Like every April 23 since 1930, this Sunday is celebrated in Spain on Book day. A day when we all remember reading more than ever, even those books that we have half left behind, forgotten in a corner. It is also a day to celebrate the great artists of the cultural world such as writers.
Not only those who normally write books are great authors. There are song lyrics that are also truly marvelous from a songwriting standpoint. For this reason, on this Book Day of 2023, we want to remember a few singers who in recent years have changed the keys of a piano to those of a keyboard. Either to capture their thoughts, because the three minutes of a song ran out, or to leave their memories in writing.
1. close up of cactus, woman and werewolfRayden (2023)
Rayden publishes his first book injured daily, in 2015. Since then, the Madrid native has worked halfway between music and literature. At the beginning of the year, he published his first novel, close up of cactus, woman and werewolf; since his previous literary works were more like poems and songbooks. Also, recently we got the news of his retirement from music, followed by confirmation from the artist himself that he will now focus his artistic side on writing books.
‘The Close Up of Cactus Woman and Balloon Man’, Rayden / David Martinez Alvarez (Rayden)
2. My lifeMist (2023)
Sergio López Sanz, better known as Hazeis a Sevillian rapper with more than twenty years of musical career who recently decided to take advantage of his ability with letters to capture his memories in his autobiographical novel, My life.
As the title suggests, he reviews his life, from his childhood in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Spain, until his contract with a major record company; and how with over 30 he decided to get a degree and now he has a permanent position as a secondary school language and literature teacher.
‘My Life’, Haze / Haze
3. the book of daysPatti Smith (2023)
Patti SmithIn addition to being a successful singer, especially in the 70s, she is a great writer. The American has almost twenty books written. The last one you posted is the book of daysin which he reviews 366 days of his life through photos accompanied by a short description with which the singer opens up body and soul.
‘The Book of Days’, Patti Smith / Patti Smith
4. I had so much to give you: love, music, anguish, dreams and madnessNena Daconte (2022)
I had so much to give you is undoubtedly the song that led to success baby told. With him, the singer achieved popularity that was not easy to manage. This is what he wanted to tell in his book I had so much to give you: love, music, anguish, dreams and madness, in which Madrid Think about the limits of success and failure.
“I had so much to give you: love, music, anxiety, dreams and madness” / baby told
5. vertigoRigoberta Bandini (2022)
After his success with Ouch momthe song with which he participated in Benidorm Fest 2022; Rigoberta Bandini decided to publish vertigo, an autofiction in which he reflects on thirties crisis. In this book, the singer tells how she herself lived a transition in her life where she was overwhelmed by emotionswhich also led him to compose the songs that marked his life.
‘Vertigo’ / Rigoberta Bandini
6. Secret history of my best songsMiguel Bose (2022)
Another of the singers who in recent years has decided to reveal all his secrets through literature has been Miguel Bose. In 2022, the artist publishes Secret history of my best songs; a book in which he tells for the first time what lies behind his words.
“I’m afraid this book will shatter a lot of illusions. Also stories that have been rooted for a long time. I’m sorry. That’s not my intention or that of this compilation. But I think after so many years license, The time has come to decipher the hidden secrets, the ones I’ve kept in each of these 68 songs. Enter the marvelous world of my labyrinths and reveal what no one knows. But only if you’re brave,” the singer says of his work.
‘Secret History of My Best Songs’ / Miguel Bose
7. song philosophyBob Dylan (2022)
Even if song philosophy This is not the only book written by Bob Dylan, yes it is the first since 2004. Inside, the singer understands more than sixty essays in which he reflects and analyzes songs by other artists; focusing particularly on the handwriting and writing skills of his professional colleagues.
“Philosophy of Modern Song” / Bob Dylan
8. Ultimate Love Song: Life, like a record, has two sides; Jorge Marti (2022)
Jorge Marti he is the leader and the voice of the group The red room. In his autobiographical book Ultimate Love Song: Life, like a record, has two sides; reflects on the reality of life as she steps off stage. And it is that Being the leader of a music group has two faces: that of the artist and that of the person.
“Ultimate Love Song: Life, Like a Record, Has Two Sides” / Jorge Marti