Manel (band)

File:Guillem Guisbert.jpg

File:Martí Maymó.jpg

File:Roger Padilla.jpg

File:Arnau Vallvé.jpg

The members of Manel met while attending Costa i Llobera school in Barcelona. They first came to public attention as finalists in the 2007 Sona9 music competition, in which they were awarded the Premi Joventut. With the prize money they were able to cover the production costs of their debut album,{{cite web|url=http://www.ritmes.cat/pritmes/rtItem.jsp?hiItemId=251631637&hiEstil=poprock&hiItemNom=reportatges|title=Ells sí que es diuen Manel!|website=ritmes.cat|language=ca |date=22 November 2007|access-date=23 February 2009}}

Els millors professors europeus (The Best European Professors), whose title alludes to a lyric of the song Pla quinquennal. The album, recorded at Estudis Nòmada 57 between June and October 2007 and produced by Discmedi, was released the following year to critical acclaim.{{cite news |url=http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=577037&idseccio_PK=1013|title=Manel o la fugaz ilusión de un mundo en orden|language=es |newspaper=El Periódico|date=9 January 2009|access-date=24 February 2009}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.mondosonoro.com/detall_disc.asp?id=212754|title=Disco de Manel, Els millors professors europeus|language=es |magazine=MondoSonoro|author=Joan S. Luna|date=14 November 2008|access-date=15 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221004852/http://www.mondosonoro.com/detall_disc.asp?id=212754|archive-date=21 December 2008}}{{cite news |url=http://www.publico.es/culturas/211937/boom/pop/catalan?orden=FECHA&asc=&aleatorio=0.36923587022815296|title=El boom del pop en catalán|access-date=15 June 2009|date=23 March 2009|language=es|newspaper=Diario Público|author=González, Abel}}

The Catalan magazine Enderrock pronounced it the best pop-rock album of the year.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.enderrock.cat/detall_noticia.php?id_noticia=1889|title=Les cançons tel·lúriques de Roger Mas, millor disc de l'any segons la crítica|language=ca|date=31 December 2008|access-date=24 February 2009|magazine=Revista Enderrock|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706220027/http://www.enderrock.cat/detall_noticia.php?id_noticia=1889|archive-date=6 July 2011}} In its issue of January 2009, Rockdelux described it as the third best Spanish album of the previous year, while the magazine MondoSonoro rated it the seventh-best.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.mondosonoro.com/especiales/resumen2008/resumen2008.html|language=es|magazine=Revista MondoSonoro|access-date=24 February 2009|title=Resumen discos 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113185950/http://www.mondosonoro.com/especiales/resumen2008/resumen2008.html|archive-date=13 January 2009}}

The video for Dona estrangera, directed by Sergi Pérez, was awarded the prize for best video at the 2008 Cinemad festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemad.org/08/html/ganadores.html|title=Palmarés|language=es|website=Cinemad 08. XIV Festival de cine independiente y de culto|access-date=24 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725171616/http://www.cinemad.org/08/html/ganadores.html|archive-date=25 July 2011}}

Apart from the songs featured on Els millors professors europeus, the group's repertoire includes cover versions of No t'enyoro by Els Pets,{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keLqkSFAbh0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/keLqkSFAbh0 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|publisher=Manel |title=Manel - Sputnik "No t'enyoro" (ELS PETS) |via=YouTube |date=17 January 2009|access-date=15 October 2009}} La Tortura by Shakira, and Common People by Pulp.{{cite news |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/Tendencias/Fenomeno/musical/catalan/elpepucul/20090930elpepitdc_1/Tes|title=Fenómeno musical en catalán|language=es |newspaper=Diario El País|date=30 September 2009|access-date=30 September 2009}}

