Raphael never wanted to cancel it, trusting in a recovery and return to performances that he has made a reality six months later, including a show at the Movistar Arena in Madrid earlier this month. Singer Raphael during his performance at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, where he has returned to review his eternal hits, from 'Yo soy aquel' to 'Mi gran noche' or 'Escándalo', on a visit scheduled before his brain lymphoma and which the man from Linares never wanted to postpone, trusting in his strength to continue on stage. Or at least that's what Raphael thought, who preferred not to speak between songs and gave all the protagonism to his singing. Raphael started with 'La noche' and followed with the fitting 'Yo sigo siendo aquel': 'eternal solitary, behind a stage, and a bit of a property of everyone'. With his usual charisma, stage command, and demonstrations of vocal power that he strives to keep vigorous, Raphael unleashed the jubilation with 'Digan lo que digan' and the ever-danceable 'Mi gran noche'. The Christmas 'Tamborilero' was not missing. 'Tamborilero' reminded us that we are on the doorstep of a Christmas where the artist was always the protagonist, decades before the omnipresent Mariah Carey. He also stopped for several moments to pay tribute to the French 'chanson' of Edith Piaf. And from France to Argentina with tangos like 'Malena' or 'Que nadie sepa mi sufrir'. After the midpoint of the concert, Raphael sang his version of 'Gracias a la vida' by Violeta Parra, with which he seemed to open up about his personal and professional moment. Also an 'Hablemos del amor' with which he went to Eurovision, a festival in the midst of a controversy that decades ago was a world showcase for a much younger Raphael in black and white. Raphael's fans celebrated and sang with special enthusiasm 'Estar enamorado es', a theme that the general public knows less than other classics but is always among the favorites of his faithful. For the final 'hasta luego', the favorites of many of those present: 'Qué sabe nadie', 'Yo soy aquel', 'Escándalo' and 'Como yo te amo', a carousel of heartbreaks, breakups, wounded pride, and, ultimately, a reclamation of love. Soul of a folk singer Although he was a bit less of a dancer than on other visits, Raphael did not spare dramatic gestures to interpret his most heart-wrenching themes, showing off that soul of a folk singer that has always possessed him. It is six decades of life on stage for the 'Divo de Linares', who in interviews has explained time and again that he does not plan to do a farewell tour because the idea of retiring does not enter his head. In fact, 2026 is already full of new dates both in Spain and on the other side of the pond, with concerts in Mexico and the USA. Who knows how many ovations are left for Raphael. EFE Photo.
