A review of Santiago De Compostela’s O Son Do Cami?o 2019.
Headlined by French superstar DJ David Guetta, the always-entertaining and eccentric Michigan-born Iggy Pop and the still (arguably) headline-deserving Black Eyed Peas, this mega three-day music festival O Son Do Cami?o was bound to be a memorable one.
The wide-ranging-in-age spectators – an impressive turn-out of 33,000 on each of the three days – were not only treated to I-Was-There performances from the aforementioned artists, but also to a bone-tingling performance from Spanish flamenco-Reggaeton singer Rosalía, following an impressive premiere of new music combined with the crowd-favourite chart-topping anthem Happier from British band Bastille.
The popular music event - which took place in the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela, in Montes do Gozo, from 4pm to 4am Thursday, June 13 to Saturday, June 15 - offered something quite special for the typical eclectic-in-taste music enthusiast. Genres such as Reggaeton, Rock, Flamenco, Pop, Electronic Dance, amongst a variety of others, were on the menu in the Galician religious capital.
For a bargain price that ranged from 50 to 90 euro, depending on the offer that you got (for a three-day ticket, let me emphasise!), I honestly couldn’t quite believe my luck on Thursday evening, as I stood in awe while Bastille’s frontman Dan Smith passionately guided his other band members to delivering a performance worthy of any well-thought-of music festival.
As the sun peacefully and majestically said farewell to the first day of proceedings, the Happier band’s lead singer belted out various fan-favourites including the internationally-successful Happier as well as 2013’s smash-hits Pompeii and Of The Night. New music was then introduced to the by-that-stage buzzing viewers, as Bastille’s management cleverly timed the release-date of the London-based band’s new album entitled Doom Days, which dropped at midnight Thursday, a little under two hours after the band had masterfully shared with the lucky festival-enthusiasts songs from the album such as Million Pieces and the darkly politically-themed album-name-sharing pop-sounding Doom Days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOX30CHr4JY
Following on from the British pop-band would be a difficult task to say the least. The challenge fell into the hands of 22-year-old Spaniard Francisco Javier álvarez Beret, known more commonly in Spain as simply Beret.
As the alcohol flowed through the veins of the jubilant public, so too did the popular chart-hitting Spanish pop-songs that the youthful Lo Siento singer had achieved success through.
A particular highlight of the performance, for me personally, was his rendition of the heart-wrenching ballad Lo Siento, which claimed the number one spot in the Spanish charts in October 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYsFb7S8LFc
To Friday then, where a sense of restless anticipation gripped the atmosphere of the Spanish-dominated audience as their very-own Catalonian-born beloved Rosalía readied her long-awaited appearance as ominously-dark clouds loomed closer and closer to the festival’s grounds.
The 25-year-old Malamente singer did NOT disappoint. A spine-tingling cover of the pure and beautiful Catalina kicked things off, effortlessly capturing the soul of every single onlooker.
I pretended I knew all the words and annoyingly (now that I look back on it) tested my lungs by attempting to match the noise decimal the Rosalía Faithful had managed to create.
A clearly-overwhemed Rosalía didn’t hide the tears that fell as she softly but emotionally sang “Quítate de mi presencia que me estás martirizando” translated as get out of my sight, because you’re torturing me. Goosebumps went shivering down my spine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei7pXrcqZzc
The rain poured from the sky. Rosalía, fittingly, continued to pour her heart out to her endearing fans, as they screamed word for word song after song without fail, as the reggaeton-filled fan-favourite Con Altura and chart-topping Malamente followed, delighting the público.
A mention too to her eye-catching luminous attire which juxtaposed her seemingly-almost-taller-than-her-herself white shoes, as she somehow managed to expertly dance to the rhythm of her more upbeat songs. For me, overall, this performance was stand-out incredible.
If that wasn’t enough for the Friday festival fiesteros, the Let’s Get This Party Started globally-recognised Black Eyed Peas entered centre stage.
Let’s just say that, unsurprisingly, the performance failed to live up to its expectation (that some people may have had). Band lead-singer will.i.am seemed past it to be honest, as Fergie replacement Jessica Reynoso outshone not only the Scream and Shout hitmaker, but all of the other band members.
Worst still was the former The Voice UK judge’s attempt to interact with the seemingly confused crowd. It was awkward, unprofessional and unprepared.
Yes, various hit-songs that made the band what they were saved the appearance somewhat, but overall it seemed more like a group of drugged-up teenagers trying to make something up on the spot at a teenage disco. A promising career awaits Mrs Jessica Raynoso, though.
Last but not least then was Saturday’s captivating ninety-minute David Guetta show, which should have closed the festival out, but nonetheless would have undoubtedly left the crowd singing and humming to the French megastar DJ’s catchy electronic dance tracks for days afterwards.
The set was cleverly designed and incredibly interactive with the crowd, who jumped and bounced with hands flailing in the air to every last beat that Mr Guetta transmitted from his impressive mixing desk.
Particular stand-out moments from the world-famous DJ’s sky-rocketing, adrenalin-pumping set included a remix of Eminem’s Lose Yourself, Cardi B’s Bodak Yellow, Billie Eilish’s Bury A Friend: job well done se?or Guetta.
Overall, O Son Do Cami?o is a simply must-attend due to not only its value for money, but also due to its impressive calibre of headline acts.