Manu Chao
Biography
José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao, known as Manu Chao, was born on June 21, 1961, in Paris, France, to Spanish parents who had exiled themselves to escape the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Growing up in a household of artists and intellectuals, his upbringing was rich with cultural and political influences that would later shape his music. He is a multilingual artist, singing in French, Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, and other languages, often mixing them within the same song.
Mano Negra
In the mid-1980s, influenced by the UK punk scene, Chao was part of the rockabilly group Hot Pants. In 1987, he, his brother Antoine, and their cousin Santiago Casariego founded Mano Negra. The band was a pioneering force in the world fusion genre, blending an eclectic mix of punk rock, flamenco, ska, salsa, reggae, and African rhythms, a style they dubbed "patchanka". Mano Negra gained considerable success in Europe and South America with albums like "Puta's Fever" and "King of Bongo". The band was known for its energetic live shows and for its unconventional touring methods, which included traveling by boat with a circus company through South America. The group disbanded in 1995.
Solo Career
After Mano Negra's split, Chao embarked on a solo career. He traveled with his guitar and a portable studio, which resulted in the album "Clandestino" in 1998. The album, primarily in Spanish, featured a more stripped-down sound and was a massive success, selling over 5 million copies worldwide and earning the Best World Music Album award at the Victoires de la Musique in 1999. His next album, "Próxima Estación: Esperanza," was released in 2001. Named after a Madrid metro station, it continued the musical direction of "Clandestino" but with stronger Caribbean influences and became an instant hit. This was followed by the live album "Radio Bemba Sound System" in 2002.
Later Works
In 2004, Chao released a French-only album-book titled "Sibérie m'était contéee," featuring illustrations by Jacek Woźniak. His 2007 album, "La Radiolina," had a more rock-oriented sound and featured the single "Rainin in Paradize". The song "Me llaman Calle" from the album won a Goya award for Best Original Song for the film "Princesas". After a long hiatus from studio albums, Chao released "Viva Tu" in 2024.
Musical Style and Activism
Manu Chao's music is characterized by its blend of numerous genres, including rock, French chanson, Ibero-American salsa, reggae, ska, and Algerian raï. His lyrics often touch upon themes of social justice, globalization, immigration, and love. He has remained a vocal supporter of various social and political causes throughout his career.