Sick of the proverbial karaoke nights, and second rate pretenders on the Costa Blanca?
There is an alternative: the real thing - Spanish folklore music. Right now, this genre is under serious threat, but there is one very special singer in particular Mercedes Cano, 35, from Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca whos keeping the art well and truly alive.
On one of my rare social visits to see Francisco Rando at a car rental office in Las Siesta on the outskirts of Torrevieja on Thursday 20 May, our conversation drifted away from rental business. Soon, I discovered Francisco is an accomplished singer and musician who had played in orchestras that travelled the length and breadth of Spain. He then told me that his wife, 36 year-old Mercedes, is a singer of considerable reputation, having, at the age of 16, performed for the Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco, 20 years ago.
As a music journalist, my intrigue was heightened. I then asked when he and / or his wife were performing next. Using all the charm skills I could quickly muster, I was soon invited to witness the diva in action in Lorca, just the other side of Murcia.
This was the moment, after nine years of enduring the run-of-the mill, (mostly) British, entertainment on offer, Id been waiting for. Now I had finally managed to escape the fodder thrust down our throats on the CB circuit. At long last, I was going to see, and hear, what Id been desperately waiting for.
On our 90 minute journey to Lorca, I am told about the history of Spanish folklore music, which sent my music juices into overdrive.
At its core the music can be very, very dramatic, bordering on the key elements of opera. Fire, passion, love, loss, and heartache, all the necessary components, for musical fireworks. It transpires that its roots are steeped in the 1920s - 1940s, so by definition this is going to be a seriously retro-night. However there were going to be some surprises, as Mercedes planned to introduce some new material of her own, which would test both her and the unsuspecting audience.
By now, I was gagging to see this attractive lady in action, and I wasnt going to be disappointed either. On the way, I get a chance to hear Mercedes cultured tubes on one of the CDs shed be selling later in the evening at Pena Flamenca.
Francisco admitted shed lost some of her youthful power, only to be replaced by greater technique and timbre. He also told me she needs to be angry to perform. I asked how she achieved this emotional state. Simple. He annoys her with whatever means at his disposal. This night, it turned out to be a secret, and I didnt poke my nose. These two are consummate pros and I left it at that this was their gig, and I was virtually out of my depth.
Having heard Mercedes on the car CD, I draw on my limited knowledge of Spanish music; I detected a sinew of North African (Moorish) influence. This night she had serious competition in the bar the Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Jose Mourihnios Inter Milan. Nevertheless, the turnout is substantial at this venue, a simple room with suitably dressed tables and chairs. All around us, black and white and colour photographs reminded us of the venues great heritage. Pictures of luminaries such as established Flamenco-guitarist Tomatito, sizzling virtuoso Franco, and old stars like Estora Pavon and Antonia Mairena, stare at us all.
Dressed in traditional costume, with slicked back hair and fan, Mercedes strikes a dramatic pose and those cultured tubes go into overdrive. The mostly middle age to elderly audience, but theres the odd youngster mooching around, are awestruck by her impact. Pretty soon shes strutting and delivering her trade with extreme confidence the fans flicking, shes gesticulating her Latino stuff. By song three shes belting out an a capella song to the amazement of the highly appreciative, intimate, crowd.
Next she starts flirting with the transfixed audience and moves off the curved stage to engage face-to-face with mesmerized fans. And they are fans, big ones too. The crowd whistles and cheer, inevitably shes got them in the palm of her hand, and it stays that way for the entire gig. Adoring husband, Francisco, makes sure the sound is as perfect it can be, and its bang on. Soon the anger and drama gushes on another a capella song, resulting in a hard-hitting foot stomp with Ole ringing out. Then I witness her finely tuned charm skills which wow the entranced locals, and theyre clapping and foot-tapping freely, while the atmosphere reaches fever pitch.
During the short Bingo break, Francisco reveals Mercedes isnt angry enough, so he delves into his arsenal of tricks. He needs to make her jealous of something. Its not the macho thing of chatting-up the ladies. Apparently, its a simple trick a glass of cold Coca Cola. Apparently, this will send her into a kind of rage, because as a singer, the mere sight of a cold Coke is a no-go area as it would severely affect her dulcet tones - Francisco is on a winner for the second half.
Fired-up in new garb, Mercedes is out to wow them again, and it doesnt take long. Mic in hand, this most eloquent of singers, waved her fan and reeled them in, while she promenaded, fluttered that black fan, and the peineta sparkles in the three spotlights.
Tradition is oozing out of every pore as she mingles (promenades) once more and they love it. Hitting all the held notes, she pulls out all the stops and its mightily impressive. Not only is the voice spectacular, the hand gestures highly stylized, adding to the overall effect. This woman knows what shes doing: shes been at it since the age of three, remember.
By now, the drama was palpable, even though I didnt understand a word, not that it mattered. Thats the beauty of this type of show. Out of the blue she mercurially teased four into swinging their booty on the small dance floor, supported by heavy bouts of hand-clapping, while three-year old son Samuel watched gob-smacked, followed by more exhibitionism.
The gig was ending, but more was to come, a lovely moment. Samuel unexpectedly wandered over to his mum centre stage, and she gently embraced, and sang to him, a memorable highlight. Two and a half hours had flown by. Everybody was happy, including this novice of traditional Spanish music.
Now its your turn to be wowed. Inevitably, her CDs were sold out in minutes. Its easy to see why.
The verdict Outstanding talent.