Jorge Drexler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jorge Drexler
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Drexler at the 32nd Goya Awards in 2018
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Jorge Abner Drexler Prada
September 21, 1964 Montevideo, Uruguay
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| Years active | 1996-present |
| Partner(s) | Leonor Watling |
Jorge Drexler (born September 21, 1964) is a famous musician and actor from Uruguay. He is known for his unique songs that mix different styles of music.
In 2004, Jorge Drexler made history. He became the first person from Uruguay to win an Academy Award. He won it for writing the song "Al Otro Lado del Río" from the movie The Motorcycle Diaries.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Jorge Drexler was born in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay. His father was a German Jew who had to leave Berlin in 1939. He fled with his family to Bolivia to escape danger. Jorge's mother is Christian, with family roots in Spain, France, and Portugal. Jorge was raised Jewish, but he doesn't follow any specific religion now.
Like many people in his family, Jorge first studied medicine. He became a doctor who specialized in ears, noses, and throats. This type of doctor is called an otorhinolaryngologist.
Even though he studied medicine, Jorge loved music from a young age. He started playing the piano when he was five years old. Later, he took classes for guitar and composing music. While in medical school, he even took a break to hitchhike through Brazil. He also recorded two music albums, but they were only released in Uruguay.
Drexler's Music Career
In 1995, a famous Spanish songwriter named Joaquín Sabina invited Jorge to Madrid, Spain. There, Jorge met other important Spanish singers. He moved to Spain and recorded his album Vaivén in 1996. This album had some of his older songs mixed with new ones.
After Vaivén, he released four more albums: Llueve (1997), Frontera (1999), Sea (2001), and Eco (2004). In 2001, he helped write two songs for the Spanish singer Rosario Flores.
Winning an Academy Award
Jorge Drexler's song "Al Otro Lado del Río" was featured in the popular movie The Motorcycle Diaries. Even though Jorge sang the song on the movie's soundtrack, he wasn't allowed to perform it at the 2005 Academy Awards. The reason given was that he wasn't "popular enough." Instead, Spanish actor Antonio Banderas and musician Carlos Santana sang it.
When Jorge won the award, he bravely recited two verses of his song on stage. This made him the first Uruguayan to ever win an Academy Award.
Later Albums and Collaborations
After his big win, Jorge released 12 Segundos de Oscuridad (2006). This album included ten new songs and two cover songs. One cover was "High and Dry" by the British band Radiohead. Even though he lives mostly in Spain, he often records his albums in Uruguay with local musicians.
In 2008, he released a live album called Cara B. It had many songs that hadn't been released before. In 2009, Jorge worked with the famous Colombian singer Shakira. He helped with the Spanish versions of her songs like "She Wolf" and "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)".
Recording Amar la Trama
For his album Amar la Trama (2010), Jorge tried something different. He recorded it live in a TV studio in Madrid in just four days. A small audience watched the musicians play. Jorge wanted to avoid the "cold" feeling of a regular recording studio. He described this album as playful and not sad.
Exploring New Sounds
His album Bailar en la Cueva (2014) showed a new side of his music. It focused more on rhythm and dance. Jorge said it was very different from his earlier, more thoughtful albums.
In 2017, he released Salvavidas de Hielo. For this album, Jorge explored the limits of the guitar. He used only the guitar or the human voice for every sound, even for percussion.
Tinta y Tiempo and the Pandemic
Tinta y Tiempo was released in 2022. This album was a challenge for Jorge because of the pandemic. It was hard for him to write songs without being able to share them with others. He sometimes wondered if he could finish the album. As the world slowly reopened, he reconnected with people and completed the album. A main idea in this album is seeing life and love with fresh eyes. This message is strong in his hit song Cinturón Blanco.
Drexler's Musical Style
Jorge Drexler's music is a mix of many styles. He combines traditional Uruguayan music like candombe, murga, milonga, and tango. He also adds bossa nova, pop, jazz, and electronic music. This creates a very unique sound with original arrangements. The words in his songs are also very important. Besides love, his songs often talk about identity, different cultures, and religions.
Personal Life
Jorge Drexler was previously married to singer-songwriter Ana Laan. He is now with Spanish actress and singer Leonor Watling. They have two children together. Leonor Watling is also part of a band called Marlango. His cousin, Alejandra Melfo, is a scientist.
Awards and Recognitions
Besides his Academy Award for Best Original Song, Jorge Drexler has received many other honors. He has been nominated five times for the Grammy Awards. He has also won thirteen Latin Grammy Awards. These include awards for Best Singer-Songwriter Album and Record of the Year.
For his work on Spanish songs for Shakira, he received five ASCAP Latin Awards. In 2010, he won a Goya Award for his song "Que El Soneto Nos Tome Por Sorpresa." This song was for the Spanish film Lope. That same year, he was named Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic for his music.
In November 2018, Drexler won Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Telefonía." He also won Best Singer-Songwriter Album for Salvavidas de Hielo at the Latin Grammys. Overall, Jorge Drexler has won 13 awards from 46 nominations.
Discography
- La Luz Que Sabe Robar (Ayui, 1992)
- Radar (Ayui, 1994)
- Vaivén (Virgin, 1996)
- Llueve (Virgin, 1997)
- Frontera (Virgin, 1999)
- Sea (Virgin, 2001)
- Eco (Warner, 2004)
- 12 Segundos de Oscuridad (Warner, 2006)
- La Edad del Cielo (Warner, 2007)
- Cara B (Warner, 2008)
- Amar la Trama (Warner, 2010)
- Bailar en la Cueva (Warner, 2014)
- Salvavidas de Hielo (Warner, 2017)
- 30 Años (Warner, 2021)
- Tinta y tiempo (Warner, 2022)
See also
In Spanish: Jorge Drexler para niños
