Maná’s Musical Combat

By Sandra Velázquez

Translation: Mariela Pérez-Simons

Dallas Photo Gallery

DALLAS – Maná, with their clear sound and eloquent lyrics, sold out their September 7th concert at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The Mexican band enjoyed the success of their album Amar es Combatir playing hits such as “Ojalá Pudiera Borrarte,” “Labios Compartidos” and “Bendita tu Luz,” while the strings created an atmosphere of delight and serenity at the same time.

In a first-class concert Maná portrayed from beginning to end their ideals to fight injustice and pollution, singing songs like “Cuando los Ángeles Lloran” and “Dónde Jugarán los Niños.” Before this last song, they displayed the following phrase on large screens in the venue: “Our power is growing faster than our wisdom.”

The unmistakable tinges of reggae in Maná’s traditional pop-rock are the backbone of their sound. Their vocalist, Fernando Olvera, prefers that the messages of protest or support for current affairs emanate from their songs – instead of giving a personal speech – although occasionally he encourages his fans not to stop fighting to get ahead in the United States.

Estéfany Chávez, a resident of Arlington, Texas, feels that connection. She follows Maná “for their lyrics, because they capture people’s feelings and what is happening in the world.”

Maná has touched millions with their socially-conscious songs, but the subject of love has also played an important role in Maná’s repertoire; that’s why ballads such as “Mariposa Traicionera,” “Te Lloré un Río” or “Vivir sin Aire” had to be included.

The beloved band allowed time during the concert to showcase the talents of other band members such Álex González’s talent, who during his solo performance showed that on top of hammering the drums he can also twist his body into strange contortions without losing controls of the drumsticks.

Sharon Camacho of Dallas – visibly touched and sitting near the stage – confessed that the band from Guadalajara was “the only Latin rock band I knew in the eighties, and I’ve liked them since”.

Veterans in the music industry, Maná, relived their highly-praised collaboration with Santana a few years back singing “Corazón Espinado.”

“Everyone knows them in Europe, Latin America and Asia,” said Mauro Borjas, a native of Chihuahua, Mexico, while leaving the concert. And that’s because Maná has collaborated with several international artists such as the Panamanian singer Rubén Blades or the Italian Zucchero, just to mention a couple.

Right before the end of the concert, Fher waved the Mexican flag and reminded the crowd that it’s a symbol that represents all Latin America, from South America to Central America, all the way to the north of the continent, where those who share the Spanish language are now millions.

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