El rito

When you immerse yourself in *El rito*, the first thing that catches your attention is that almost ceremonial atmosphere that envelops you from the start. It's not just a rock ballad; it has that quality of transporting you to another place, with sounds that evoke a ritual. Then, the distinctive guitar riff by Gustavo Cerati appears, serving as a prelude to the lyrics, which focus on the complexities of love. Something very particular about this piece is the choice of a 1970s Hammond organ instead of the more modern 1980s synthesizers. That decision gives it a timeless character, almost a nod to the band's deep admiration for the rock of that decade, an influence that would become more evident years later in Canción animal.

This song, born from the pen of Gustavo Cerati, saw the light in 1986, forming part of the album Signos by Soda Stereo. Over the years, it became a recurring theme in their performances. Cerati used to introduce it live with the phrase "welcome to the ritual." Since its debut on the Signos Tour in December 1986, it accompanied the band through various stages, including the Animal Tour (between 1990 and 1992), albeit with intermissions. It was absent from the Dynamo, Sueño Stereo, and Comfort tours, but returned strongly on Soda Stereo's farewell tour in 1997. Subsequently, Gustavo Cerati revived it in his solo career, including it in albums such as Bocanada (1999-2000) and 11 Episodios Sinfónicos (2001-2002), recorded at the Teatro Avenida in Buenos Aires with an orchestra. It was also heard on the Me Verás Volver Tour in 2007. The total duration of the song is 6:06.