Joaquín Sabina

Biography

Joaquín Ramón Martínez Sabina (born 12 February 1949) is a Spanish musician, singer, composer, and poet. His songs usually treat love, heartbreaks and society with significant use of literary figures as in the baroque-literature style.
He has released fourteen studio albums, two live albums, and three compilation albums. Some of his best-known songs are "Calle Melancolía" ("Melancholy street"), "19 días y 500 noches×19 días y 500 noches14 September 1999 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Ahora que…6:49219 días y 500 noches4:433Barbi Superestar6:384Una canción para la Magdalena4:145Dieguitos y Mafaldas5:366A mis cuarenta y diez7:107El caso de la rubia platino4:508Donde habita el olvido3:319Nos sobran los motivos4:3310La biblia y el calefón3:0311Pero qué hermosas eran7:2812De purísima y oro4:5113Como te digo una "co" te digo la "o"8:3914Noches de boda4:43" ("19 days and 500 nights"),"¿Quién me ha robado el mes de Abril?" ("Who stole the month of April from me?"), "Pongamos que hablo de Madrid×Pongamos que hablo de Madrid1987 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Pongamos que hablo de Madrid4:092Calle Melancolía4:293Qué demasiao3:314Ring, ring, ring4:105Eh, Sabina3:436Juana la loca5:437Pisa el acelerador3:418Negra noche4:409Pasándolo bien2:4310Círculos viciosos4:01" ("Lets say I'm talking about Madrid"), "Y sin embargo" ("However"), "Contigo×Contigo2020 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks119 dias y 500 noches4:382Aves de paso4:243Caballo de cartón4:424Contigo4:315Dos horas después3:386El caso de la rubia platino4:517Hotel dulce hotel4:228Jimena3:549Mas de cien mentiras6:1310Medias negras4:5211Mentiras piadosas3:3512Pastillas para no soñar3:5913Por el bulevard de los sueños4:1114Princesa3:5715Seis tequilas3:4516Tan joven y tan viejo4:1617Y nos dieron las diez5:0218Y si amanece por fin4:38" ("With you") or "Peces de ciudad" ("City fish")
He performed both solo and with a group for his live albums, performing with Javier Krahe and Alberto Pérez in La mandrágora×La mandrágora1981 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Marieta2:582Un burdo rumor3:363Pongamos que hablo de Madrid3:594Pasándolo bien3:275El cromosoma3:106Un santo varón3:427Mi ovejita lucera6:098Villatripas4:259La tormenta4:4710Adivina, adivinanza5:1611Nos ocupamos del mar3:0612La hoguera4:2013Círculos viciosos5:06, the group Viceversa in a 1986 concert, and with Joan Manuel Serrat in Dos pájaros de un tiro (Two birds with one stone).
Sabina suffered a stroke in 2001 and although he physically recovered, he entered a deep depression which resulted in a four-year-long concert hiatus. He recovered and released his eighteenth album, Alivio de Luto×Alivio de luto2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Pájaros de Portugal3:112Pie de guerra4:423¡Ay! Rocío3:544Contrabando3:525Paisanaje4:056Resumiendo4:367Máter España4:018Con lo que eso duele4:189Dos horas después3:3810Me pido primer3:2511Nube negra4:1012Números rojos4:1113Seis tequilas3:45, in November 2005 and in 2009 he released his album, Vinagre y rosas×Vinagre y rosas17 November 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tiramisú de limón4:122Viudita de Clicquot4:123Cristales de Bohemia4:264Parte meteorológico3:485¡Ay! Carmela3:246Virgen de la Amargura3:277Agua pasada3:398Vinagre y rosas5:049Embustera4:0710Nombres impropios4:2411Menos dos alas3:3412Crisis3:4613Blues del alambique4:4114Violetas para Violeta4:56. In 2012 he released his latest album in collaboration with Joan Manuel Serrat: La Orquesta Del Titanic.
On June 29, 2020, Sabina married Jimena Coronado in a private ceremony in Madrid

Early years

Joaquín Sabina was born in Úbeda, in the Province of Jaén. He is the second son of Adela Sabina del Campo and Jerónimo Martínez Gallego. His father was a policeman.
He attended a Carmelite primary school and he started writing his first poems and composing music at the age of 14. He was part of a band called Merry Youngs which imitated singers such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, as well as many others.
He attended a high school run by the Salesians of Don Bosco and during this period he began reading works by Fray Luis de León, Jorge Manrique, José Hierro, Marcel Proust, James Joyce and Herbert Marcuse.
After completing high school, his father wanted him to follow in his footsteps and become a police officer but he refused, saying that he preferred the guitar. In his song "La del pirata cojo" he says he fantasizes about living different lives, but he would not even joke about becoming a police officer.

