Joaquín Sabina

Joaquín Sabina, born Joaquín Ramón Martínez Sabina on February 12, 1949 in Úbeda (Jaén), began writing poetry and playing in youth bands before gravitating to Spain’s cantautor movement, where his literate, streetwise lyricism took shape in Madrid’s song clubs after the end of Franco’s regime. His debut album Inventario (1978) introduced his narrative style, but it was Malas Compañías (1980)—and especially the enduring anthem “Pongamos que hablo de Madrid”—that established him nationally. He broadened his palette with the rock-leaning Ruleta Rusa (1984) and partnered with Pancho Varona and the band Viceversa on Juez y parte (1985), which yielded “Princesa” and led to the widely celebrated concert document Joaquín Sabina y Viceversa en directo (1986). A prolific run followed: Hotel, dulce hotel (1987), El hombre del traje gris (1988), and Mentiras piadosas (1990) expanded his audience across Latin America; Física y química (1992) delivered staples like “Y nos dieron las diez”; Esta boca es mía (1994) and Yo, mi, me, contigo (1996) deepened his reputation for bittersweet romantic vignettes. He teamed with Fito Páez for the duet project Enemigos íntimos (1998) and capped the decade with the landmark 19 días y 500 noches (1999). After surviving a stroke in 2001, Joaquín Sabina returned with Dímelo en la calle (2002) and the reflective Alivio de luto (2005), then reunited with Joan Manuel Serrat for the blockbuster tour and live set Dos pájaros de un tiro (2007) and its follow-up collaboration La orquesta del Titanic (2012). Later highlights include Vinagre y rosas (2009), the solo tour 500 noches para una crisis (2015), and Lo niego todo (2017). His long career is chronicled in the documentary Sintiéndolo mucho (2022), and he remained active on international stages into the mid-2020s.