Víctor Manuel Essentials
Apple Music
Beginning with Dame la Mano ("Give Me Your Hand") in 1972, Spanish singer/songwriter Victor Manuel's poetic antiwar lyrics, leftist politics and working-class concerns led to serious censorship issues (including a six-month Mexican exile) until Franco's death in 1975. In 1979, however, Soy un Corazón Tendido al Sol ("I'm a Heart Lying in the Sun") was a huge success thanks to its melodic pop-rock sound and a hit song about a developmentally disabled couple's love. Manuel continued to write from his conscience as well, often collaborating with fellow travelers from Cuba and elsewhere.