When I Sing, I feel Alive

“I know I shall enjoy Budva immensely. I love the sea and the sun. These are the two necessary elements which make up my life”, Hulio Iglesias, the greatest Latino-star of all times says, while announcing his performance in Budva’s Songs of the Mediterranean Festival on 29 June.

Romantic Spanish singer, who has been on a world tour since last year tells Vijesti in an exclusive interview that singing equals life for him, and that he is looking forward to his arrival to Montenegro.

“My current tour is focused on my greatest hits, as 2008 marks 40th anniversary of my career. “Manuela“, “La Carretera“, “Me olvidé de vivir“, “Hey!”, “Abrázame“ are just some of the songs that now make my repertoire. This is a very special journey for me, as it brought me back to many places where I had not performed for a long time. For me, as an artist, to return is the privilege, which means that the people did not forget me and I am most grateful for that. “

You said that you will sing till the day you die. So, you can not picture your life without music?

“Yes, music is a very important part of my life. For me, to sing means to be alive. I enjoy my performances and the company of my audience. It gives me the energy to move on.”

Has the age structure of your audience changed over the years, as your career moved one?

“I think I am a very lucky artist, as I often see people of all generations among my audience, together, connected with the passion for music. For me, that is the magic of music – it unites people, regardless of their age or sex. “

Which audience does your most recent album target?

“My latest release „Quelque chose de France“, went public in 2007. It is dedicated to France, a country which has a special place in my heart and where I feel at home. With this album, I want to thank my fans in France for their continuous support which had lasted throughout the four decades of my career.”

You sing in seven languages? Can you speak each of them?

“As a matter of fact, I have been singing in ten languages. Among them, Spanish, English, France, Italian, Portuguese, German, Tagalong (language of natives at the Philippines), Mandarin Japanese… Of course, I do not understand each and every one of them, but I am fluent in five languages. Every time when I am singing in a foreign language, I do my best to make that special connection with the people in which this language is used and, thus, provide them with an opportunity to feel the music with even more emotions.”

You have enormous number of hits, millions of your CD’s are sold worldwide. Do you think you have already sung “the song of your life” or are you still searching for that perfect number?

“All my pieces are ‘the songs of my life’, as each of them has a special place in my heart. They had been written and performed with true love and dedication. Whenever I record a new song, I try to make it better than the previous one. I do not believe in perfection, but I do believe in work and personal prosperity.”

Film biographies of famous musicians are very popular these days. Would you you’re your life-story to be recorded on film?

“In the year 1969, I have recorded a movie about my self, which had been entitled „La vida sigue igual“, after the first song I did in my career. I played myself. Film follows on the years which had fully marked my life: a traffic accident which I have survived when I was 20 and which made me give up football, as well as the first couple of years of my career as a musician.

Later on, I also did a life which focused on one typical day of my life. I am not thinking about doing another movie based on my career. At this point, what is most important is living my life and enjoying each single moment.

Your sons, Hulio Hose and Enrike are also in show-business. How do you feel about their music?

“I am proud of all the two of them have achieved. They are very talented, they have worked hard and they have deserved their success.”

As a star with a 40-year long career, do you give them some advises?

“It is not my habit to give advises. Of course, they know very well they can count on me if they need my advice or support.”

The Only True Love

Numerous affairs with world-class beauties, famous and less famous women, led to the creation of Hulio Iglesias’ image as an irresistible man. Asked if there has been a woman which he failed to charm, he laughs and says: “Thank God, I have been rejected many times. If all the women would have said ‘yes’, I would be long gone by now”, Iglesias says, failing, however, to reveal the name of a woman who said ‘no’ to him.

Hulio adds that this period was now in a distant past: “It is no secret that I have been with many women. However, I now have one and only love: my wife, Miranda. We have been together for 17 years and we have five children. She is a lovely wife and a mother and I feel lucky to be able to share my life with her.”

Iglesias is also known as a world-class gentleman. His words: “I love to treat everyone with respect and be pleasant when being with people”, are the most accurate illustration of how he had earned this title.

Unlike many contemporary stars, who use their participation in humanitarian actions as a means for self-promotion, Iglesias does not want to specify just how much of his wealth he had donated in charity. Asked if he supported some humanitarian organization, Iglesias says: “My wife and I take active part in humanitarian actions. But, I feel it is my duty to help, not to talk about it in the media, so I wish to keep this part of my life private.”

“I Know I’ll Enjoy Budva”

You have never been in Montenegro. What do you know about this country and the Festival you will take part of?

“Yes, this will indeed be my first visit to Montenegro. However, considering the fact that it became independent only in June 2006, I am glad that there were only two years prior to my first performance. I know about Montenegro as much as I could read about it and I cannot wait to visit it and feel its’ charms in person. For instance, I know that Budva is one of the most significant tourist centers on the coast of the Adriatic. I love the sea and the sun – they are the two vital elements of my life. So, I am confident I would enjoy Budva immensely.”

Restless at the Age of 70

“Every 30 seconds, one the radio stations in the planet plays a song by Hulio Iglesias”, this singer’s official web-presentation reads. Nevertheless, his career might have gone in a fully different direction: as a young man, respecting the will of his father, Iglesias had enrolled to the Faculty of Lay, at which he did graduate, but only in 2001. During his days as a student, he had been a goalkeeper for Real Madrid. But, in 1963, a serious car accident seals his career as a football player for good.

During his recovery, he had started to play a guitar and compose songs. After completing his studies in English, he dedicates himself to music. At the end of 1960s, he wins the first place at the Festival at Benidrom and starts recording one album after another. He gains more and more attention and popularity and, over just a few years, earns the status of the greatest Latino-star ever. He continues to record new songs and his fame does not fade. Countless singles and albums have been sold in more than 250 million copies worldwide.

Despite his numberless love affairs, which used to be the hottest topic for the tabloids, his name has never been connected to any sort of inappropriate behavior. From his first, failed, marriage, he has three children: Marina Isabelle, Hulio Hose and Enrike. Since 1991, his life companion is Miranda. Together they are raising their five children: Miguel Alexandro, Rodrigo, Christina and Vitoria. From this relationships Hulio Iglesias, a man whose father got his last child at the age of 87, also has a one-year old son Guillermo.

By: Ivana NOVAKOVIĆ-LEKOVIĆ