The Mexican group Maná has filled every corner of the emblematic Plaza de España in Seville this Sunday with music, as part of the Icónica Santalucía Sevilla Fest. During this concert, which they have described as a «dream come true,» the band took the opportunity to send a message to the Spanish government, asking them to «stop investing in resources for war and allocate that money to education and food.»
The Mexicans took to the stage around 10:47 p.m., following performances by the legendary Spanish group Duncan Dhu and the Argentine band Airbag, in front of an energetic audience of over 17,000 people. The band opened their concert with ‘Hechicera,’ all dressed in black, while fireworks illuminated the stage as the chorus arrived. It was then that they pointed out that «it is a sorceress, my Seville,» as witnessed by Europa Press.
An energetic audience thanked the band with a great ovation for their performance of the song ‘De Pies a Cabeza.’ During the song, the band threw out the question «Who will make love to you here in Seville?» as they moved from one end of the stage to the other, accompanied by the audience’s choruses at each chorus.
The band bid good night to Seville expressing their immense excitement to be in Andalusia, in such a «historical place.» They also highlighted that «this city is one of the most beautiful places we have performed in» during their over thirty-year career. With much affection, they expressed: «We love our audience a lot,» and promised to have «a great show» for this anticipated night.
This led to ‘Corazón espinado,’ with the phrase «it hurts, Seville, the love,» being thrown into the air, while demonstrating a great mastery of each tone and chord with their instruments and voices. The song ended enveloped in smoke effects on the stage. Next, the chords of ‘Manda una señal’ started to play. In this song, the vocalist, Fernando Olvera, joined in with his silver guitar, adding another string instrument to the ensemble.
«How beautiful!» he exclaimed excitedly, recounting that he had a picture with his wife taken in Seville, one of the most beautiful ones he keeps from his travels around Europe. In this way, he confessed that he had a craving for a Spanish beer, which was handed to him.
He also shared that from his home in Guadalajara (Mexico) he «dreamed of playing someday in this place,» recalling fondly how his mother and grandmother used to send him postcards from Seville, and how even then they imagined being on this stage someday. After that, the singer downed the beer in one gulp, joking with the audience: «I’m not one of those singers who get drunk on stage, although when I was young, I did, because I was embarrassed.»
Next, he announced that the next song was dedicated to «the beautiful, gypsy women of Andalusia,» and, in general, to all women who «like to go from flower to flower,» leading into ‘Mariposa traicionera.’ «Let them hear us all the way to Mexico!» exclaimed Olvera. In the middle of the song, he let out a humorous scream: «They’re all the same, even the Sevillanas!» before continuing with one of the band’s most iconic songs, ‘Te lloré como un río’.
The singer explained that this song was dedicated to his ex-girlfriend, humorously recalling his university days when he rode a bicycle due to lack of budget, «just like now,» he joked, adding that «I’ve earned it, cool.» In this context, he recounted that at that time there was a guy with a lot of money who tried to take her away, nicknamed «Piolín.» «I don’t know if they called him that because he was blonde or because of his size,» he said with laughter. According to him, after she left with the rich guy, she tried to come back to him, but he refused and dedicated ‘Te lloré un río’ to her, «so that everyone who has had their heart broken can hear it.»
‘Se me olvidó otra vez’ made even the press box vibrate, chanting the chorus: «that only I loved you.» This was one of the key moments of the concert, leading into ‘Oye mi amor,’ unleashing the audience’s excitement.
The singer, amidst laughter, exclaimed: «Since the Andalusians are so hot, we have to shout out on the dance floor!» This was when he challenged the audience, dividing the left and right sides of the venue, to compete by repeating his improvised phrases, like «¡a huevo!,» achieving a total connection with the audience.
«¡LATINOS, STAND FOR YOUR RIGHT!»
Next, the singer dedicated a song to the Mexicans living in Los Angeles, who, in his words, «are screwed by the shitty politicians.» With this message of social denunciation, he transitioned into a version of Bob Marley’s iconic song ‘Get Up, Stand Up,’ adapting the message forcefully: «Latinos, stand for your right!» After that, he moved on to ‘Me vale,’ dedicated to the «authentic people of Seville,» and the audience, full of fans, welcomed it with ovations.
The Mexicans took a brief pause to make way for a drum solo by Sergio Vallín, showcasing his great skill with percussion and leaving the audience in awe.
The second part of the concert began when the singer reappeared in a new outfit, a satin electric blue shirt. At that moment, he made a video call with his son Salvador, resembling the Catalan painter Dalí, to show him this place «one of the most beautiful in the world» that he has yet to see.
He then dedicated the next song to «the most beloved beings we have,» comparing them to elephants, known for «being one of the most affectionate and protective mammals with their family.» This led into ‘Eres mi religión,’ accompanied by a huge inflatable elephant that appeared on the stage. Next came Aire, with the vocalist starting off with a harmonica.
The eager audience welcomed ‘En el Muelle de San Blás’ with joyful shouts, a song that ended with Olvera inviting everyone to raise their hands to the beat of an emotional «Up Seville, Andalusia, and Spain!» Thus, he appeared again on stage with a flashlight, as if searching among the crowd for the love the woman left on the pier. After that moment, it was time to share one of their great hits with the audience: ‘Labios compartidos’.
«RAYANDO EL SOL POR SEVILLA»
To close, the vocalist began ‘Rayando el sol’ playing the harmonica, while tying up his hair due to the intense heat of Seville. In this context, he commented that the atmosphere was «scratching the Seville sun» and joked saying that after traveling the world, they sing «cabrón» in Spain and in Andalusia, «more cabrón.» He then asked for the stage lights to be turned off to admire the Plaza de España in the dark, where only his voice and music could be heard, singing with emotion: «Rayando el sol por ti, por mí, por Sevilla.»
This was the moment when he invited hope and love for the entire Iberian Peninsula, asking the audience to turn on their mobile phone lights to send that light to the world, especially to those suffering from conflicts like Palestine and Ukraine. Thus, he denounced that «war is a weapon of the ignorant» and urged Spain to invest in education instead of armament.
The last song was ‘Clavado en un bar,’ with the singer toasting in honor of the audience and introducing his band. In this context, Olvera highlighted the keyboardist Juan Carlos Toribio, who studied at the University of Seville and is originally from the Macarena neighborhood, from where he made his way to Mexico. The band bid farewell singing the final chorus, as the stage filled with smoke, plastic balls fell onto the audience, and they blew farewell kisses.
