Guitarricadelafuente wrapped his “Spanish Leather World Tour” in Madrid on Friday, and the finale proved he can still fill a room as a pop star even when the whole world is talking about his acting debut. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter is currently starring in La Bola Negra, an epic film that has gathered major Oscar buzz after winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The evening at Movistar Arena focused far more on the man with the microphone than it did on the film. The packed, sold-out audience received a complete display of why Guitarricadelafuente continues to rank among the most important pop figures in Spain.
The Stage Setup
The setup at Movistar Arena looked plain from a distance. The musicians stayed behind while Guitarricadelafuente took over the open floor as his own space. The lights showed that the whole floor was blanketed with sand, matching the look of Spanish Leather, which borrows from Old West pictures, dry land and horses.
Opening Number
The performer took the stage amid the audience’s loud approval, his feet shod in golden cowboy boots. His opening number was “Full time papi,” the track that set the course for the record’s enormous triumph.
Queerness and Wardrobe Changes
Queerness is another theme the track foregrounds, one that runs through the album and his career. Guitarricadelafuente is a queer icon, and the show was built around that identity. The constant wardrobe changes kept the audience engaged, while the onstage camera tracked his every move and facial expression, letting the crowd stare in awe.
The singer took off his shirt and danced across the sand during the performance of “Poses,” and the arena’s crowd went wild with excitement.
Guitarricadelafuente interpreta ‘Poses’ en el Movistar Arena de Madrid
The Acoustic Set
It was his heartfelt lyrics and his compositions that first won him a following on the local indie scene, before he became the star he is today. The show allowed for stripped-down acoustic performances of classics like “Guantanamera” and “Mil y una noches,” backed by the voices of those who have had his back since the early days.
The Political Moment
When Guitarricadelafuente turned his attention to the protesters who have spent a week camped in the very center of Madrid, just a stone’s throw from the arena where they were watching, he was making a political statement. He dedicated “La Puerta del Sol” to those demanding solutions to the housing crisis.
The multimedia artist Samantha Hudson came on screen from the camp itself and asked the audience to take part in Saturday’s demonstration against housing problems, which sent the group into a frenzy.
The Film Nod
Halfway through the evening, Guitarricadelafuente took the stage carrying a trumpet over his shoulder. That move pointed to Sebastián, the part he plays in La Bola Negra. He then sang “La Nieve,” the track he co-composed for the picture, while scenes from the film ran behind him on the big screens.
Later, during “Agua y Mezcal,” he stepped into the crowd, where the cameras revealed co-stars Miguel Bernardeau and Carlos González dancing alongside him.
The Show’s End
Two very different songs closed out the evening, which had swung back and forth between spectacle and musicianship throughout.
“BABIECA!” turned the arena into an all-out party, complete with confetti cannons. The song has spearheaded Guitarrica’s crossover to the US, leading him to perform it on stages like Tiny Desk and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
After the final song, the performer hugged his band and crew, bringing to a close a world tour that spanned three continents and stretched across nearly a year and a half. The audience would not permit him to depart, so Guitarrica played one more track, an acoustic rendition of “Sixtinain.” with just himself, his guitar, and the audience singing along.
What Comes Next
The tour finale doesn’t mean the singer will be taking time off. Chances are we’ll be seeing plenty of him in the next few months, especially as awards season nears. “La Nieve” is a strong contender for Best Original Song, raising the possibility that we might even see him performing live come Oscar night.
Guitarricadelafuente has his limits too, and rest is not something he can manage right now. It appears that even he cannot hold on to everything.
| Role | Focus |
|---|---|
| Pop star | Songs like “Full time papi” and “BABIECA!” |
| Queer icon | Wardrobe changes, shirt-stripping |
| Actor | Sebastián in La Bola Negra, “La Nieve” performance |
| Political figure | Dedication to housing protesters, Samantha Hudson video |
Madrid’s audience was there to watch Guitarricadelafuente move between all these states at once, and they clearly enjoyed being part of the journey.
See the video the story is built around at Consequence.
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