El Viaje

Calle 13's song "El Viaje" delves into the profound simplicity and cyclical nature of life. The lyrics begin with a reference to Oriol Vall, a doctor in a Barcelona hospital, who observes that the first human gesture is an embrace. This imagery of newborns reaching out for connection symbolizes the innate human need for love and companionship from the very start of life. The act of 'manotean' or flailing hands represents the search for someone to hold onto, a metaphor for the human quest for connection and belonging.

The song then shifts to the other end of the spectrum, discussing the elderly at the end of their lives. These individuals, much like the newborns, also reach out, yearning to lift their arms in a final gesture of connection. This parallel between the beginning and end of life underscores the idea that despite the complexities and experiences in between, life boils down to these simple, fundamental gestures of reaching out and embracing others.

Calle 13 encapsulates this concept by stating that no matter how much we analyze or try to explain life, it ultimately reduces to these two 'aleteos' or flutters. The journey of life, as described in the song, is a passage between these two moments of seeking connection. The invitation to walk down Calle 13 symbolizes a journey through life, promising good company and shared experiences, reinforcing the theme of connection and companionship as essential elements of the human experience.