English writer Nick Hornby (Redhill, United Kingdom, 1957) takes to the stage of Oasis Club Teatro on February 23, 2008. With the American band Mara. One Curious Evening: Hornby, a die-hard Arsenal fan, expressed his reluctance to visit Zaragoza, the city of the team that took the Cup Winners’ Cup from his team in 1995, while Marah was planted in the city that inspired the theme. . Wooden Santos’. The monologue versus the concert (and vice versa) ended with success, By the way; The author of ‘Alta Fidelidad’ captivated the public with his stories and commentaries on the music he had already put on ‘The New Yorker’, and the Bilanco Brothers band gave themselves a reason: the concert was longer. Didn’t run, but it was well used.
However, Hornby is also known for his book ’31 Songs’ (published 19 years ago by Riverhood Books). Where he is full of songs that have marked his life in one important way: the soundtrack of his existence. Four music lovers from Zaragoza have built their boots with this last one: Cuca Tena (Pillar on DNI, Cuka for the world), Fernando López Mateo, Ana Lahuerta and Sergio Moran. The blog ’31 Songs’ is translated with indeterminate frequency (but high, and detailed) into thematic lists of songs, which are uploaded to Spotify to the delight of the curious and music lovers.
Kuka is a versatile person. A lawyer by profession, she was the Aragon Tennis Champion in the Giants +35, and currently holds the title of Champion of the Paddle Tennis League with her team, Tiro de Pichon. In addition, she sings and plays guitar in the Fasundo band, and occasionally DJs at city venues with her friends Las Cigarettes. “The 31 song thing was inspired by Hornby, but the real ambition is to make lists to relive the nostalgia we have for recorded tapes, The ones you’ve created to dedicate to someone or to put together a certain group of songs. The four of us take turns, and we have a number of guests contributing, from bigots in town to various local DJs and music lovers. Each blog entry has a text, a photo and a list”.
The initiative has been going on for more than two years: it was practically born with the pandemic. “At first we made a weekly list, but now we go more to the monthly list. We do not have a fixed rule in this regard, the important thing is that we always do it with will, taking the time to finish each entry well. about styles, it’s Originally Dedicated to Pop in all its aspects, and indie in particular”.
On the charts you can find everything from dream pop to American, Russian, Norwegian, French or Canadian indie… and, naturally, Iberian pop. “We’re not closed to other styles: Modern lists have some electronic aspects or very specific themes: for example, music present in a series, such as ‘Killing Eve’. I admit that sometimes we ‘invent’ the theme too: it’s about looking for a common link to selected songs because we like them”.
Kuka and three of his prescriber colleagues insisted that the illusion is as informative as it is pleasurable. “For us it’s a ‘hobby’, no economic end. Personally, we’d love to open Spotify every Monday and discover 31 unknown or little-known songs, it’s something to enjoy.”
In line with the above sentiment, it is worth a final reflection from Hornby, to assimilate the essence of this initiative. “Twice a year I make myself a tape to put in my car, a tape of all the new songs I’ve loved the most over the past few months, and every time I finish one I can’t believe it. That there’s going to be another one. And yet there always is, and I can’t wait to hear the next one; You just need a few hundred more things like this and you already have a life worth living.”
