At almost 80 years old, Raphael had his big night at Luna Park

Raphael showed off his impeccable show 6.0 at Luna Park in Buenos Aires, crowded by fans of different generations and marked by a reinterpretation of its great classics. The author of “I am that one” suggests an emotional journey based on six decades of international success in a recital full of blood and passion.

It was nearly three hours in which Jaén’s prodigal son walked in his unmistakable Andalusian seal showing that he maintained a full range of voices. A real none in the series.

We live in this era that is possibly one of the most emotional moments in the history of contemporary popular music in the world. Here the talented icons of international song gradually said goodbye to the stage. Here thousands of fans from previous generations said goodbye to their warriors, only yesterday seemed forged in the unquenchable fire of Eternity.

At this same Luna Park and a few weeks ago, singer-songwriter José Luis Perales finally left the stage. in this same scenario Ortega stickBy, our Creole King, ended his career. In this city of Buenos Aires, Kiss said goodbye to his Navy.

And in this small village of reduced distances that we are forced to call Earth, a seminal band like Genesis waved the handkerchief of final farewell like that, without further ado.

But … what about Raphael?

architect of that overflows histrionics so himworshiping the silly looks, inexplicable creatures that sprout in the belly of a humble and hard -working family (his father was a bricklayer, his mother sewed clothes) Niño de Linares showed his nose in Buenos Aires with a daring worthy of his golden age.

Out of anger at the Greek god Cronos, Raphael Martos borrowed the three heads of the Greek deity. The one with Tao, the one with Toro and of course and most of all the one with Lion. Because the man who occupied last night’s emblematic boxing stadium he came out of this circus ready to devour every last Christian on the stands.

And no god can stop him.

Thirty -three songs and two hours and forty minutes passed, the audience was a sea of ​​thumbs pointing to the sky. There is no greater Raphael than Raphael. This seems to be a fact, but it is necessary to repeat it: there is no greater Raphael than Raphael. Neither Enrique Búnbury, nor that famous Dynamic Duo, nor Marta Sánchez’s legendary Olé Olé, nor his great Almodovarian friend Alaska.

With this man they eventually broke the mold.

The show started out as a great celebration

In a tight sextet that sounds with pleasure for the entrance of the Andalusian idol. And from the first minute everything was in the hands of his proverbial kindness, of the seduction to come “raphaelism” provokes tsunami in the whole world (the biography series about his life Raphaelismwill be released on this continent from next Augustthanks to Movistar+).

Last night’s songs were a poor reason to take a good look at the person who knocked Time. It was largely about attending a unique ceremony, possibly one of the last, in which everyone, some more than others, tried to decipher the hieroglyph. That strange mystery where El Divo doesn’t age.

In an interview given by Raphael to this newspaper, from Linares made sure that although some tones of the songs were lowered, to suit his voice in the final stages (something that inevitably changed after the liver disease that caused to him on the brink of death.), his great classical themes he continues to sing at the same frequency. And he did not lie.

hymns such as I was the one, whatever they say, since that day either nainlab ako sound the same key as the original, in a vocal exercise of impeccable technique (and in live there is no Auto Tune that can hide it) with almost perfect tuning, clearly commendable.

And then it becomes very difficult not to give in to the excessive flirting of a singer already he won the game against the Grim Reaper himself. Behind the mischievous smile and bright eyes of this artist who is just seventy -nine, there is a secret that cannot be revealed.

But the most curious in the show Raphael 6.0 has no show. It was El Niño defending his village and nails. There was no intense bombast, no theatrical device, not even a large orchestra supporting him from behind.

This is pure Raphael

European pop song in the late 1950s and early 1960s created a tidal wave that splashed on many shores.

From French chanson to the melodic Italian songs of San Remo, and includes great Spanish romances (Perales, Nino Bravo, Camilo Sesto, the first Serrat among many others) that sound, those unmistakable musical arrangements (Ricard Miralles, without going too far), those lyrics (Manuel Alejandro) quickly acquired the taste of a diverse public in other latitudes.

This is the same sound we see in recordings of years artists like Leo Dan, Sandro, Leonardo Favio or Palito.

But last night we were in front of one of the great people responsible for the whole thing.

A crooner, a wonderful showman

The show had Latin overtones in the middle of the performance, where Raphael brought in beautiful compositions from the top hat and great in his style, such as nostalgia (nod by Enrique Cadícamo and Juan Carlos Cobián initiated late in 1935) and Malene (Lucio Demare-Homero Manzi), I like (of the great Armando Manzanero).

followed by Don’t let anyone know my suffering (Peruvian waltz of 1936 written by the Argentinian Ángel Cabral) and a version of to cry that it has less relevance to goals in Costa Rican Chavela Vargas, although it is no more in terms of tears and emotion.

Along with artists who are currently celebrating eight decades of existence (Paul McCartney, some of the Rolling Stones, Ortega, Tom Jones) tends to produce a split of its public opinions.

There are those who say they need to retire on time and with glory, and there are the most die-hard fans who need to enjoy their idols to the last breath.

Susana and Lucía, fans of the Spanish first hour, sitting in row 24 of Luna Park, have their own opinion about it: “Raphael is my age, and I think, if the actor is in good physical condition, he needs to keep going up on stage.”, Says Lucía, showing off a beautiful red cap with a pompom and matching corduroy cover.

“No dear, you’re younger than Raphael -Susana is assured on her left side- what we don’t want is to see our idol climb up to sing with a cane, so that he doesn’t give an unpleasant image , Do you understand? See what happened to Cacho Castaña for example. The poor man, very good singer, is destroying himself. Now you can see, when Raphael comes out, how whole he is ”.

The incredible, lovely fragrant creatures that have been with the artist since his inception, it is very clear to them what they want to see. And it’s clearer what’s not.

But Raphael is not decadence.

Wife, father and grandfather

Instead, Natalia Figueroa’s wife, father of three and grandfather of seven, seems to be watering the famous Fuente de Juvencia. Shamelessly showing his roots as a ballad singer (and the great Madrid ballad singer Miguel Poveda owes this Andalusian) he proudly walks the scene, sometimes seemingly reinforced by the spirit of Miguel de Molina. But of others carrying the impetus of a raging bull.

His show may have half a dozen songs left (and maybe his fans will just thank him for singing them, of course), but the showman knows how to handle the times and tension, the journey in his six decades was up, down and back. again.climb when he already has.

No tired worker, sick perfectionist, doing nothing or saying casual or for no reason.

will fight

Then comes the end, with his surrender to the classic I will fight (leiv motiv of the memorable telenovela starring Pablo Echarri, Celeste Cid and Fabián Vena in 2003 by Telefe). A rejuvenated and very popera I am the oneand of course to the salsa rhythm of Scandal.

However you chose to say goodbye How much I love you. And in that letter the song seems to have been dedicated to Music. To that music that gave it all. The one who became Raphael sixty years ago:

“As much as I love you, no one will love you. ako! My soul and my flesh love you. I love you like a child in his morning. I love you as the man in her memory. ako! I love you loud and quiet. I love you in a way more than human. I love you with joy and tears. “

– Raphael, and what do you have to do?

– A lot.

– What are many?

– Everything I did, but more and better …

Ladies and gentlemen, stand up. A legend is alive.

CJL