Over more than 40 years, Alejandro Lerner has written countless songs, but the Argentine singer-songwriter recognizes that “Todo a lung” was the song that “laid the foundation” for the creation of musical history, which on November 13 will be recognized with the Award for Excellence from the Latin Recording Academy, during Music Week. Latin Grammy in Miami.
“The foundation stone What united me to Latin America was ‘Everything with lungs’, first through Mercedes Sosa, one of the most beautiful voices in the world and a favorite friend of mine; then Miguel Ríos recorded it in Spain, then Nicho Hinojosa, and later he worked on television programs,” the singer-songwriter shares with MILENIO when talking about the topic that he considers to be his flag.
Through the telephone line from Buenos Aires, the Argentine continues: “So ‘Everything at your lungs’ is fundamental in my careerespecially because I was a young man of 24 years old saying: ‘How difficult it is for me to courageously stay away from trafficking and prostitution, to defend my ideology, good or bad, but mine, as human as contradiction’; There I laid the foundations for what was going to be my fight to stay honest throughout my career, as long as it lasted; “That was my reference.”
And raise awareness: “I have always thought: ‘Alejandro look at yourself in this mirror of ‘A Full Lung’. You said that and we have to maintain it.”
A sigh and a silence follow the conversation with the singer-songwriter, whose emotion is enhanced by continuing to share passages of the musical history that he has woven together with his songs; and that at the request of Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy; has had to be brought to the present so that they are part of the tribute that will be paid to him at the 25th Latin Grammy Awards.
“Manuel spoke to me and told me: ‘Alejandro I need to talk to you’and he insisted to me; I didn’t quite understand what was happening. And there was a meeting and the lord Abud told me: ‘Alejandro we wanted it to be a surprise, but we have to tell you, because we need videos, photos; So we have to tell you that the Latin Recording Academy is going to give you The Excellence Award.
Another silence occurs through the earpiece before the composer revives and shares the reaction that generated such pleasant news.
“When they told me that, I started crying like a child, because the first thing I thought about was my parents, who are in heaven, my grandparents, I said: ‘Mom, I did it, I got recognition not for a song, not for one album, but for several decades, almost forty-odd years of effort, of learning, of continuing to want to learn, of studying, of wanting to give the world the best songs, that have poetry, that have beauty..
In his words he reveals that he is a grateful person, as he recognizes that in his journey there were characters who supported and guided him.
“Then I also thought about the people who helped me, about Armando Manzanero, about all the artists who have been my references, so I am living a very happy moment, and I share it with my wife and my children, I have a 14-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old boy, who see a father who believes that success is not a moment, but rather being consistent, being honest; because triumph is not a quantity, it is a quality, especially spiritual, so I am very happy for all that.”
Since he received the news of the tribute, Alejandro went to memory to select the most special moments; However, with a hint of sincerity, he shares that it is not easy to synthesize so many emotions.
“The most difficult thing at my age is to synthesize a biography of 40 years as an artist, as a singer-songwriter since my first album came out in 1981; although I started before, because from a very young age I already played the piano in Argentine rock bands,” he commented.
And he insisted that when taking that journey there was always someone who encouraged him, so he could not talk about the steps he has taken without mentioning them.
“One thing that happened to me is that I can’t leave out the people who shook my hand; I have to talk about León Gieco, Armando Manzanero, Luis Miguel, Carlos Santana, David Foster, from Celine Dion, from the awards I received from the Society of American Authors,” he said.
At present he is also grateful that his inspiration allows him to continue making friends.
“Nowadays I have new emotions, new things that excite me, Pepe Aguilar just recorded a song for me, it’s a song I did with Fato, a dear composer friend. Then, I received an order for Blue Angels so that we can make a song called ‘Start Again’, and it turns out that I see that Los Angeles Azules receive the same award as me; so, “Life becomes something very magical and what you have to do is be grateful above all for the past, the present and the future,” he said. when the interview time had concluded.
And furthermore
Inspiration materialized in diverse voices
“Having a song sung to you is a reward for any singer-songwriter”: Lerner
“Let nothing separate us” with Mijares.
“Dame” with Luis Miguel.
“They told me” with Guadalupe Pineda.
“Today is goodbye” with Santana.
“At full lungs”, his iconic song
“By your side” inspired by Manzanero (on his death).
A.J.R.
