Joan Manuel Serrat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Manuel Serrat
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| Birth name | Joan Manuel Serrat Teresa |
| Born | 27 December 1943 Barcelona, Spain |
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| Years active | 1965–2022 |
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| Associated acts | Joaquín Sabina |
Joan Manuel Serrat Teresa (born 27 December 1943) is a famous Spanish musician, singer, and composer. He is known for his important role in modern popular music. Serrat sings in both Spanish and Catalan.
His songs often include ideas from famous poets like Mario Benedetti and Federico García Lorca. He also helped start a music style in Catalan called "Nova Cançó" (New Song). People sometimes call him "El noi del Poble-sec" or "El Nano."
Contents
About Joan Manuel Serrat
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Joan Manuel Serrat Teresa was born on 27 December 1943. He grew up in the Poble-sec neighborhood of Barcelona, Spain. His family was a working-class family. His father, Josep Serrat, was a Catalan anarchist, and his mother, Ángeles Teresa, was a housewife. His childhood in Barcelona greatly influenced his music. Many of his songs describe life in Catalonia after the Spanish Civil War.
Serrat started playing music at age 17 when he got his first guitar. He even wrote a song about it called "Una guitarra." In the early 1960s, he played in a pop band with friends. They mostly sang The Beatles songs and Italian pop songs translated into Spanish.
Starting His Career
In 1965, Serrat got a record deal after singing on a radio show. He joined a group called Els Setze Jutges. This group worked to protect the Catalan language during the time of the Spanish State. That same year, he released his first music record, an EP called Una guitarra. It included four songs.
In 1966, his second EP, Ara que tinc vint anys, came out. His first full album, also called Ara que tinc vint anys, was released in 1967. Serrat's first big live show was in 1967 at the Palau de la Música Catalana. This concert made him a very important artist in the Nova cançó movement.
Eurovision and Exile
In 1968, Televisión Española (TVE) chose Serrat to sing "La, la, la" for the Eurovision Song Contest. However, Serrat wanted to sing the song in Catalan, his native language. The TV station did not agree. This was a big conflict because of the strict language rules in Spain at that time. Serrat was replaced by another singer, Massiel, who sang the song in Spanish and won the contest.
In 1969, Serrat's first son was born, and he went on his first tour to South America. He released an album with songs based on poems by Antonio Machado. This album made him famous across Spain and Latin America. Even though he was famous, some Catalan groups criticized him for singing in Spanish. Serrat once said, "I sing better in the language they forbid me." In 1970, he won the Rio de Janeiro song festival with his song "Penélope."
His album Mediterráneo, released in 1971, made him famous worldwide. In late 1974, Serrat had to leave Spain and live in Mexico. This happened because he spoke out against the death penalty in Francoist Spain. He could only return to Spain after Francisco Franco died in November 1975. In 1976, Serrat performed in the United States for the first time, with shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
Later Career and Health
In January 1995, the Spanish government gave Serrat a medal for his contributions to Hispanic culture. That same year, a tribute album called Serrat, eres único was released. Many artists, including Joaquín Sabina, sang his songs. He also toured Latin America with his "Nadie es Perfecto" tour.
In 2000, the Spanish Association of Authors and Editors gave him one of their "Medals of the Century." In October 2004, Serrat shared that he was being treated for bladder cancer. He had to cancel a tour to have surgery. He recovered well and went on tour again in 2005. His famous song "Mediterráneo" was chosen as the most important Spanish song of the 20th century.
In 2006, Serrat released Mô, his first album completely in Catalan in 17 years. The album's title refers to Mahón, a city in Menorca, where he likes to relax. In 2017 and 2018, he went on a tour called "Mediterraneo da Capo." This tour celebrated the 47th anniversary of his famous "Mediterraneo" album.
Serrat is also a part owner of the Mas Perinet winery. This winery makes wines in the Priorat region of Spain.
His Impact on Music
Many artists have honored Joan Manuel Serrat through their songs. For example, Manuel Alejandro wrote "Ahí te mando mi guitarra, Juan Manuel" when Serrat was in exile. Another song, "Mi primo el Nano," was written by his friend Joaquín Sabina.
Other artists have mentioned Serrat or his songs in their own music. These include Alberto Cortez, Juan Carlos Baglietto, and Ricardo Arjona. Some songs have also been written as a friendly criticism or a humorous take on his work.
Political Views and Beliefs
In 1974, while in Mexico, an arrest warrant was issued for Serrat in Spain. This happened because he spoke out against the death penalty and the harsh rules of Francisco Franco's dictatorship. Serrat lived in exile until Franco died in 1975. He then returned to Spain when the country became a democracy again.
Serrat has also shared his views on the independence movement of Catalonia. He has criticized the idea of Catalonia becoming separate from Spain. He also criticized the actions of both the Catalan and Spanish governments. Serrat believes that some political actions were used to distract from problems like financial corruption. Because of his views, some people who support Catalan independence have called for boycotts against him.
Selected Albums
- 1967: Ara que tinc Vint Anys
- 1968: Cançons Tradicionals
- 1969: Com ho fa el Vent
- 1969: La Paloma
- 1969: Dedicado a Antonio Machado, poeta
- 1970: Serrat IV
- 1971: Mediterráneo
- 1972: Vagabundear
- 1972: Miguel Hernández
- 1973: Per al meu Amic
- 1974: Canción Infantil
- 1975: ...Para Piel de Manzana
- 1976: Retratos
- 1977: Res no és Mesquí
- 1978: 1978
- 1979: Mi Niñez
- 1980: Tal com Raja
- 1981: En Tránsito
- 1983: Cada Loco con su Tema
- 1984: Fa Vint Anys que tinc Vint Anys
- 1984: En Directo
- 1985: El Sur También Existe
- 1986: Sinceramente Teu
- 1987: Bienaventurados
- 1989: Material Sensible
- 1992: Utopía
- 1994: Nadie es Perfecto
- 1996: Banda Sonora d'un Temps d'un País
- 1996: El Gusto Es Nuestro
- 1998: Sombras de la China
- 2000: Cansiones (Tarrés)
- 2002: Versos en la Boca
- 2003: Serrat Sinfónico
- 2006: Mô
- 2007: Dos Pájaros de un Tiro
- 2010: Hijo de la Luz y de la Sombra
- 2012: La orquesta del Titanic
- 2012: Serrat & Sabina En El Luna Park
- 2015: En Bellas Artes
Awards and Recognitions
Joan Manuel Serrat has received many awards for his music and career:
- Fotogramas de Plata for best musical activity (1970 and 1972)
- Premios Ondas special award for his career in Spanish popular music (1995)
- Doctor honoris causa (honorary doctorate) from several universities, including:
- National University of Comahue (Argentina) in 1999
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 2006
- Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona in 2011
- Gold Medal of the city of Barcelona (2006)
- His song "Mediterráneo" was chosen as the best Spanish song of the 20th century by Rolling Stone magazine (2006).
- Spanish Gold Medal of Merit in Labour for his entire career (2006)
- Premio Nacional de Músicas Actuales award (2010)
- Order of the Aztec Eagle from the government of Mexico (2010)
- Latin Grammy as 2014 Person of the Year (2014)
- Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts.
See also
In Spanish: Joan Manuel Serrat para niños
- List of best-selling Latin music artists
