Matt Monro – Alguien Canto (The Music Played)

About the song

The world of popular music is dotted with songs that capture fleeting moments of love, loss, and the poignant realization of missed opportunities. Among these, Matt Monro‘s “Alguien Canto (The Music Played)” stands as a particularly evocative example. While often remembered for his signature songs like “Born Free” and “Walk Away,” this lesser-known gem showcases Monro’s exceptional ability to convey deep emotion with understated elegance. The Spanish title, “Alguien Canto,” translates to “Someone Sang,” adding a layer of mystique and perhaps a nod to the international appeal Monro cultivated throughout his career. However, it’s the English subtitle, “The Music Played,” that truly encapsulates the song’s central theme: the relentless march of time and the missed chances that slip away as life’s soundtrack continues.

Matt Monro, often dubbed “The Singer’s Singer,” possessed a remarkable vocal instrument. His warm baritone, imbued with sincerity and a touch of melancholy, was perfectly suited to ballads that explored the complexities of human relationships. Unlike some of his contemporaries who relied on vocal pyrotechnics, Monro’s strength lay in his phrasing, his ability to inhabit a song’s narrative, and his impeccable diction. These qualities are on full display in “Alguien Canto (The Music Played).” The song unfolds like a short story, painting a vivid picture of a couple at a crossroads. The lyrics depict a scene of unspoken words, a lingering tension, and the heartbreaking realization that a relationship is fading away.

The image of the music playing in the background is a powerful metaphor. As lovers dance around the floor, oblivious to the drama unfolding nearby, the protagonist watches helplessly as his chance for reconciliation slips away. The music becomes a symbol of the passage of time, a constant reminder that life goes on, even as personal tragedies unfold. The phrase “as the music played” is repeated throughout the song, almost like a mournful refrain, emphasizing the inevitability of the situation. This repetition, combined with Monro’s sensitive delivery, creates a palpable sense of regret and resignation.

The song doesn’t dwell on bitterness or anger. Instead, it focuses on the quiet sadness of a love lost, the “angry silence” that hangs in the air where love once thrived. The protagonist acknowledges his own shortcomings, the words left unsaid, the pride that prevented him from expressing his true feelings. He sees the “fatal signs” that his partner has moved on, finding solace in the arms of another. The music, indifferent to his pain, continues to play, a constant reminder of the missed opportunity.

While “Alguien Canto (The Music Played)” may not be as widely recognized as some of Matt Monro‘s other hits, it is a testament to his artistry and his ability to connect with listeners on a deeply emotional level. It’s a song for those who have experienced the bittersweet pangs of lost love, the regret of words unspoken, and the sense of watching life unfold like a play with a predetermined ending. It’s a song that resonates with a mature audience who understands the complexities of relationships and the enduring power of music to capture life’s most poignant moments. The song’s lasting appeal lies in its universal theme of lost love and the poignant reminder that sometimes, despite our best intentions, “the music played” and the moment is gone.

Video

Lyrics

An angry silence lay where love had been
And in your eyes a look I’d never seen
If I had found the words you might have stayed
But as I turned to speak, the music played

As lovers danced their way around the floor
I sat and watched you walk towards the door
I heard a friend of yours suggest you stayed
And as you took his hand, the music played

Across the darkened room the fatal signs I saw
You’d been something more than friends before
While I was hurting you by clinging to my pride
He had been waiting, and I drove him to your side

I couldn’t say the things I should have said
Refused to let my heart control my head
But I was made to see the price I paid
And as he held you close, the music played

And as I lost your love, the music played