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Humorous lessons on music, romance from Julio Iglesias

By Jeff Schwachter

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jan. 6, 2005

TO ALL THE GIRLS HE'S sung to over his four decades as an international superstar: Julio Iglesias still loves you. And the romantic Spanish vocalist, now 61, is in no rush to end that long love affair. AC Weekly was lucky enough to speak with the ever-charming and often comical performer (and father of Enrique) about his upcoming shows in Atlantic City (Harrah's, Jan. 7 & 8), plans for a new English language album and his affection for the Beatles.

AC Weekly: What does 2005 look like for Julio Iglesias?

Julio Iglesias: 2005 will bring me one year more in my age. (Laughs). I don't know, I've been singing for 37 years, you know? And I don't understand my life without years and years more of singing. I have to sing. One important thing I have to do is, I have to do my first English album in eight years. I will start in February.

ACW: Does it have a title?

JI: I don't know what I'm going to do ... but it will be a concept album. Not new songs because, in a way, it is so difficult to write brilliant songs now. Music is different than 30 years ago. We're [taking songs from the '70s and '80s] that have never been translated in English. Songs that were very big hits in their own countries but never went out of the country because of the language ... that's the project. I'm just finishing a French album in the next two weeks.

ACW: You're quite popular in France, aren't you?

JI: No. I'm popular in my house. In my house I'm very popular, you know, with my dogs. They love me.

ACW: How many dogs do you have?

JI: I have three. No, I have four.

ACW: On one of your early records you did George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord." How did that come about?

JI: Oh my God. It was in 1969 or 1970. That was 35 years ago. [Starts singing] 'My sweet lord ... .'

ACW: What drew you to that particular song?

JI: Well I adore the Beatles and I loved George Harrison. The influence on my music, well, not my music but at least the idea of becoming a singer comes from Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the '60s. And, of course, "My Sweet Lord" was an incredible song that I loved.

ACW: Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" was another song you chose to do as a young man on one of those early albums.

JI: Oh my God. You have that album or did you go to the Internet? I was a bad singer. "Sweet Caroline" was from 1969. [Starts singing] 'Sweet Caroline... .' Neil Diamond, very good.

ACW: I guess he was another influence?

JI: Yes. I love Neil. I love that beautiful live album from the Greek Theater. I always remember that it was the best live album of that time. It was an incredible album. You have that album, no?

ACW: No, I don't have that one.

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