This week’s Throwback Thursday is about Soda Stereo. Why did we choose them for this week? Origen, the new album from Juanes, is set to drop tomorrow (we’ll have the review, don’t worry). In the vein of Latin rock, Soda Stereo is one of the greatest. However, they’re great and rock so it’s close enough for me.
Soda Stereo was an Argentinian group comprised of Gustavo Cerati, Zeta Bosio, and Charley Alberti. Soda Stereo released a total of 7 studio albums over their 15 year run. During their career together, they broke a number of records especially when it came to selling out concerts and selling records. Their third album “Signos” was such a hit that “Sodamania” took over Latin America. The band continued to put out massively successful albums until their last in 1995. The trio broke up in 1997 but reunited in 2007. Cerati died in 2014 after suffering cardiac arrest during a four year long coma due to a massive stroke. The two surviving members were on tour until COVID-19 hit.
This week’s song is Tratame Suavemente. This track comes off of their self-titled 1984 debut album. One of their better known songs, the title translates to, “Treat me softly”. Much like the rest of Soda Stereo’s lyrics, there’s a poetry to the words. Lines like, “You have to understand that I did not put your fears where are they stored” are beautiful and disguise multiple meanings. While the lyrics are romantic, there’s a hidden history behind them.
The song is considered a landmark in the history of Latin rock. It’s a ballad with hints of New Wave. It’s simple, but deftly combines the edge of rock with poetic lyrics and a counter-culture history.
From 1984, Tratame Suavemente.
For last week’s post, click right here.
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