Why this band’s covers are better than the originals

They incarnated in the Malasaña sound in the late eighties and began releasing One of the best Spanish rock albumswho spent nearly four decades on the road and on stage before becoming one of our country’s most enduring and iconic bands.

Throughout their ten studio albums, three soundtracks, many live performances, several EPs and numerous collaborations, there are versions that have surpassed the original songs of the musicians and bands that this Madrid band pays tribute to.

Rosendo, Leño, Burning, Siniestro Total and Joan Manuel Serrat are all Spanish references, although they also borrow from outside our borders, from Buddy Holly to the Flamin’ Groovies, to Gloria Gaynor or ABBA. A wide range? Well, it also includes Palito Ortega and Concha Piquer!

Neither the vicissitudes of fashion nor the passing of time have had any impact on his impeccable career, which has been blessed by critics and embraced by legions of fans, as evidenced by his latest album, The Beastwhere they revived their most punk style and introduced A clearer message, criticizing the system and the rise of the far right.

Here is a brief selection of the best versions of Los Enemigos, although some impossible-to-find cuts are also included, some rare works by Josele Santiago (their charismatic leader, responsible for the microphone, guitar and lyrics of the band), classics by Lou Reed or adaptations of dramatic texts by Federico García Lorca.

Serrart’s “Lady”

No one coughs against Joan Manuel Serrat, but out of respect, Los Enemigos dared to create a version of “Señora” that, for some fans, could compete with the original. Big words and high octane. They made it their own, to the point where it is considered their own. Included in the tribute album to Serrat, “you are unique” (BMG / RCA, 1995). A classic of the Madrid group – aliens.

Rosendo’s “And Then Sleep”

Rosendo Mercado takes to the stage at La Riviera to sing with Josele Santiago I, the Kingincluded in the live performances of Los Enemigos Obras escocida (1985-2000). This admiration was always mutual, so much so that the eternal rock singers from Carabanchel classified them as “Madrid’s most iconic rock group”.

Their participation therefore corresponds to the tribute album “Agradecidos…Rosendo” (RCA, 1997), recorded three years before the live album. The opening credits are sung by Los Enemigos, who, with the permission of the founders of Leño, offer a brilliant interpretation of “So Sleep” that, as in the case of “Señora”, for some fans surpasses the original song.

I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor

Long before the successful rescue and re-emergence of Gloria Gaynor, Los Enemies brought I Will Survive to their battlefields in two versions, “Resucitao” and “Acojonao”, included on the soundtrack of the film Se Wanted Fulmontis, directed by Álex Calvo Sotelo, although the second one appeared only on the vinyl version published by their own record label Alkilo, run by bassist Fino Oyonarte.

In Search of Fulmontis (Virgin / Chewaka, 1999) could be considered a small disc. However, it reflects Los Enemigos’ expertise in covers, as they are not intimidated by any artist or genre. Namely: Dirty Love by Frank Zappa; Although You Are Not a Virgin, sung by Piff Amador, Although Josel by Silvio and Sacramento; Happiness by Palito Ortega; and of course, No Solution, Leño.

Chueca, the Burner

“Tumbado a la bartola” by Siniestro Total

Josele Santiago’s piercing voice makes the lyrics of “Chueca” in “Burning” even more vivid, Los Enemigos’ contribution to the tribute concert to the late Pepe Risi, held at the Macumba Concert Hall in 1997 and released a year later on the album “Una noche sin ti” (Sony/Colombia, 1998).

Soon after, they participated in the live triple album of Siniestro Total, Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? (Dro, 2002), where they performed Tumbado a la bartola. It was another back-and-forth friendship move, since Julian Hernández had already sung in one of the recording environments of Obras escocida, Donde en La Riviera.

Only Foolish Shepherds by Federico García Lorca

In fact, “Balad, balad caretas” is not a version, but an adaptation of a short scene from “Solo del Pastor Bobo” in the play El Público by Federico García Lorca. The song was written to commemorate the centenary of the poet’s birth and is included in the album De Granada a la Luna (Sombra, 1998).

Los Enemigos starts from scratch, although Enrique Morente had already tackled this problem in El European (1996) with Lagartija Nick and flamenco artists such as Vicente Amigo, Tomatito or Cañizares. Undoubtedly, the Lorca chosen by José Santiago is not at all obvious, very symbolic and critical, with confusing, overflowing and surreal images.

Los Enemigos affiliates, rarities and some songs

Los Enemigos did not take long to record a version, because on their first album Ferpectamente (Gasa, 1986) they had already included the instrumental Plis plis mi, a reference to Please Please Me by the Beatles. The spirit of that beer era, 100% Malasaña, is also reflected in the album Agapo Live (Romilar-D, 1989), which was the band’s bar and refuge.

There they recorded Rufus Thomas’s “Walking the Dog” live, although the closest reference was the Flamin’ Groovies, whom they admired, from whom they borrowed “Shakin’ All Over.” Johnny Kidd’s original song, Los Enemigos remixed it with Link Wray’s Run Chicken Run and renamed it Chicken All Over.

This is one of the cuts from the Munster Dancehall Favourites EP! (Munster Records, 1987), to which other Anglo-Saxon references were added, such as “Wasted” by The Runaways; “Angry Silence” by TV Personalities; and “Heartbeat” by Buddy Holly, all collected on By the Shadow / Sister Amnesia (RCA, 1995), which also includes the wonderful “Waterloo” by ABBA.

Singular is Disco Náutico (Trilobite, 2008), a limited edition vinyl recording of a concert held in August 2004 at the San Vicente do Mar Náutico club, in which Josele Santiago was accompanied on microphone by Coque Malla, with support from Pablo Novoa, Ricardo Moreno, Óscar Avendaño, Nico Pastoriza, Elias Casamo or Pitti Sanz.

It is no stranger to covers by Randy Newman, Booby Troup, Dr. Feelgood, Fats Domino, as well as Buddy Holly and Rufus Thomas. However, it is surprising that “Romance de valor”, written by Quintero, León and Quiroga, was made popular by Concha Piquer and included in Canciones escocida, although Josele Santiago was sung by Emilio el Moro.

As a climax, a wonderful version of “Satellite of Love” by Lou Reed, who bid farewell to the stage in 2002 and was included in the live album “Hasta el Monday” (Warner, 2012). It was an unforgettable night in the Riviera, where the crowds were tripled in the end due to the great demand of the fans.