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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 28 June 2019
Julio Iglesias reflects on a life that 'has been a miracle'

By SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS ary artists that have since
NEW YORK (AP) — At 75 and passed away, came to see
after a five-decade-long me, and I didn't make the
career, Julio Iglesias keeps time. It didn't occur to me
performing internationally, to approach them, to have
driven by his passion and, dinner with them and ask
above all, a relentless dis- them about their lives to
cipline. learn from them.
It's something the Span- AP: You career demanded
ish crooner says he had constant traveling. Would
to learn early on, after a you have liked to spend
nearly fatal car accident more time with your family?
frustrated his plans to play Iglesias: I don't think — and
professional soccer. I always say this clearly —
"In fact, my life has been that it affected my rela-
a miracle," says Iglesias, tionship with my children.
recalling how he spent Quite the opposite. Enrique
"months and months" in is a singer, Julio is a singer,
bed unable to move, and Chabeli did television for
then needed canes to walk many years. Then there is
for more than two years. Miguel, the only one who
The "magical" accident doesn't like to sing. Ro-
— as he calls it today — drigo, who loves music.
stripped him of his physi- And the younger girls, who
cal strength and his life as now want to be models or
he knew it, but it also gave something. And my little
him a greater awareness Guillermo plays the piano,
of other people's struggles the drums, he is a natural
and helped him learn to musician. I think all those
fight, to listen, to look peo- things happened because
ple in the eye. "You see life I opened a highway for
differently, you learn to live them. Of course, they need
again," Iglesias says. to follow it, amplify it and
It also put him in the path seek other roads, separate
of music. While Iglesias was from that road. But that
struggling to move his arms opened a door that is the
and fingers, his physician- door of light, and the door
father's assistant gave him In this Sept. 29, 2016 file photo, Spain's singer Julio Iglesias smiles during his star unveiling cer- of light is magical. That
an old guitar as a gift. emony at the Walk of Fame in San Juan, Puerto Rico. makes me not regret it. If
"I learned five or six harmo- Associated Press I had taken much more
nies from a music book that care of my children, they
I had, don't think I learned gin Sept. 14 in Boston. Iglesias: Giving advice is AP: In retrospective, any- wouldn't have lights. And I
much more than that be- How does he do it? very easy ... but giving ad- thing you regret about your would have lost my time.
cause I couldn't move my "Everything was a bigger vice to younger people life or your career? AP: At 75, anything you
fingers that fast. That is why struggle for me, everything is hard. I have two older Iglesias: I regret not hav- would still like to achieve?
my first songs have two or required a bigger effort, so sons that sing, Julio and En- ing taken more advantage Iglesias: Many things. I like a
three harmonies," the sing- I understood that the sole rique, and they don't allow of time — of the solidity of lot to read; I don't read that
er recalls with a laugh. basis for my future was dis- me to give them advice. time, the intention of time. much anymore. I loved to
But those few chords were cipline, and I maintain that They don't, neither of them. That's why I don't like to travel; I travel less. In real-
more than enough to discipline today, at 75," And when we start talking sleep much anymore. Had ity, time puts many things in
launch an impressive ca- Iglesias assures. "I mean, about music, the conversa- I known when I was 20 that its place. Stairs seem much
reer. Iglesias, who also stud- going out onstage to sing is tion takes a different turn I was going to be a musi- longer and steeper. Every-
ied law, debuted in 1969 an act of discipline and of and goes to other places cian, I would have taken thing after 65 starts to be
with the album "Yo canto" absolute passion. Passion is because they need their to the piano, I would have a part of your life that you
and went on to become natural, but discipline is will- own free will, the absolute taken the guitar more seri- have to legitimize based on
one of the most success- power." freedom to choose what ously, I would have perfect- discipline. And give thanks
ful singers in the world, In a recent interview with they like. That is important. ed my knowledge of music. continuously. In fact, my life
with more than 250 million The Associated Press from AP: How did you develop AP: But here you are, one has been a miracle. Almost
records sold around the the Dominican Repub- that unique singing style? of the biggest artists in the like a novel: a person that
globe. lic, where he lives, Iglesias Julio Iglesias: In life, it is very world half a decade later. plays soccer, that has an
He has received awards spoke about his life, his ca- important to be natural, You didn't do so badly... accident and almost dies,
and accolades that in- reer, his family and his re- because that's what cre- Iglesias: No, but I think you that studies law and starts
clude the Gold Medal of grets. Remarks have been ates your style. Good or must learn as much as you to sing, that doesn't know
Merit in the Fine Arts from edited for clarity and brev- bad, liked or disliked, but can, and also know how to how to sing and sings, that
Spain, was named a knight ity. your style has to be unmis- learn. A few days ago, I re- doesn't know how to walk
of France's Legion of Honor AP: It's been 50 years since takable. When we speak of called when I had a huge and runs, that was a skinny
and, early this year, he re- the release of "Yo canto" Pavarotti, Plácido, Carreras American success with the boy and becomes stron-
ceived a Lifetime Achieve- and here you are, still sing- or Bocelli, we are funda- album "1100 Bel Air Place" ger. I was nobody. And I'm
ment Award at the Gram- ing strong. Besides disci- mentally speaking about and I gave 12 or 14 con- still nobody because deep
mys. He is currently touring pline, what else has worked great styles. I think the style certs at the Universal Am- down we are all nobodies.
in Europe ahead of a series for you? Any advice for the is more important than the phitheater. Gene Kelly, Fred Deep down it's the people
of shows in the U.S. that be- younger generations? voice. Astaire, Bob Hope, legend- that make us somebody.q