Joan Manuel Serrat turns 80 years old between awards and recognition

Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat will turn 80 tomorrow and still has the strength for many things because, although he left the scene a year ago, his agenda is full of activities.

Since he put an end to his tour in December 2022 with an emotional concert in Barcelona, ​​his hometown, his presence has multiplied in other arenas, with accolades and awards, such as the Medal of Honor from General Society of Authors and Editors (SGAE) or the National Culture of the Regional Government of Catalonia.

But not only recognitions and awards They kept him busy, he gave lectures at Harvard University, he maintained a close relationship with the non-governmental organization Open Arms, which deals with rescuing immigrants in the Mediterranean, and he also performed at friends’ concerts.

“I retired from the scene, not to live“, says Joan Manuel Serrat to journalists who usually take advantage of these events to ask him how retirement seems to him.

“I’m living more than ever,” admits Serrat, “who hopes this will slow things down a bit, because I’m living faster than when I was on tour.”

Serrat: musician and “ethical reference”

He is not the only one who is active, so are they journalists who have followed him since his beginnings, such as Juan Ramón Iborra who recently published ‘On Joan Manuel Serrato’.

“Serrat has not finished his work cyclewill still surprise us,” assures EFE the author of this magnificent book, halfway between an essay and a biography.

The avalanche of awards he is getting these days should have reached him A long timethe journalist believes, but it’s never too late if the joy is good and these recognitions allow the singer-songwriter to continue expressing and conveying thoughts and emotions, as he always did, but with more words and fewer songs.

“Serrat is not only a musician – states Iborra – it is also an ethical reference and as such it will not disappear. – People like him don’t retire and sunbathe.

The author ‘About Serrato’ He is convinced that he will continue to communicate with his audience in different ways and does not rule out the possibility that one of them will be musical.

“Joan Manuel continued to compose and I’m sure he has a drawer full of sheet music,” he warns. “He’s very busy now, but as soon as he has time for it, he’ll probably release a new album.”

It is most likely to go on tour as Serrat himself has said several times that it is a formula that is “too demanding” and prefers to use other forms of expression.

Age limits

During this year, the singer-songwriter confirmed many times in his decision to leave the stage as he did, “in good health and without any convincing reason for it”.

Serrat is convinced that it is better to say goodbye “when there is no discontent among people” and “he is happy to have devoted his life to creating songs”, which he still does, “privately”.

But he is also aware that age forces us to set boundaries he talks about old age as a difficult phase.

“I don’t really like the path I’m on,” the singer-songwriter admits, “but since I know I can’t change it, run and get as much good out of it as possible.”