Mecano

(For the toy construction material, see Meccano)

Mecano was a Spanish language synth-pop band from Madrid, Spain. Brothers Nacho and José María Cano, along with singer Ana Torroja, formed the band in 1981. Mecano's debut coincided with La Movida Madrileña, a sociocultural movement that occured in Spain during the 1980's. Soon after forming, they achieved wide-spread popularity with their debut single, "Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar". Nacho Cano branched out into producing other bands, and both he and his brother wrote songs for other pop up-starts. Mecano had another hit in 1986 with "Me Cuesta Tanto Olvidarte". In 1991, the band members decided to set out on solo careers.

Prior to their international success in 1986, Mecano had three successful albums in Spain and Europe. However, it was not until the release of their 1986 album, Entre el Cielo y el Suelo that they achieved international success beyond the Spanish-speaking world. One of their most important songs, "Hijo de la Luna", was covered as an aria by one of Opera's greatest contemporary singers, Montserrat Caballé. Their follow-up album, Descanso Dominical, produced their biggest single ever, "Mujer Contra Mujer", which deals with a lesbian relationship, seen through the eyes of a male friend, who only later realizes what is going on. The song was recorded in French, English, and Italian, giving Mecano their first truly global hit.

Contents

1 Notable works 1.1 Foreign Language Recordings 1.2 Unpublished Songs 2 Album Discography 3 External links

Notable works

The majority of the lyrics were written by one of the Cano brothers from a male perspective, and sung by Ana Torroja.

The actress Penélope Cruz debuted before the Spanish public in a Mecano video clip, La fuerza del destino. She later held a relationship with Nacho Cano for several years.

In March 2005, a musical written by Nacho Cano, entitled "Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar", opened in Madrid.

Also in 2005, the members of Mecano are scheduled to release a double-CD/DVD package commemorating the 25th anniversary of the creation of the pop-group. The new CD/DVD, Mecanografia, will include a compilation of all their singles, never-before released songs, and a DVD with videos and early concert appearances.

Ana Torroja wrote the lyrics to the chorus of "Mosquito", which was her only lyrical contribution to the group. The rest of the song was written by Nacho Cano.

Foreign Language Recordings

Mecano recorded some of their songs in English, one of which was published as a single: "The Uninvited Guest", which is the English version of "Me Colé en una Fiesta". Other songs that were recorded in English by Mecano are: "Hawaii-Bombay" and "You", but these were never published on official discs.

Mecano also recorded many of their songs in Italian, such as: "Figlio Dello Luna", "Croce Di Lame", "Un Anno di Più", "Uno di Quegli Amanti", "Per Lei Contro di Lei", "Il Cinema", "Vado a Nuova York", "Fermati a Madrid", "Mi Costa Tanto di Scordarti", "Responso Positivo", "Anna è Michael", "Una Rosa è Una Rosa", "Tu", "Dalai Lama", "Il 7 di Septembre", and "La Forza del Destino".

Songs that Mecano recorded in French include "Une Femme avec une Femme", "Dis-moi Lune d'Argent", "Une Histoire a Trois", "Nature Morte", "Le Paradis Artificiel", "Toi", "J.C.", and "Le 7 Septembre"

Unpublished Songs

Some unpublished Mecano songs are "La Extraña Posición" (original version and disco-mix version), "Quiero Vivir en la Cuidad", "Vivaje Espacial", "Napoleón", "Súper-Ratón", "Me no Parle Vous Français", "Me he Declarado en Guerra"(demo), "Cristóbal Colón", "El Caballo de Espartero"(demo), "Solo"(demo), "Liá", "El Pez", "El Romance de la Niña María Luz", "Arlequín", "Al Alba", "¿Qué Haces Tú en el Mundo?", "La Bola de Pelo" (a demo for "Mujer contra mujer"), "Fábula"(demo), and others.

The songs "La Fuerza del Destino" and "El 7 de Septembre", are dedicated to Coloma Fernández Armero, who was Nacho Cano's girlfriend for several years.

MECANO contributed the song "Canción Cortita Para Antes que Nos Abandone el Mar" to the compilation album "Greenpeace, Salvemos al Mediterráneo" (1985).

Album Discography

• Mecano 1982

1. Hoy no me puedo levantar
2. No me ensenen la leccion
3. Perdido en mi habitacion
4. Cenando en Paris
5. Maquillaje
6. Boda en Londres(Instrumental)
7. Me cole en una fiesta
8. La maquina de vapor
9. Me voy de casa
10. 254.13.26
11. El fin del mundo
12. Solo soy una persona

• ¿Dónde está el país de las hadas? 1983

1. Donde esta el pais de las hadas?(Instrumental)
2. Este chico es una joya
3. La bola de cristal
4. El amante de fuego
5. Madrid
6. Barco a Venus
7. La fiesta nacional
8. Un poco loco
9. No aguanto mas
10. Focas
11. El balon
12. El Ladron de discos

• Ya viene el sol 1984

1. No pintamos nada
2. Ya viene el sol
3. La estacion
4. Hawaii-Bombay
5. Mosquito
6. Busco algo barato
7. Aire
8. Me rio de janeiro
9. Japon
10. El mapa de tu corazon

• Lo último de Mecano 1985

1. La Extraña Posición
2. Napoleón
3. Viaje Espacial
4. Super Ratón
5. No Pintamos Nada (En Concierto)
6. La Fiesta Nacional (En Concierto)
7. Busco Algo Barato (En Concierto)
8. Me Rio De Janeiro (En Concierto

• Entre el cielo y el suelo 1986

1. Ay, qué pesado
2. Angel
3. Hijo de la luna
4. 50 palabras, 60 palabras o 100
5. Te busqué
6. Me cuesta tanto olvidarte
7. No tienes nada que perder
8. Las curvas de esa chica
9. No es serio este cementerio
10. Cruz de navajas
11. Las cosas pares
12. Esta es la historia de un amor

• 15 Grandes Éxitos 1987

• Descanso dominical 1988

1. El cine
2. No hay marcha en Nueva York
3. Mujer contra mujer
4. Los amantes
5. La fuerza del destino
6. Quedate en Madrid
7. Laika
8. El blues del esclavo
9. "Eungenio" Salvador Dalí
10. Por la cara (Instrumental)
11. Un año mas
12. Heroes de la Antartida
13. Hermano sol, hermana luna
14. Fabula

• 20 Grandes Canciones 1989

• Aidalai 1991

1. El fallo positivo
2. El uno, el dos, es tres
3. Bailando salsa
4. El 7 de Septiembre
5. Naturaleza muerta
6. 1917
7. Una rosa es una rosa
8. El lago artificial
9. Tu
10. Dalai lama
11. El peon del rey de negras
12. J.C.
13. Sentia

• AnaJoseNacho 1998 (22 Greatest Hits + 8 new songs)

CD1

1. Cuerpo y corazón
2. Otro muerto
3. El club de los humildes
4. Aire(nueva versión)

CD2

1. Stereosexual
2. El mundo futuro
3. Esto no es una canción
4. Los piratas del amor

External links

• http://www.mecano.net/
• http://www.hoynomepuedolevantar.com/new/musical/index.html/de:Mecano

es:Mecano (grupo)