Money Heist
The hugely successful series Money Heist — La casa de papel — swept me up as well. But that phase is over now , because only a few days ago we watched the final episode of season five at home. Some people praise or criticise the series season by season. Overall I enjoyed all five: it was exciting, full of excellent ideas and twists. Of course, even a good film or series loses a great deal without music that fits it. Fortunately, the red-overall, Dalí-mask bank robbers are accompanied by an excellent theme song and memorable insert songs. One of the latter, Ciao, Bella! — elsewhere Bella, Ciao! — was one we played and sang at the ukulele meetup on 11 September 2021.
In this post and video we focus on the series' theme song, which helped Spanish singer Cecilia Krull break through in 2017 and become internationally known together with the series. The song has a very distinctive atmosphere, a little like a roller coaster. A dark, hopeless mood alternates with moments of calm and release. That duality comes from the pulsing accompaniment, arrangement and inventive chord movement. I cannot say I find a perfectly coherent logic in the lyrics, but perhaps that is not the interesting part anyway, because by the very end the music arrives at a final sense of calm — at least that is how I hear it.
When I decided to try playing the accompaniment on ukulele, I suspected this would not be an ordinary musical snack, and I was right. I encountered less commonly used chords and unexpected changes. I would like to show you all of that now, including the rhythm. I recommend this arrangement mainly for more advanced players because some of the chord changes are a little steep. Beginners are welcome to try it too and use it as an introduction to more difficult chords. Here is the video.
Below — and under Downloads— you will find the lyrics and chords. Do not worry about the note written after the slash in some chord symbols. That bass note cannot really be produced in the intended way on ukulele; let the pianists and bass players worry about it. We will simply play the chord written before the slash.
[Intro]
[Hm] [F#m]/A [E]/G# [Em]/G
[Verse 1]
If I [Hm] stay with you, if I'm [F#m]/A choosing wrong
I don't [E]/G# care at all [Em]/G
If I'm [Hm]losing now, but I'm [F#m]/A winning late
That's [E]/G# all I want [Em]/G
[Hm] [F#m]/A [E]/G# [Em]/G
[Verse 2]
Now we [Hm] need some space, 'cause I [F#m]/A feel for you
And I [E]/G# wanna change [Em]/G
Growing [Hm]up alone, it [F#m]/A seems so short
I [E]/G# can't explain [Em]/G
[Pre-Chorus]
What[Hm]ever happens in the [Dmaj7]future, trust in destiny [Gmaj7] [Em]
Don't [Hm]try to make anything [Dmaj7] else even when you feel [Gmaj7] [A]
[Chorus]
I don't care at [E]all [G] I [Hm]am lost [E]
I don't care at [G]all [E] [Hm] [E]
[G]Lost my time, my [A]life is going on
[Hm] [F#m]/A [E]/G# [Em]/G
[Hm] [F#m]/A [E]/G# [Em]/G
[Verse 3]
I will [Hm]be so strong, looking [F#m]/A for a new version [E]/G of myself [Em]/G
Cause now [Hm] all I want is to [F#m]/A be a part of [E]/G my new world [Em]/G
[Pre-Chorus]
What[Hm]ever happens in the [Dmaj7]future, trust in destiny [Gmaj7] [Em]
Don't [Hm]try to make anything [Dmaj7] else even when you feel [Gmaj7] [A]
[Chorus]
I don't care at [E]all [G] I [Hm]am lost [E]
I don't care at [G]all [E] [Hm] [E]
Why not have it [G]all I [E]am lost [Hm] [E]
I don't care at [G]all [E] [Hm] [E]
[G]Lost my time, my [A]life is going on