It wasn't long until Manel became a sociocultural phenomenon in the Catalan-speaking world, giving rise to a considerable number of new Catalan-speaking pop groups, among whom, distinguished by the sales numbers they have achieved, are Els amics de les arts.{{cite web|url=http://www.mondosonoro.com/Critica-Discos/10-milles-per-veure-una-bona-armadura/MANEL/6232.aspx|title=10 milles per veure una bona armadura|date=24 February 2011|access-date=2 March 2011|publisher=Mondosonoro}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/cultura/20110228/54120546024/el-porque-del-nuevo-pop-catalan.html|title=El porqué del nuevo pop catalán|date=28 February 2011|access-date=2 March 2011|publisher=La Vanguardia|last=Linés | first=Esteban}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.publico.es/culturas/211937/el-boom-del-pop-en-catalan|title=El boom del pop en catalán|date=23 March 2009|access-date=2 March 2011|publisher=Público|last=González | first=Abel}}

Els millors professors europeus went gold, selling more than 30 000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3776836/20100916/disc-dor-manel.html|language=ca |title=Disc d'Or per a Manel|publisher=vilaweb.cat|access-date=2 March 2011|date=16 September 2010}}

Their second album, from which two songs (Aniversari and Boomerang) were released in February 2011, went on sale on 15 March 2011 titled 10 milles per veure una bona armadura. In ten days, it became the best-selling album in Spain.{{cite web

| url = http://www.directe.cat/noticia/136111/manel-fa-historia-convertint-se-en-el-primer-grup-catala-que-es-situa-en-el-numero-1-de-ve

| title = Manel fa història convertint-se en el primer grup català que es situa en el número 1 de vendes de l'Estat}}

The title comes from a phrase pronounced by Kenneth Branagh in Much Ado about Nothing. In its first week, it sold more than 10,000 copies and reached number 1 on the CD sales chart in Spain, something which hadn't happened with a Catalan disc in more than 15 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/03/23/cultura/1300894779.html|title=El disco más vendido en España se canta en catalán por primera vez en 15 años|date=23 March 2011|access-date=23 March 2011|publisher=El Mundo}} This second album was also released on vinyl.

Manel's third studio album was Atletes, baixin de l'escenari (in English, Athletes, get off the stage), published by and distributed by Warner Music in CD, vinyl and digitally. The album was released on 16 April 2013. In its first week, the album reached number one on Promusicae billboards in Spain, selling more than 10,000 copies.{{Cite web | url=http://www.popelera.net/lista-promusicae-lo-mas-vendido-de-la-semana-en-espana-24-04-2013/ | title=Lista Promusicae: Lo más vendido de la semana en España | publisher=Popelera.net | access-date=9 February 2014 | date=24 April 2013}} The title refers to an incident at the 1992 Olympic Games where an announcer ordered a large number of dancing athletes to get off the stage as it was feared it would break.{{Cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VdHUfWjwsQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/1VdHUfWjwsQ |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live| title=Jocs Olímpics Barcelona '92 - "Atletes, baixin de l'escenari"- betevé | via=YouTube | date=20 July 2017 | access-date=23 November 2020 }}{{cbignore}}

On 1 March 2016, Manel announced through a press release the release of a fourth studio album, titled Jo competeixo, which was released on 8 April and consisted of eleven songs, recorded between November and December 2015.

On 12 September 2019, Manel announced the publication of their fifth studio album, titled Per la bona gent,{{cite web |title=El nuevo álbum de Manel, "Per la bona gent", se editará el 4 de octubre |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20190912/47313553025/el-nuevo-album-de-manel-per-la-bona-gent-se-editara-el-4-de-octubre.html |website=La Vanguardia |access-date=7 October 2019 |language=es |date=12 September 2019}} which was released on 4 October and consisted of twelve songs. This work included collaborations with artists such as Jaume Sisa and María del Mar Bonet.{{cite web |last1=Nerín |first1=Gustau |title=Llega el Manel más electrónico con 'Per la bona gent' |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/cultura/manel-per-bona-gent-disco_426551_102.html |website=El Nacional.cat |access-date=7 October 2019 |language=es |date=4 October 2019}}

On 11 March 2021, Manel released the single "L'amant malalta" ("The ill lover"). This was followed on 16 April by the release of a limited edition three-track EP, also titled L'amant malalta.

Two years later, in March 2023, Manel announced that they would be taking an indefinite break from performing together{{Cite web |date=2023-03-13 |title=Music group Manel announces indefinite break |url=https://www.catalannews.com/culture/item/music-group-manel-announces-indefinite-break |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=www.catalannews.com |language=en}} and that lead singer Guillem Gisbert would be pursuing solo projects. On 1 March 2024 he released the LP Balla la Masurca!.

