they have things in their bags. They put their money here, and they leave running. Some of them took their dog and their children. The others left running. The song is great. Well...I get excited on stage, and I feel very enthusiastic. It changes me and makes me be different.

What's different...?

"La Chica de Humo" is great.

Yes. It's great. Do you notice a difference in today's market when compared to before? Is it easier because of the media? Or is it more difficult because of a thousand different reasons?

I believe it is more difficult today. Regarding the media, I believe what is going on is more difficult. It was also difficult before. I remember many people who were good singers. When asked, "Why don't you record an album?" They would answer, "No, I wouldn't dare do that." They used to compare themselves to other singers and say, "That guy knows how to sing..."

There were no Pro Tools back then.

"...I like singing, but he can do it better." They didn't dare sing. Those people were real singers. That's why it was harder to become a singer. Critics were very harsh. The singers were very good singers. That has changed. Everything has changed. It is good that things change. But the guys who are starting out today face big challenges. How can they become established in the market? There are hundreds of singers... hundreds of channels... hundreds of options and possibilities.

Well... Maybe there should be a real devotion to art and not just to fame.

Yes. There are people like that. Art lovers will always exist. I think the first musical or artistic expression happened when there were people in trees playing tucu, tucu, pum, pum, ta, ta, tun... They had to dance to release something inside of them. They danced for the moon and the sun. That was an expression of their spirit.

They used to dance "Chica de Humo."

It was an expression of their spirit, that was already in them. The thing is... It is more confusing today to know what is real art and what is not.

Has there been a Latin American market that was difficult for you to get into?

Maybe Argentina.

Those Argentineans...

But not because it was difficult... Not because the country was difficult... but because we didn't go there very often. For example, we would go to Viña del Mar... They would call you... you would go and start promoting there. I used to go to Viña del Mar, but I didn't go to Argentina to promote. I think that was the hardest market. But in the end, it was great because the Argentinean audience really gives their hearts to you, and it is forever. They are not an audience that abandons you. You are there with them, and they are with you.

And they stay forever. I am being told the audience has questions. Is that right?

Hi, Emmanuel. What has been the most meaningful moment for you?

I believe there are many meaningful moments. I think your first dream is to record a song. Once you have recorded your first album, it is released on the market and will be played on the radio. That means something. And then, you might be told that the song didn't work. That also means something. Then you are told that the next song didn't do well... that your record wasn't sold. They tell you, "Why don't you write and dress differently?" I was told that, ok? Of course, the day I was chosen... the day I was told I was going to be the voice for "El Heraldo"... that was a great moment. That was really cool. I remember that I went on stage, and I closed my eyes like I always do. I sang with my eyes closed previously on this show. It is like making love. We can't make love with all the lights on, and the family clapping and saying, "Bravo, Great!" You just can't, right? You need it to be half dark. I believe that music has to be heard with the lights dimmed so that the visual sensations don't distract you. I remember I sang like that, and when I finished, I was told, "You never opened your eyes!" What's more, I don't even remember singing. I was singing in front of María Félix, Pedro Vargas, Raphael and another 150 artists at a very important party. I was leaving the bullring, and suddenly I started singing in front of a camera. Now, when we see a camera, you know that many people are going to see us. It is through the camera that we get to a million people watching. What happened in the studio? Was it cool or not so cool? It is important. But more important, is what happened there, and what we showed there. I didn't know that, so I saw someting like a robot. So... I closed my eyes, and I said, "Bye, robot! You are not going to help me with anything." I didn't understand. I closed my eyes, and that was that.

What did you sing?

I sang "En mis Lágrimas Bebí." Well... That was really meaningful, and having sung with Mr. Pedro Vargas, Lola Beltrán...

Do you remember the lyrics? I haven't heard that song. Can you sing two verses?

None of you have heard it.

Y mis lágrimas bebí porque desperté con sed y de tanto que lloré ya nadita podía ver. Con el alma hecha pedazos y tu corazón en flor...

Eh!

[clapping]

And you had Pedro Vargas as your jury.

I sang that song. I used to live on a ranch, and I recorded that song.

Let's see... There's another question.

I think we all want to know when you will be back here on your next tour.

I think that next year we will be around here.

Well... Are you talking about Miami or all of the United States?

All of the United States. Well... not all of the country. We will be on tour in some places. November 26? November 20? November 15?

20.

1900? 2000? 2001? On the 20th, we will release the album that we recorded in the National Auditorium and in the arena in Monterrey. It has the songs you just heard and two new ones. These songs have been updated, ok?

Before taking a break... Are you going to give us some insight about this new record?

What do you want?

I don't know... Tell me the song that is going to be on... Well... They are going to be your greatest hits, right?

Enséñame, enséñame a ser feliz como lo eres tú, a dar amor como me lo das tú, a perdonar como perdonas tú, sin recordar el daño nunca más, nunca más.

Well... I have many...

Oh!

[clapping]

Stay tuned. We'll be back with more about Emmanuel.

[clapping]

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Emmanuel in Estudio Billboard [1] [2]