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Among modern Argentine rock bands, few have been as important as Soda Stereo. Founded in 1982, the band achieved widespread popularity all over Latin America, and although it was disbanded in 1997, reuniting only for a tour in 2007, its legendary status has grown since then. Singer and songwriter Gustavo Cerati was by far the most famous of the three band members (the other two being drummer Charly Alberti and bassist Zeta Bosio), and he enjoyed a successful solo run until 2010, when a stroke left him in a coma (in which he remains to this day). Cerati was also the man behind Soda Stereo’s most famous songs, including “En la ciudad de la furia" (In the City of Fury).

"Among modern Argentine rock bands, few have been as important as Soda Stereo."

According to Cerati, the song was conceived in his adolescence, likely as a response to a break up with an ex girlfriend. When he rewrote it as an adult and already accomplished band leader, the lyrics became more suggestive, leaving behind the heartbreak of youth to talk about the darker sides of urban society. “En la ciudad de la furia” was released in 1988, a period of great turmoil in Argentina. Democracy had returned in 1983, following several years of military dictatorship, but it did not take long for the country to sink again into crisis, and by the late 80s, President Raúl Alfonsín was facing runaway hyperinflation. In fact, the economic situation was so dramatic, Alfonsín called for early elections and effectively shortened his term by a few months. In this context, