Me cuesta tanto olvidarte

When you dive into *Me cuesta tanto olvidarte*, you encounter a groundbreaking piece. Unlike many pop ballads, its structure doesn't follow the usual pattern of alternating verses and choruses. Here, the first three parts are verses presenting new ideas, and only at the end does a section appear that functions as a chorus, sung twice with a piano interlude between each repetition. This way of closing the song, with the chorus at the end and repeated as an encore, is an uncommon resource in modern music, but it gives it a very particular ending. The musical composition, by José María Cano, is remarkably simple, relying on an acoustic piano and keyboards simulating violins, alongside the voice of Ana Torroja. Her performance is outstanding, showing impressive vocal control, as evidenced by an impeccable vibrato when singing the phrase "Quince mil encantos". This track moves away from Mecano's more characteristic pop, leaning towards a rock ballad in both its lyrics and arrangements.

This track is included in the album *Entre el cielo y el suelo*, released in 1986. The album's title, in fact, comes from the first verse of this very song. This record marked a turning point for Mecano, consolidating a stage of greater creative and technical maturity that boosted their international projection. On this album, José María Cano reaffirmed his role as the main composer, in contrast to his brother Nacho, who had written most of the group's previous singles. *Entre el cielo y el suelo* sold over a million copies in Spain alone. It's interesting to note that José María Cano often included at least one minimalist song on Mecano's albums, where the instrumentation is reduced to the essentials and Ana Torroja's voice is presented without backing vocals. This tendency is observed in tracks like *Quédate en Madrid* and *Sentía*. The song was released as a single in Spain on December 1, 1986, reaching Latin America in the early months of 1987. The song's mix was handled by Luis Fernández Soria, and the production was by Mecano.