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Spain is like this: forced isolation had hardly begun when thousands of citizens dusted off almost in unison , spontaneously and exceptionally, a song that made them feel a little less lonely and stronger in a confinement that is expected to be long, tedious and, at moments, maddening.
The chosen one has been an old well-known song that never fails in times of need : Resistiré , by the Dynamic Duo. The theme that the lyricist Carlos Toro and Manuel de la Calva (half of the Dynamic Duo) composed in 1988 has become in recent days the closest thing to a survivalist mantra that is sung from balconies , shower trays and virtual encounters at Houseparty . It is one of the most searched and played songs in Spain in recent days on streaming platforms such as YouTube and Spotify.
The song has that contradictory mix that works so well in pop hits: a joyous melody, with a yeyé point, and a very hard , devastating and fortifying lyrics at the same time . "When madness threatens me / when my coin comes out cross / when the devil takes its toll / if you ever miss me," says one of the stanzas. "I am like the reed that doubles / but always stands," proclaims another verse with some pride.
The architect and interpreter of such success, Manuel de la Calva, Manolo, explains in a telephone conversation from his retirement home in La Moraleja that the idea of the song came to him during a television appearance by Camilo José Cela himself . "He ended an interview saying something that stuck in my mind: 'He who resists, wins'. That dazzled me . Immediately I saw that there was a fabulous song and so I told Carlos (Toro), with whom I understand myself perfectly, "he recalls.
" The song has always been a medicine for everyone . It serves to overcome this situation, but it has also served many to fight against the disease. In Argentina, when the corralito became a generational anthem," continues the singer. , who emotionally attends the upturn in popularity of a theme that he has always seen as "a cry of rebellion" in the face of adversity . "I think that if the song works so well it is because it does not have a romantic or soft lyrics. Deep down what it says is very hard, it talks about the negative things that we have to face and encourages us to resist by the nose. It is as if the song was saying to you: 'stop the nonsense, do what you have to do, make this stop at once' ".
Manolo De la Calva is handling the quarantine quite well . It sounds lively and he says that he spends his time reading, watching movies, listening to music and being in permanent contact with his family. The other half of the Dynamic Duo, Ramón Arcusa, is right now in Miami, where he resides for half the year. He usually comes to Spain in mid-May, when the summer season of galas and concerts begins, although this year that remains to be seen, like almost everything.
De la Calva has no doubt that the health crisis will be overcome. " Of course we will pass this , do not have the slightest doubt. In China they are already defeating the coronavirus. I have an Italian friend, the poor man is trapped, who sent me this morning a photo of an airport where 240 tons have arrived of Chinese medical supplies. The Chinese are very Chinese, very smart! In each country the epidemic goes up and then goes down, the same thing will happen here, "he predicts.
Carlos Toro , the composer of the lyrics that thousands of Spaniards hum these days as an antidote to pessimism, also confesses feeling excited about the new life of the song. "I am sorry that this has happened in these circumstances, but apart from that, I find it beautiful. It is beautiful that Resistiré is helping so many Spaniards to cope with these moments . Regardless of the legitimate pride that Manolo and I may have as authors, the song It has already surpassed us, now it belongs to the country, to those thousands of citizens who, regardless of sex, ideology or religion, have adopted it as their own. It is the official anthem of resistance to the virus. "
What does Resistir have that makes it so universal and intergenerational? "It has always worked very well as a pop song. But there is something about it that makes many people individually adopt it as a personal support when facing family, psychological or health problems. It has helped thousands of people, I have countless testimonies . It was one of the songs that spontaneously re-emerged during the economic crisis ten years ago, but I would say that now it is something different, more extensive and profound. "
Toro carries confinement as best he can. At times he reads, watches television, plays the guitar and attends to the press; These days it is again in great demand. "I carry this nightmare as best I can. It is a bit disconcerting because normal life, the most everyday gestures, have become something exceptional . And that is difficult to fit in. And we have been a few days, I try to prepare myself psychologically for what is coming". The lyricist assures that although sometimes the body asks him to disconnect from everything, he forces himself to be well informed and looks for "a ray of hope" in each new part of the infected, deceased and cured. Like everyone.
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