Exile in London

He then enrolled in the University of Granada, reading philology in the faculty. There, he read the poetry of Pablo Neruda and César Vallejo. Sabina lived at first with a woman called Lesley and started to prepare his thesis.
His revolutionary ideology led him to be related to anti-fascist groups. In 1970, he began collaborating with the magazine Poesía 70, sharing pages with Carlos Cano and Luis Eduardo Aute; he then left the university, going into exile in London using a fake passport under the name Mariano Zugasti, to avoid persecution from Francisco Franco's government after throwing a Molotov cocktail into a government building. That same year, his father received an order to arrest Sabina due to his anti-Franco ideals.
In 1975, Sabina started writing songs and singing at local bars. In a local bar called "Mexicano-Taverna" Sabina performed in the presence of George Harrison, who was celebrating his birthday. The ex-Beatle then gave Sabina a five-pound note as tip, which Sabina still preserves to this day. When Franco's dictatorship ended in 1975, Sabina returned to Spain and joined the army but, feeling imprisoned, he married to be able to sleep outside the barracks.

After the return

Sabina's first album, Inventario×Inventario1978 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Inventario5:15A2Tratado de impaciencia número 102:27A3Tango del quinielista4:25A419683:38A540 Orsett Terrace1:34B1Romance de la gentil dama y el rústico pastor3:30B2Donde dijeron digo decid Diego3:47B3Canción para las manos de un soldado2:57B4Palabras como cuerpos2:51B5Mi vecino de arriba3:48 (Inventory) was released in 1978 by a small label Movieplay. He describes this album "as his own version of death metal", but the album largely went unnoticed. Afterwards, he moved to the powerful CBS (today Sony) and released Malas Compañías (Bad Companies). This album gave Sabina his first number-one hit single "Pongamos que hablo de Madrid×Pongamos que hablo de Madrid1987 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Pongamos que hablo de Madrid4:092Calle Melancolía4:293Qué demasiao3:314Ring, ring, ring4:105Eh, Sabina3:436Juana la loca5:437Pisa el acelerador3:418Negra noche4:409Pasándolo bien2:4310Círculos viciosos4:01" (Let's say I'm talking about Madrid), and the artist attained wide recognition. He released a live album called La mandrágora×La mandrágora1981 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Marieta2:582Un burdo rumor3:363Pongamos que hablo de Madrid3:594Pasándolo bien3:275El cromosoma3:106Un santo varón3:427Mi ovejita lucera6:098Villatripas4:259La tormenta4:4710Adivina, adivinanza5:1611Nos ocupamos del mar3:0612La hoguera4:2013Círculos viciosos5:06 (The Mandrake), sharing the spotlight with bandmates Javier Krahe and Alberto Pérez. The trio enjoyed great popularity due to their participation in a TV program. La Mandrágora was controversial due to the racy and political content of the lyrics.
Sabina released his third album Ruleta Rusa×Ruleta rusa1984 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Ocupen su localidad3:24A2Telespañolito5:46A3Caballo de cartón4:15A4Guerra mundial3:52A5Negra noche4:09B1Eh, Sabina3:40B2Juana la Loca5:43B3Ring, ring, ring4:09B4Pisa el acelerador3:39B5Por el túnel5:07 (Russian Roulette) in 1984. In this album the singer evolved from the typical singer-songwriter style to Rock music with a harder sound and with presence of new instruments such as electric guitars. One of the most popular songs of this album was "Pisa el acelerador" (Step on the accelerator), which was the first maxi single of this album.