• Arnau Vallvé: Vocals, percussion, and MIDI
• Martí Maymó: Vocals, bass guitar, contrabass, clarinet and sweet flute
• Roger Padilla: Vocals, guitar, banjo, melodica, mandola, ukulele and MIDI
• Guillem Gisbert: Main vocals, ukulele and guitar

• Els millors professors europeus (2008)

{{Track listing

| total_length =

| title1 = En la que el Bernat se't troba

| length1 = 4:19

| title2 = Avís per a navegants

| length2 = 2:46

| title3 = Ai, Dolors

| length3 = 3:19

| title4 = Pla quinquennal

| length4 = 2:58

| title5 = Roma

| length5 = 3:45

| title6 = Captatio benevolentiae

| length6 = 4:19

| title7 = Nit freda per ser abril

| length7 = 4:21

| title8 = Al mar!

| length8 = 3:28

| title9 = Els quapos són els raros

| length9 = 3:38

| title10 = Dona estrangera

| length10 = 3:59

| title11 = Ceràmiques Guzmán

| length11 = 3:23

| title12 = Corrandes de la parella estable

| length12 = 7:15

}}

• 10 milles per veure una bona armadura (2011)

{{Track listing

| total_length =

| title1 = Benvolgut

| length1 = 4:15

| title2 = La cançó del soldadet

| length2 = 3:57

| title3 = El gran salt

| length3 = 3:21

| title4 = Boomerang

| length4 = 5:07

| title5 = La bola de cristall

| length5 = 4:11

| title6 = Aniversari

| length6 = 4:29

| title7 = Flor groga

| length7 = 3:57

| title8 = Criticarem les noves modes de pentinats

| length8 = 6:06

| title9 = El Miquel i L'Olga tornen

| length9 = 3:39

| title10 = Deixa-la, Toni, deixa-la

| length10 = 6:22

}}

• Atletes, baixin de l'escenari (2013)

{{Track listing

| total_length =

| title1 = Ai, Yoko

| length1 = 3:36

| title2 = Vés, bruixot!

| length2 = 4:10

| title3 = Ja era fort

| length3 = 2:59

| title4 = Banda de rock

| length4 = 3:08

| title5 = Deixar-te un dia

| length5 = 4:11

| title6 = Mort d'un heroi romàntic

| length6 = 5:26

| title7 = Imagina't un nen

| length7 = 2:35

| title8 = Teresa Rampell

| length8 = 5:30

| title9 = A veure què en fem

| length9 = 4:57

| title10 = Desapareixíem lentament

| length10 = 3:21

| title11 = Quin dia feia, amics...

| length11 = 3:59

| title12 = Fes-me petons

| length12 = 4:38

| title13 = Un directiu em va acomiadar

| length13 = 3:19

}}

• Jo competeixo (2016)

{{Track listing

| total_length =

| title1 = Les cosines

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = Cançó del dubte

| length2 = 3:42

| title3 = Arriba l'alba a Sant Petersburg

| length3 = 6:17

| title4 = La serotonina

| length4 = 4:13

| title5 = Temptacions de Collserola

| length5 = 5:39

| title6 = M'hi vaig llançar

| length6 = 3:40

| title7 = L'espectre de Maria Antonieta

| length7 = 3:11

| title8 = BBVA

| length8 = 5:45

| title9 = Sabotage

| length9 = 4:18

| title10 = Avança, vianant

| length10 = 5:38

| title11 = Jo competeixo

| length11 = 8:34

}}

• Per la bona gent (2019)

• Music of Catalonia

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [http://www.manelweb.com/ Official site]
• {{in lang|es}} [http://lafonoteca.net/grupos/manel Biography and reviews]
• {{in lang|es}} [http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cataluna/Manel/va/fiesta/mayor/elpepiespcat/20090820elpcat_13/Tes/ Manel se va de fiesta mayor. Diario El País (20 August 2009)]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Musical groups from Catalonia

Category:Spanish pop music groups