The power of music to evoke emotions and memories is a universal human experience. Each song has a story behind it, but those who listen to them also usually have another one related to it. The lyrics and melody may make you travel back in time and evoke an exact moment, a certain feeling. This is the spirit that illuminates “Escorta Música”, a new activity organized by the Ateneu de Maó, which could be compared to the model of a reading club or a movie club.
According to Javier Tejero, one of the managers of the activity and a self-confessed music lover, “it’s like a cineforum, but with songs.” Tejero, along with other members of the musical section of the cultural entity, Jùlia Pascual and Bep Olives, were encouraged to create this format due to its absence on the Island. The initial response has been positive, with the number of participants increasing from a dozen in the premiere session in January to close to 40 in the second session.
The operation is simple: interested people can participate by sending an email with a song that has meant something in their life. The team of Ateneu makes a selection and chooses five songs to listen to with those attending the meeting. Whoever proposes the song is invited to talk about it, but it is not mandatory. The organizers then provide complementary information to contextualize the work from a technical, historical, and anecdotal perspective. The songs are played in their physical format, mostly from Tejero’s immense collection of vinyls, films, CDs, and cassettes, and attendees are given a sheet with the lyrics.
This activity is open to the public, and people of all ages and genders are welcome to participate. Classical music is not included, as it has other spaces on the Island, and reggaeton is unlikely to be part of the selection. The team has planned to extend the activity until April, and the inertia it is gaining indicates that it will become a regular part of the cultural entity’s agenda.
During the second session, attendees learned interesting facts about iconic songs such as Joaquín Sabina’s “And they gave us ten”, Adele’s “Someone like you”, and The Beatles’ “She loves you”. They also discovered that Dire Straits’ “Brothers in arms” was about the Falklands War and that Adamo’s “My hands on your waist” has different versions and translations. The meeting culminated with the discussion of these songs and their significance to the participants.
Javier Tejero, who proposed “Candle in the wind” by Elton John in the first session, believes that this activity will continue to grow and become a valuable part of the community. The premiere set list included songs by Jimmy Fontana, Luis Eduardo Aute, Fito & Fitipaldis, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Bublé, and the collection of favorites will continue to expand over time, feeding on old songs that have left a deep mark on people.
For more information about “Escorta Música” and the Ateneu de Maó, visit their website or attend one of the upcoming sessions. The activity is a great opportunity to share and discover new stories and emotions through music. Here
Images Credit: www.menorca.info