Music for...
Your heart in the dark by Liz Martin

“This version, performed by Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist and political activist, Caetano Veloso, features in Almodovar’s film from 1995, The Flower of My Secret.”

“High Heels (1991) tells the story of a famous torch singer returning to Spain after living in Mexico for 50 years. Luz Casal is the stunning voice behind the character played by Marisa Paredes. ‘If you have a deep sorrow, think of me. If you feel like crying, think of me’.”

“Ah, La Lupe... born in the barrio of San Pedrito in Santiago de Cuba, here her version of Puro Teatro features in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988).”

“Encadendados has been covered by numerous singers over the years. Here we have the version featured by Almodovar in Dark Habits (1983) by ‘the King of Bolero’, Lucho Gatica.”

“‘Since you left, I haven’t had moonlight…’. Chavela Vargas’ Luz de luna from Almodovar’s Kika (1993). Chavela features in many of Almodovar’s films including The Flower of My Secret (1995) and High Heels (1993).”

“Chilean singer, Monna Bell’s Estaba Escrito, featured in Almodovar’s Pepe, Luci, Bom and Other Girls on the Heap (1980).”

“Cucurrucucu Paloma is a Mexican song of heartbreak written by Tomas Mendez in 1954 and covered by numerous artists over the years. This recording is not the same as the one from the film, Talk to Her (2002) – a stunning, intimate version, which features Caetano’s vocals, acoustic guitar, cello, and double bass. But I’ve never been able to find that version anywhere but the film. This one by Caetano Veloso is still wonderfully beautiful! ”

“Lip synced by Penelope Cruz in Almodovar’s film, Volver (1996), this version of the song features Spanish flamenco singer Estrella Morente. ‘You always return to your first love… to return’, this song was created in 1934 by Carlos Gardel and Alfredo Le Pera and has been covered numerous times.”

“From Almodovar’s short film Trailors for Lovers of the Forbidden (1985), here’s Mexican singer Chelo. ‘When nobody loves you, when everyone forgets you, you’ll return to the path where I stood’.”

“The second song featuring Luz Casal’s voice behind Marisa Paredes in High Heels (1991), Un año de amor. ‘And at night, so as not to feel alone, you will remember our happy days together, you will remember the taste of my kisses, and in an instant, you will understand, what a year of love means’.”

“Here is Italian singer, Mina’s Esperame En El Cielo, or, ‘Wait for Me in Heaven’, featured in Almodovar’s film, Matador (1986).”

“Featured in Almodovar’s comedy thriller Law of Desire (1987) here Los Panchos sings Lo Dudo. ‘I doubt it, I doubt it, I doubt it, that you find a purer love, like the one you have in me’.”

“Portuguese singer, Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim deliver Por Toda A Minha Vida (For All My Life) in what is perhaps my favourite soundtrack of Almodovar’s – Talk to Her (2002).”

“Spanish composer Alberto Iglesias has composed a number of original scores for films directed by Almodovar including The Flower of My Secret (1995), Live Flesh (1997), All About My Mother (1999), Talk to Her (2002), Bad Education (2004), Volver (2006), Broken Embraces (2009), and The Skin I Live In (2011).”

“We started this list with Caetano Veloso’s version of this song. It’s only right that we come full cycle and finish with Venezuelan singer and original composer of this song, Simón Díaz. Hauntingly beautiful.”