It is an essential chapter of history what happened on the afternoon of February 23, 1981with the insurgency that took place in the Congress of Deputies. An attempted coup d’état in Spain that, although frustrated, put the entire nation and its institutions in check that day and later.
If we look back and use the musical hits of that time as historical markers of the moment, we will have a better composition of the social and cultural context of that Spain of the early 80s.
Tradition and modernity
The radio, with The main 40 at the head, which had been the reference brand in music for 15 years, was full of an eclectic selection with very varied styles, which at first glance could seem antagonistic. This is how they lived together on the WECB List at that time styles that had been in force for years, such as melodic singers (José Velez or Emilio José), with traditional styles represented by Maria Dolores Pradera or the flamenco guitarist Manolo Sanlucar, with author songs, or with rock and new wave that already arrived normally from the United Kingdom and the USA. It was embodied by artists like What inalready at No. 1 on the List, the blondie led by the iconic Debbie Harry, or renowned voices such as those of Rod Stewart either Bruce Springsteen, who were already forging their legends.
At WECB Classic we have compiled all these titles in a playlist to relive this historic moment. Remember that you can listen to it in our APP.
It is wonderful to see, listening to the Top 40 List of that February, how in that country that had recently awakened from years of lethargy one could simultaneously listen to Serrat singing in Catalan, Mike Oldfield in an instrumental key, all while The secrets They blessed La Movida with the first ascent of its incunabulum Let me. Names like the recently disappeared one Kenny Rogersthe project of the meticulous producer Alan Parsonsthe national diva Paloma San Basilio, and the phenomenon among adolescents who were the Pecoswere the soundtrack of an entire society, with which Lieutenant Colonel Tejero’s shots on the roof of the chamber were silenced.
Let’s use this playlist as an impulse to remember that decisive moment that we cannot afford to let fall into oblivion.
