Canción de primavera

Spanish online reading and listening practice - level B2

Joaquín Sabina is a famous, beloved Spanish poet and singer-songwriter. He started writing poems and music when he was just 14 years old. In his youth, his political beliefs and protest actions against Franco led to an arrest order and in 1970 he escaped to France and then the UK on a borrowed passport. He was granted political asylum in the UK following an interview in The Daily Mirror that stated he was facing the death penalty should he return. In exile, he continued writing songs and was active in the cultural and political life of the many Spanish exiles and immigrants in London at that time.

He returned to Spain in 1977, after the death of Franco. While completing his obligatory military service he continued his cultural and musical career with his first album, Inventario, appearing in 1978. In 2001, he had a stroke which led to a long pause in his career, finally returning to music in 2005 with a new album. In 2012 he released a collaboration with Joan Manuel Serrat and his most recent studio album, Lo niego todo, dates from 2017.

This reading and listening exercise can help you practise El Imperfecto vs El indefinido.

Exercise: Canción de Primavera, Joaquín Sabina

Watch and listen to the video, then read the transcript. Click any phrase for the translation and links to related grammar lessons which you can add to your KwizIQ notebook to practise later.