A good friend's look

Argentinian writer Jose Luis Borges declared in an interview that a book is above all a form of happiness. And that happiness comes unexpectedly, and when it comes shouldn't be restricted. That's why good books are so easy to read, that's what Borges said. I believe that something similar could be said about Mikel Urdangarin and his songs. It seems that Mikel writes his songs spontaneously, without restricting the music he carries inside. And his songs are really easy to listen to, even if the composition work was complicated.

With this spontaneity he published his first two works, "Haitzetan" and "Badira hiru aste". They include songs that even now people still continue humming, many times without knowing that they were written by Mikel Urdangarin, as if they were popular songs, some of the old ones. That's the best thing that could happen for a song. With 'Espilue' he jumped to the general public, an album full of strength. I still remember when I went to the record launch that took place at the Arriaga theatre in Bilbao. I left the concert full of energy, feeling that the Basque musical scene had started a new phase, a new way of doing things. "Bar Puerto" was a risky bet after the good reception of "Espilue", a really innovative album, which proved that Mikel doesn't like following the easy ways, nor repeating himself. "Heldu artean" is a urban proposal, night and warm, with a pinch of lively fugue music and close to pop songs, for example "Oihana" o "Negua".

In 2003 I travelled to New York with Rafa Rueda, Bingen Mendizábal and Mikel Valverde, and the result was the CD Book "Zaharregia, txikiegia agian", which included songs and recited poems. When we were recording the album, I remember Mikel told me that he wanted the people to listen to the whole record again and again, whitout noticing that it included poems and songs, to listen to is as a whole. His intention was for the public to listen to the poems naturally, without being afraid. That was a way of bringing poetry closer to a wider public sector. Producer Arkaitz Basterra presented a documentary based in this project's beauty at 2006 San Sebastian Film Festival.

After all these experiences "Dana" finally came up, the last album until now, a work searching for new sounds and the creation of a more open atmosphere.

Mikel's look is the look of a good friend. "Anek idatzi dit zutaz" confirms this to me. And looking at us in such a friendly way, he tells the story of Sebastian the milkman, the reason why his cows are losing their milk because the fields are getting drier everyday. And with his friendly look, he tells us the story of the tambourine man, the way that proud man shows to the Olatzi's farmers his new tambourine bought in Vigo . And with his friendly look, he tells us about the small festivals of a small neighbourhood called Mekoleta, as small as the frogs that start croaking at dawn. And with his conspiratorial look, he remembers that old friend who emigrated to Norway, and remind us the way life takes our best friends away from us, friends who were sometime really close, so close as that fire in Saint John's day that burnt your eyebrows.

Mikel looks like a friend who is at peace with himself. He is the friend that everybody wants to be closer, who calm us down, who makes us forget about out daily fears. Bob Dylan had a motto when he started singing: 'No fear, no envy, no meanness." It could also be Mikel's motto, the one which helps him walk. A way that bears fruit, and with time even better ones in my opinion, such as "Anek idatzi dit zutaz."

"Awakened to a new happiness, with my hope, which I lost sometime" say the lyrics of Iñaki Aurrekoetxea. These words can summarize the spirit of the album. Happiness is infectious, we find meanness boring.

Mikel Urdangarin members are:

Rafa Rueda - electric guitar
Bingen Mendizabal - violin
Nika Bitchiashvili - violin
Saihela - drums
Koldo Uriarte - teclados y voice
Mikel Urdangarin - voice, guitar

Kirmen Uribe