Oh, the Spanish music of the 2000s, that little paradise on earth. Fito y Fitipaldis, Amaral, El Canto del Loco… or La Oreja de Van Gogh, which was formed in 1996 with Amaia Montero as vocalist. And although he did it in San Sebastian, Madrid has also been a key city in his lyrics and career: from the intimate Jueves dedicated to the attacks of March 11, 2004 to “las tardes de invierno por Madrid” in Puedes Contar Conmigo.
Iconic songs to which others such as El Último Vals or Inmortal were added after the arrival of Leire Martínez in 2008 as the new lead vocalist. And although in October 2024 she also left the band, the group’s songs continue to be an emblem of 2000s pop in Spain. Something that translates into a wide range of plans for fans of La Oreja de Van Gogh, especially if you’re in Madrid. And this is the day you’ d least expect to meet some of our favorites.
1. Buy “roses” in one of the most famous florists in Madrid.
Don’t wait with a soggy face waiting for them to give them to you. Madrid is full of flower shops of all kinds, from the mythical stalls of Tirso de Molina to new venues worthy of being the center of your Instagram feed. Brumalis, Lorena Marco Flores or Mon Parnasse are some of the showcases that you’re sure to have stared at on a walk around the capital.
If in addition to listening to them you are more about seeing roses than buying them, the rose garden of the Royal Botanical Garden or the one in El Retiro is something worth seeing (at least) once in your life.
2. Listen to a tribute to La Oreja de Van Gogh between candles (like that mosquito that follows the light).
Yes, it’s impossible to get tired of listening to some of La Oreja de Van Gogh’s great songs. But sometimes you want to do it in a different way. And if that’s your case, Candlelight: Tribute to La Oreja de Van Gogh may be a good option for you. A live concert dedicated to the iconic Basque band where some of their best-known songs are reinterpreted in their most classic format… by the light of thousands of candles.
3. Take a route through Malasaña in search of a portal where “you can count on me”.
Although we hope you don’t take a coffee with salt, and especially that you don’t feel like crying, we do advise you to take the route that the poor boy that Puedes Contar Conmigo talked about might have taken. The neighborhood of Malasaña, the Plaza del Dos de Mayo or the Calle de la Palma are some of the places that are part of the context of the pop music of the two thousand.
In those years, Malasaña inherited the countercultural spirit of the Movida, and the new generation found in this emblematic neighborhood an epicenter of Spanish pop-rock. A genre of which La Oreja de Van Gogh was an important part. So getting lost in its streets is synonymous with imagining that every doorway can be where the boy was waiting sitting on the floor without thinking.
4. Go to a karaoke “the early morning of January 20” (or whenever).
The stage of going to a karaoke in Madrid and singing 20 January we recommend not skipping it. Shouting “And since then I love you, I adore you and I love you again” with a microphone and a musical base as a guide? Just tell us date and time. And place, because the capital has many and varied karaokes in different parts of the city. BAM Karoke Box in the Salamanca neighborhood or Toni 2 in Salesas are two well-known names, but also others like Cheers Karaoke.
5. Try on dosmileros looks in vintage stores as a good “queen of pop”.
Low rise pants, wide belts with studs, necklaces on layers and layers of T-shirts and jackets… immortal icons of textiles. And if fashion always comes back, the dosmilera that was worn during the most successful period of La Oreja de Van Gogh is no exception.
So, if you want to relive those times, Madrid has plenty of vintage and second-hand stores like Magpie, Neare or La Mona Checa where you can find real gems in both clothing and accessories.
6. Go to “the beach” in Madrid
Playing “La Playa” as the next song while tidying up your Madrid flat in the summer can be a bit frustrating. We know, we’ve been there. But what better way to honor La Oreja de Van Gogh’s mythical song than by literally going to the beach? Or, in the case of Madrid, its inland beaches and natural pools, as is the case of Las Presillas, El Muro or the Alberche. Because although they are not like the one in San Sebastian that the song talks about, the most beautiful song in the world could also be written there.