Even today, 4.9 million people listen to Gustavo Cerati’s music every month, just in his solo career; Soda Stereo also remains in the public’s taste with 10 million listens. This is how the legacy that the Argentine musician left behind shows that neither his transcendence, nor the new and multiple musical proposals that emerge every day, can extinguish the light of a genius like him.
It is common to find videos, photographs, and phrases circulating on social media recalling the dedicated personality that Cerati was on stage, but also off it.
How when in an interview for an Argentine media outlet he admitted that he didn’t sleep well, and that, despite his fame, he wasn’t in the best of spirits. That sincerity and humanity was what made the echo of his music remain until now.
Read also: More than 20 years after their separation, Soda Stereo will finally receive their first Grammy
“Being able to say goodbye is like growing up,” “You deserve what you dream of,” “If I kept quiet about something, it’s because I understood everything, except the distance,” are phrases that still define the singer today, but also a generation of audiences who grew up listening to his music and adopted his messages as an amulet.
However, all this was overshadowed in 2010 when on May 15th after a concert in Caracas, Venezuela as part of his Fuerza Natural tour, Cerati suffered a stroke from which he never recovered. He spent 4 years in a coma, until his death on September 4th, 2014.
Today, he would have turned 65, so we share these 5 keys to understanding his life and career.
1. Creation and evolution of Soda Stereo
The formation of Soda Stereo in 1982 and its subsequent success throughout Latin America are fundamental to understanding Cerati’s musical personality. The band not only defined an era of rock en español, but also showed Cerati’s ability to lead a project that attempted to be disruptive from the beginning, integrating international influences with a Latin identity. His willingness to explore new sounds and styles, as in the albums “Signos” and “Dynamo,” reflects his restless and creative personality.
2. Soda Stereo’s farewell concert in 1997:
The “last concert” at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires marked a key moment not only in his career, but also in his personal life. The phrase “Gracias todos” (Thank you very much), which he uttered at the end of the show, became an icon for the world of rock music and even beyond it, the public took it as a sign of his gratitude and the emotional connection he had with them. This farewell was both a closure and a new beginning for Cerati, who decided to follow his own artistic path.
3. Puff (1999):
This album was his first major solo work after the dissolution of Soda Stereo and is a reflection of his ability to reinvent himself. “Bocanada* mixes rock, electronic and orchestral elements, which is considered a demonstration of his ability to combine genres in an innovative way. The album also reveals his introspective character and his search for authenticity, moving away from Soda Stereo to create something completely new.
4. His collaboration with musicians of different genres:
Throughout his career, Cerati collaborated with a wide variety of artists, from rock to electronic music, including projects with musicians such as Daniel Melero, Shakira, and Roger Waters. These collaborations show his openness and constant curiosity, as well as his respect for musical diversity. His ability to adapt and find inspiration in different artistic contexts underlines his flexibility and passion for music.
5. His relationship with the public and his work ethic:
Gustavo Cerati was known for his total dedication to his art, even during the most difficult times of his personal life. The Fuerza Natural tour in 2009-2010, during which he suffered the stroke that would eventually put him into a coma, is an example of his total dedication to his music and his fans. His work ethic and desire to connect with his audience until the very last moment are testament to his humanity and commitment.
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