• Obituary: Death Camilo Sesto, icon of the Spanish melodic song, at 72
  • Reactions.Camilo Sesto is "part of our lives"
  • The best: From 'Something of me' to 'Mola mazo', his most emblematic songs
  • Album: A life in images
  • The opinion of Carmen Rigalt.Melancolía by Camilo VI

Camilo Sesto, born Camilo Blanes Cortés, was a ... singer . Not a singer-songwriter, although he composed his songs. Not even a vocalist of a rock ensemble, although he had felt the adolescent fascination with that kind of music and belonged to a couple of groups (Los Dayson, Los Botines) rockers-poperos. Nor, in the nuances of the trade, a singer is a figure associated with popular folklore. Not much less, since we mention folklore, a cantaor .

He was a singer in the purest , most accepted and recognizable meaning of the word. Of the idea. Of the concept. A classical singer That is to say: good voice, extensive tessitura, wide register, physical apostura and a preference for ballads over other styles. In short: a melodic interpreter above all things.

Although he was never a forgotten artist, his era of splendor is in the 70s , with a small extension in the early 80s with Forgive Me (1980), his latest success. The other songs of those first 80 are a kind of echo of the previous noise: More and more (1981), Love, do not ignore me (1982), My world, you (1983) and Love of woman (1984).

Nobody would quote, like this, by boat soon, those songs as the successes ("events", said some papanatas copying of the English success ). Everyone would remember Something about me (1972), Love, love (1973), Do you want to be my lover? and Help Me (1974), Never and Melina (1975), My Good Love (1977), To live like this is to die of love (1978) ... And, of course, Jesus Christ Superstar (1975), the vocal summit of Camilo , in the Alcalá Palace Theater in Madrid, in the musical work of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. His interpretation of Gethsemane still impresses.

Camilo, it is already said, was a classical singer. I mean melodic. I mean romantic . Reviewing his songs, he almost surprises, even admitting that thematic essence and tendency in them, the profusion of the word "love" in the titles.

Camilo and his style came to music in a timely manner, when the songwriters declined , associated with the so-called "protest song", a political-poetic label in times conducive to rebellion. Even some of them maintained popular acceptance, but with lyrics that escaped that kind of commitment to adopt, within their general quality, more conventional themes.

Not surprisingly Camilo coincides in time, space and tastes with the other great voice of our popular music: Nino Bravo . Between 1970 and 1973, the year of his death on the road, the Valencian singer (Camilo was from Alicante) chained his greatest hits: I love you, I love you , That will be my house and Puerta de amor (1970), Noelia and Mi gran amor (1971), A kiss and a flower , My land and Free (1972) and America, America (1973).

Camilo Sesto is part of the sentimental memory of a country in "transit to the Transition". An unforgettable time and voice .

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