Cuando Seas Grande

Miguel Mateos was born on January 26, 1954. He is an Argentine rock singer/songwriter from Villa Pueyrredón, Argentina. Outside of Argentina, he is considered one of the most important exponents of Rock en Español (Spanish Rock), especially in the 1980’s when he along with Charly Garcia, Soda Stereo, Enanitos Verdes, Virus, Sumo, Fabulosos Cadillacs, Rata Blanca, and many more bands became international stars in the so-called "Argentine Invasion" ("La Ola Argentina") of rock music that swept Latin America and parts of North America and Europe. It would help popularize Spanish-language rock outside of Argentina, and make the genre a commercially successful industry.

Miguel Mateos was involved in music since he was 15, in 1979 he and his brother Alejandro formed underground rock band ZAS. The following year he managed to contact Queen front man Freddie Mercury and gain a spot on stage as the opening act for the British group for their Buenos Aires concerts.

In 1986, Mateos recorded in the United States his first solo album (officially, but in practice he still used members of ZAS as supporting band). With a much more polished sound, and greater pop accessibility than the ZAS works, Mateos jumped on the crest of the wave of Argentine rock acts that dominated the 1986-1988 period all over Latin America, Spain, and elsewhere.

“Cuando Seas Grande” (When You Grow Up) is one of the most famous songs of Miguel Mateos. The song “Cuando Seas Grande” was released in 1982. It is a very old song but still relevant and it is played frequently at night clubs.

Cuando Seas Grande

(When You Grow Up)

I'm a street kid

Walking through the city with my guitar,

Without disturbing anyone.

I'm cutting chains,

I'm growing against poverty

And other suffering

But I lose control

I come home and I hear his voice.

Always the same song:

"Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?

Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?

A Rock Star? Or President of the Nation??

Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when someone press the button? "

I'm pretty damned

Succeed not to be a dog failed.

Like this, like this, like this, I was taught.

Generations after generations

Marching beside me.

I just want to play.

I dream of mom and dad.

I cannot fail them!

"Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?

Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?

A Rock Star? Or President of the Nation??

Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when someone press the button?"

"Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?

Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?

Star? Rock and roll? President of the Nation??

Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when someone press the button?"

"Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?"

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Yeah

(When you grow up)

"Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?"

"Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?"

"Nene, Nene, Nene, What will you be when you grow up?"

"Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?"

"Nene, Nene, Nene, what will you be when you grow up?"

Works Cited

Miguel Mateos. "Cuando Seas Grande." You Tube. You Tube. 08 Dec. 2008. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

"Social Media: Facebook Miguel Mateos Músico/banda." Web. 13 Apr. 2015.