Spanish singer Alex Ubago has revealed behind the scenes details of a music video shoot in a freezing hangar that left him with a severe cold. The singer from San Sebastian shared the memories on social media while holding a copy of the new re-release of his debut album.
Ubago published the video to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his landmark first album, Que pides tu. The record catapulted him to fame across the Spanish music industry when it was released in the early 2000s.
In his social media post, Ubago told followers that he wanted to discuss another single from the album, the hit ballad A gritos de esperanza. He noted that fans can also listen to a new acoustic version of the song on the upcoming re-edition of the album.
This update followed an earlier video where the musician broke down curious facts about the album title track. Ubago greeted his audience warmly in the clip as he reflected on the landmark career milestone.
Freezing conditions on set
The music video for A gritos de esperanza remains one of the most memorable Spanish music productions of the early 2000s. Filming took place inside a vast hangar during the coldest months of winter, where freezing temperatures affected the crew from the start.
The main challenge came from a risky aesthetic choice made by the production team. To create a visual effect where light reflected beneath the singer while he played his guitar, crew members covered the floor of the hangar with a layer of water between four and five centimetres deep.
The setup forced Ubago to stand with completely soaked feet for hours while performing the song repeatedly before the cameras. While the visual result was spectacular, Ubago confessed with a laugh 25 years later that the shoot cost him a heavy cold. He added that looking back, the physical effort was completely worth it.
Sales success and album re-issue
The classic debut album sold 1.5 million copies worldwide, including 900,000 copies in Spain. The massive sales established Ubago as a major reference figure in Spanish romantic pop music.
The 25th anniversary re-issue of Que pides tu is aimed at collectors and features previously unreleased revisions of his most famous tracks. The acoustic arrangements offer listeners a more intimate and stripped-back perspective on songs such as A gritos de esperanza.
Anniversary tour dates across Spain
Alongside the album re-release, Ubago is currently performing on an ambitious anniversary tour. The musician is playing every song from his landmark debut album from start to finish at each venue.
The tour travels across Spain between September and December. The concert run begins in Bilbao on September 24 and Sevilla on September 26, followed by autumn performances in Madrid on November 4 and A Coruña on November 28.
The tour finishes in December with shows in Valencia on December 10, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on December 13, and a final hometown concert in San Sebastian on December 18.
