And how is he?one of the great hits of the singer-songwriter José Luis Perales had its moment of mystery as to who it was addressed to. Released in 1982, the record sold very well, but as the waters of success began to recede, the question arose: who was it dedicated to?
Initially, a version was woven about which one the theme was dedicated to his daughter María’s boyfriendconjecture categorically denied by José Luis Perales, who also recalled that his daughter was three years old when he composed that song.
The other hypothesis was that she was involved in infidelity.
The denial, apparently, was accompanied by the true story that led Perales to write that written letter in which it permeates a feeling of deep unease and the pain of loss is palpable.
More songwriter than singer
Now, José Luis Perales has always been more of a composer than a singer. The first recognition of him was in 1976 (although the song was written in 1974) with the song Why are you leaving?written for Jeanette and which was a resounding success.
Perales remembered that moment like this. “Suddenly I said to myself: what if I make a song for Jeanette. I sang ‘Today the sun is shining in my window, a heart…’ and I thought Jeanette’s little voice would suit this song very well”. So it was.
Perales has admitted that he makes his songs like tailored suits and that he knows how to strip away the character they are made for.
story with composition light sailor for Isabel Pantoia is a clear example. The singer was delighted with the lyrics of which she went as far as saying “Oh but how can it get into me, if that’s what I would say and I don’t know how to write it”.
The True Story of “What’s It Like?”
Now, Perales himself has revealed that the song is addressed to the ex-wife of Julio Iglesias, Isabel Preysler, who had just separated and were about to marry Carlos Falcó, Marqués de Griñón (Preysler is currently the partner of Mario Vargas Llosa).
According to the story, Julio Iglesias, who was in anguish and depression over Preysler’s departure to other arms, asked Perales to prepare a song to show his former partner how much he loved her.
The singer-songwriter accepted the request and composed the well-known song, but he could never have delivered it to Iglesiasbecause his record label thought it was so good that Perales himself should sing it, with which the author of And how is he? He did not agree.
In fact, Perales felt that Julio could give it the real feel it was made with. “In And how is he?It is Julio who suffers from this situation,” said the composer.
However, the record company stood its ground. “Perales must sing it”.
An open front in the house itself
The record company’s decision also brought some internal conflict to José Luis Perales. “You’re not going to sing this, are you?” asked his wife Manuela Vargas to which he replied in an attempt to reassure her, “no, woman, Julio will sing it”.
However, those of the record company explained their reasons and ended up once again stating “either Perales sings it or we don’t give it to anyone”.
Finally, the song was sung by Perales and was included in a double disc that also had the theme song What will happen tomorrow. Of course And how is he? It was one of the songwriter’s biggest hits.
José Luis Perales, 77 years old, was born on January 18, 1945 in Castejón, Cuenca. At the age of six he was playing the lute and at 14 he was beginning to compose songs. He was accepted as an industrial teacher of electricity, although without ceasing to compose songs. His early influences were Charles Aznavour and Gilbert Becaud.
Perales said he took his songs to publishers, who in turn offered them to record labels, because he was ashamed not only to submit but also to have them rejected. “I was very afraid of failure”said the songwriter.
Even though he already had some songs that he had reserved for him. In 1967 he performed at the Song Festival of the Universidad Laboral de Sevilla and won first prize with the song of Mari Trini. I will not sell my soul.
Three years later, following the record producer Rafael Trabucchelli, José Luis Perales began to sing professionally, which he resisted a lot, but which was undoubtedly a destination for this composer.
Source: Clarin
