“Hijo de la Luna” wraps a centuries-old legend in shimmering electronic sounds, inviting us into a world where desire, superstition, and tragedy collide. The lyrics recount the story of a gitana (Roma woman) who begs the full moon for a husband. The moon agrees, but only if she receives the woman’s firstborn child. When the baby arrives with pale skin and gray eyes - clear signs that he belongs to the moon, not to any earthly father - suspicion and jealousy erupt. The child’s presumed father, feeling betrayed, turns violent, and the haunting chain of events ends with the baby abandoned on a mountaintop.
From that night on, folklore says every full moon glows brightly to comfort the lonely hijo de la luna, and it wanes whenever the child cries so that its crescent can cradle him like a silver cradle. Mecano’s tale blends romance and fatalism, reminding listeners of the price of bargains with forces beyond our control, the destructive power of prejudice, and the eternal tenderness of a mother’s love - even when that mother is the moon itself.
Mecano was a pioneering Spanish pop band formed in Madrid in 1981, consisting of Ana Torroja and brothers Nacho and JosĂ© MarĂa Cano. They are celebrated as one of the best-selling Spanish bands of all time, with over 20 million records sold worldwide. Known for their evolution from synth-pop and new wave sounds to more acoustic pop rock infused with diverse genres such as flamenco, bossa nova, and salsa, Mecano left a lasting imprint on Spanish and Latin American music scenes.
Their hits include timeless classics like "Hijo de la luna," "Me cuesta tanto olvidarte," and the groundbreaking "Mujer contra mujer," which was adapted into several languages and became a worldwide number one hit. Their music inspired a successful musical, Hoy no me puedo levantar, viewed by over 1.5 million spectators across Spain and Mexico. Though their original run ended in the early 1990s, Mecano's innovative style and cultural impact continue to resonate with new generations of music lovers.