Ramon Arcusa, member of the legendary Spanish group Dúo Dinámico, has spoken publicly for the first time following the passing of his longtime partner and friend, Manuel de la Calva. His death was a heavy blow for fans who grew up with the duo’s songs, which won the hearts of not only Spain but the entire Spanish-speaking world.
In his first interaction with the press, held alongside Manuel’s daughter, Victoria de la Calva, Arcusa spoke about the dynamics of their relationship. He noted that the two were very different people, “like water and oil,” but in his view, that was exactly what made their collaboration so successful. Mutual respect was the foundation of their partnership. Arcusa recalls that Manuel was the more cheerful and outgoing one, while he himself was more focused on technical aspects: sound quality, the musicians’ work, and the visual facets of their performances. This healthy creative competition pushed them forward.
The group’s story began back in 1958. The musicians went through various stages, including a temporary break in 1972 as their popularity waned. However, in 1978, they reunited at the public’s request. Arcusa emphasized that neither of them liked farewells and didn’t want to stage any grand “final tours.” He is certain that his friend, an incorrigible optimist, would not have wanted to see tears and sadness after his passing.
The musician also admitted that the duo still had one unfulfilled dream—to give a farewell concert at the prestigious Starlite venue in Marbella. However, Arcusa himself considers this more a symbolic gesture than a crucial milestone in their rich career.
Separately, Ramón Arcusa addressed the creation of the song “La, la, la,” which brought Spain its first Eurovision victory, performed by Massiel. He expressed bewilderment about a recent Movistar+ television series dedicated to this event. According to Arcusa, Dúo Dinámico’s role as the authors of the historic composition was completely disregarded, and their names are not even mentioned in the project. “They just erased us,” he said bitterly.
In conclusion, Ramón Arcusa said that he and Manuel managed to “bring color to black-and-white Spain” with their music. Now he must get used to life without his loyal companion, with whom they did the work they loved and to whom they devoted their entire lives.
