Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini is on a world tour right now, and her performance in Mexico City at the Arena Ciudad de México on May 2nd fulfilled a “big dream” for her. She welcomed former Mecano singer Ana Torroja onstage to perform the band’s hit song “Hijo de la Luna.” It was a moment that connected cultures and generations, making Pausini emotional.
As Billboard reports, the feeling was mutual.
“For many years, you’ve been a huge inspiration,” Pausini told Torroja on stage. “In that small body, you inspire so much, and today you’ve made a big dream of mine come true, my little doll.” Torroja responded in kind by saying, “I had a lump in my throat the whole time. It’s an emotion that’s hard to control. Laura, you are a being of light.”
You can get a glimpse at the powerhouse duet in this short clip:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hRq_N-gKmZM
The Story Behind Mecano’s “Hijo de la Luna”
“Hijo de la Luna,” which translates to “son of the moon,” was written by José María Cano and first appeared on Mecano’s 1986 album “Entre el Cielo y el suelo.” It tells the tragic story of a Roma woman who begs to the moon to marry a man. The moon agrees, but demands the woman’s firstborn in exchange. The child is born with pale white skin, leading the husband to believe his wife was unfaithful. He kills her and then abandons his son in the mountains. The child is then cared for by the moon, as per the lyrics:
And on nights when the full moon shines
It will be because the child is in good spirits
And if the child cries, the moon will wane
To make him a cradle
Mecano’s version begins sparsely with piano and light percussion accompaniment, including bells, which add to the exotic Romani sound. Torroja’s voice is breathy, light, and delicate. After the first chorus, the arrangement expands to include strings, horns, and woodwinds, adding gravity to the story as it unfolds in the lyrics.
Watch the original Mecano music video:
Laura Pausini’s Modern Reimagining of “Hijo de la Luna”
Pausini paid tribute to many of her musical influences in a pair of covers albums: the Italian-language “Io Canto 2” and the Spanish-language “Yo Canto 2,” which includes her take on “Hijo de la Luna.” Her version is an homage to the original while reimagining it in a modern context.
Right off the bat, it’s more ethereal. It begins with arpeggios on a synthesizer with a filter that slowly opens up over the first verse. There’s no percussion as Pausini enters, delivering with a strong, rich tone. A synth pad, strings, and piano join for the second verse. Similar to the Mecano recording, it blossoms into an orchestral feature. All of this adds up to a more dynamic, contemporary reframing of the song.
Hear Pausini’s approach to “Hijo de la Luna”:
Pausini will continue her Yo Canto World Tour with three more dates in Mexico before heading into the United States. Visit her website for more details.
