19 days and 500 nights is one of the most emblematic songs by Joaquín Sabina. It was the first single from the album that bears the same title, published in 1999. The singer-songwriter from Jaén wanted to turn his career around at that time, when he was going through a difficult time.
In an interview on La Sexta Noche in 2015, he commented on the compositions on that album: “They were the product of a very key moment in my life, of a rather important life change.” She mentioned that she had experienced a “change of woman” and of customs: “I abandoned some habits that are not recommended for youth, especially. I left the bars and the night and I began to learn to age.”
The album followed Intimate Enemies, released a year earlier and in which he had formed a team with Fito Páez. His promotion was marked by conflicts and disagreements between the two artists. The recording of 19 days and 500 nights took place between December 1998 and June 1999.
The book that includes the special edition of the work, published in 2011, includes the words of the interpreter: “To escape the deluge (on wet) I retired to the desert with San Antonio Oliver (sweet company) for 19 days and 500 nights. There, Without a telephone, with provisions, whiskey, tranquilizers, plus the priceless and exquisite care of Miss María Ignacia, we managed to finish this handful of songs”.
The artist explained that his compositions always start with a verse. “In the case of 19 days and 500 nights, it is one that usually goes unnoticed, but which is the cruelest in the song: ‘I do not ask for forgiveness. For what? If he is going to forgive me because he no longer cares’. They had just to leave me and I said to myself: ‘I’m going to have to get back at her somehow, I’m going to have to write her a song that will haunt her all her life!’ And that’s how the subject came up. Now, the son of a bitch is saying that I did a very beautiful song. Doesn’t it bother you?”
The book 19 days and 500 nights, Sabina fin de siglo, the work of Juan Puchades, states that the single that gives the album its title was “revenge” so that the woman who had abandoned the singer “would feel bad.” She was the model Cristina Zubillaga, who participated in the documentary production Let’s say I’m talking about Sabina, available on Atresplayer Premium.
The singer-songwriter’s ex spoke about their relationship and about some uncomfortable episodes she experienced. He confirmed that he gave the keys to his home to many of his friends: “It was very unpleasant. I found everything there. I wanted to kill Joaquín. I got up and found people in the house. ‘No, I’m here to Show Joaquín’s house to this friend,’ one told me. That it was my house!”
Travis Birds and Benjamín Prado are responsible for 19 days and 500 nights later, which shows the perspective of the woman Sabina talks about in her iconic song. This song is part of Neither so young nor so old, a tribute album to the musician that was released in 2019.
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