Success

In 1985 Sabina left CBS and released, this time under Ariola, Juez y Parte (Judge and Side) his fourth studio album in which he teamed up with the band Viceversa, which was led by Pancho Varona, who would turn into one of his closest friends and producer of many of Sabina's future albums. In this release, which shows a more modern production with the use of synthesisers and keyboards, it was included another popular song entitled "Princesa" (Princess), arguably the most popular one of this release.
His political views led him to take part in the anti-NATO movement. He later released Joaquín Sabina y Viceversa en directo, his first live album, which turned definitely into his commercial breakthrough. This album which was recorded in the Salamanca theatre in Madrid, the singer collaborated with other singers such as Javier Krahe, Javier Gurruchaga, and Luis Eduardo Aute amongst others.
In 1987 Sabina released his fifth studio album, Hotel, Dulce Hotel×Hotel, dulce hotel1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Así estoy yo sin ti5:092Pacto entre caballeros4:083Que se llama Soledad4:574Besos de Judas4:085Oiga, doctor3:226Amores eternos3:577Mónica4:068Cuernos3:589Hotel, dulce hotel4:28 (Hotel, Sweet Hotel), which sold a large number of records in Spain (400,000 copies). One of the most popular songs of this record was the track "Así estoy yo sin ti" (That's how I am without you) for which was released a promotional video, the first one of his musical career. That success led to his next album El Hombre del Traje Gris×El hombre del traje gris1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Eva tomando el sol5:502Besos en la frente5:143¿Quién me ha robado el mes de abril?5:004Una de romanos4:525Juegos de azar3:266Locos de atar4:017Nacidos para perder3:518Peligro de incendio3:399¡Al ladrón, al ladrón!5:4710Cuando aprieta el frío3:5711Los perros del amanecer4:1712Rap del optimista4:26 (The Man in the Gray Suit), in which he would count with Antonio García de Diego, a new collaborator and also another of his fellow friends. After releasing this album, Sabina undertook a successful tour in Latin America. This record was followed by the release of Mentiras Piadosas (Pious Lies) in 1990.
Two years later, in 1992, the performer reached a new sales record with the release of Física y Química (Physics and Chemistry), which sold more than one million copies mainly thanks to the smash hit "Y nos dieron las diez" (We went on till ten o'clock) a song with strong Mexican traditional flavour that tells the story of a summer affair. This song received such a warm welcome that has been covered by many Latin American singers. The unprecedented success led the singer to another successful tour to the Americas.
His later albums Esta boca es mía×Esta boca es mía1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Esta noche contigo4:452Por el bulevar de los sueños rotos4:003Incluso en estos tiempos2:514Siete crisantemos5:115Besos con sal3:466Ruido4:257El blues de lo que pasa en mi escalera4:478Como un explorador3:249Mujeres fatal4:3610Ganas de...3:1511La casa por la ventana4:2512Más de cien mentiras6:4113Esta boca es mía3:01 (literally, "This Mouth is Mine", a Spanish idiom meaning "I'll speak my peace"), Yo, mi, me, contigo (I, my, me, with you) and 19 Días y 500 Noches (19 Days and 500 Nights), won him wider recognition and multiple platinum albums.
After recovering from a stroke, he returned to the stage in 2002 with Dímelo en la Calle (Tell Me on the Street or Dare to Say That Outside). He later released a double album called Diario de un peatón×Diario de un peatón2003 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 28 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11No permita la Virgen4:152Vámonos pa'l sur3:393La canción más hermosa del mundo4:574Como un dolor de muelas3:00569 punto G4:056Peces de ciudad5:077El café de Nicanor4:598Lágrimas de plástico azul3:479Yo también sé jugarme la boca4:3310Arenas movedizas4:4911Ya eyaculé4:4012Cuando me hablan del destino3:4613Camas vacías5:0714Semos diferentes4:28Disc 21Ratones coloraos (sevillanas)3:192A vuelta de correo6:093Ay Calixto6:534Canción de cuna de la noche y los tejados3:545Flores en la tumba de un vasquito4:186La canción más hermosa del mundo4:537Benditos malditos (al pil pil)6:338Doble vida3:499Me plantó la princesita azul3:3610Incluso en estos tiempos2:4711Retrato de familia con perrito6:1112Ratones coloraos (rap)3:181369 punto G (videoclip)14Lágrimas de plástico azul (videoclip) (A Pedestrian's Diary), which included both his previous album and 12 new songs, along with a book illustrated by him.
In 2005 Sabina released a new record Alivio de luto (Relief from Mourning). The album release was accompanied by a DVD that includes interviews, music videos, acoustic versions of the songs, and home-made recordings.
In 2007, he went on tour with Spanish singer Joan Manuel Serrat, called Dos Pájaros de un Tiro (Two Birds with One Stone) and they recorded a CD of this tour, which includes the DVD of the concert and a documentary.
In 2009, he received the prize of the city of Madrid from the mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, who said that he was one of the most important people who had given a good image to the city. That year, he published his 15th studio album, Vinagre y Rosas×Vinagre y rosas17 November 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tiramisú de limón4:122Viudita de Clicquot4:123Cristales de Bohemia4:264Parte meteorológico3:485¡Ay! Carmela3:246Virgen de la Amargura3:277Agua pasada3:398Vinagre y rosas5:049Embustera4:0710Nombres impropios4:2411Menos dos alas3:3412Crisis3:4613Blues del alambique4:4114Violetas para Violeta4:56 (Vinegar and Roses), an album in which he collaborated with his producers Pancho Varona and Antonio García de Diego, and with the band Pereza. The first single from the album was the song "Tiramisu de limón" ("Lemon Tiramisu"), sung with Ruben and Leiva, the members of Pereza. For the promotional video, he collaborated with the actress and singer Mónica Molina. Finally the album was released on 14 December, entering directly at the top of the Spanish album chart.
In 2022, the documentary Sintiéndolo mucho (Really Feeling It) premiered at the San Sebastián Film Festival, a film directed by Spanish director Fernando León de Aranoa in which the former member of the band Pereza, Leiva, collaborates as composer of the soundtrack. It is an intimate documentary in which León de Aranoa shows us Joaquín Sabina in different aspects of his daily life, with recordings made during several years of monitoring the artist from Jaén and which shows us hidden aspects of his biography. In it, friends appear gathered at the singer-songwriter's apartment or images of his tour through Mexico.

