El mismo sol (Under the Same Sun)

Album: Eterno Agosto (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Born in Barcelona to a German father and a Spanish mother, Álvaro Soler moved with his parents to Japan at the age of 10, staying there seven years. After returning to Barcelona in 2010, he established the musical band Urban Lights with his brother and some pals. They released one self-produced album before Soler decided to go solo basing himself in Berlin, Germany.
  • "El mismo sol" was Soler's debut solo single. An uplifting anthem recorded in Spanish it was first published on the singer's personal YouTube channel. The tune soon attracted interest from record labels and Soler was signed to Universal Music. The song took off following Soler's performance on The Voice Italy, which propelled it to #1 in that country. The single went on to chart throughout Europe.
  • The song celebrates diversity and shared values, "under the same sun."

    "The lyrics in that song come from my experience living in Japan and going to a German school," Soler told Billboard magazine. "You always had new people. It's very transient. That's what made it so much fun."
  • As a result of the success of the original version in Spanish, a special Spanglish version was released for the US and UK markets featuring extra lyrics in English and vocals by Jennifer Lopez.

    Lopez recalled to Billboard how she stumbled upon the tune. "Monte, Charlie, Benny and I were having dinner and we started playing and listening to music," she said. "This fun infectious song came on and then we all started dancing and singing! I loved the sprit and message of the song, Alvaro's voice and the flamenco clap. [Eddie O'Loughlin and Republic secured US rights via Universal Germany]...We decided that night to call Alvaro and see if he would like to do it as a duet. He loved the idea and the rest is the record you hear."
  • Soler and Lopez performed the tune together for the first time during the Latino songstress' set at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 19, 2015.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.