Style

Some examples of his baroque style songwriting with a large metaphoric usage:
From "Calle melancolía"

From "19 días y 500 noches

From "Contigo×Contigo2020 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks119 dias y 500 noches4:382Aves de paso4:243Caballo de cartón4:424Contigo4:315Dos horas después3:386El caso de la rubia platino4:517Hotel dulce hotel4:228Jimena3:549Mas de cien mentiras6:1310Medias negras4:5211Mentiras piadosas3:3512Pastillas para no soñar3:5913Por el bulevard de los sueños4:1114Princesa3:5715Seis tequilas3:4516Tan joven y tan viejo4:1617Y nos dieron las diez5:0218Y si amanece por fin4:38"

From "Barbi superstar"

Studio albums

Inventario (Inventory) (1978)
Malas Compañías (Bad Companies) (1980)
Ruleta Rusa (Russian Roulette) (1984)
Juez y parte (1985) (Judge And Side), with Viceversa.
Hotel, dulce hotel (Hotel, Sweet Hotel) (1987)
El hombre del traje gris (The Man in the Gray Suit) (1988)
Mentiras piadosas (White Lies) (1990)
Física y química (Physics and Chemistry) (1992)
Esta boca es mía (This Mouth is Mine) (1994)
Yo, mi, me, contigo (I, my, me, with you) (1996)
Enemigos íntimos (Intimate Enemies) (1998), with Fito Páez.
19 días y 500 noches (19 Days and 500 Nights) (1999)
Dímelo en la calle (Tell me on the Street) (2002)
Diario de un peatón (Diary of a Pedestrian) (2003)
Alivio de luto (Mourning Relief) (2005)
Vinagre y rosas (Vinegar and Roses) (2009)
La orquesta del Titanic (The Titanic's Orchestra) (2012), with Joan Manuel Serrat
Lo niego todo (I Deny Everything) (2017)

Live albums

La mandrágora (The Mandrake) (1981)
Joaquín Sabina y Viceversa en directo (Joaquín Sabina and Viceversa live) (1986)
Nos sobran los motivos (We have more than enough reasons, also a pun on We don't have enough reasons) (2000)
Dos pájaros de un tiro (Two Birds With One Stone) (2007), with Joan Manuel Serrat

Compilation albums

Pongamos que Hablo de Madrid (1987)
Punto... (Period...1980–1990) (2006)
...Y seguido (...And Followed 1990–2005) (2006)

Tribute albums

Dónde más duele (Where it hurts the most) (2002), Cover album of María Jimenez with Sabina's songs.
Entre todas las mujeres (Between all women) (2003) Cover album of Sabina's songs sung by 12 female artists.
La Habana canta a Sabina (Habana sings to Sabina) (2011) Cover album of Sabina's songs sung by Cuban artists.
Más de cien mentiras. El musical (More than one hundred lies) (2011) Cover album of Sabina's songs sung in the homonymous musical.
Ni tan joven ni tan viejo (Not so young nor so old) (2020) Cover album of Sabina's songs sung by various artists.

Awards and achievements

Medal of Andalusia (1989).
Ondas Award for the best Spanish artist (1999).
Ondas Award for the best song: 19 días y 500 noches (1999).
Golden medal for the merit of Fine Arts (2000).
Golden medal of the city of Madrid (2009).
Favourite son medal of Úbeda (2017).
Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2021).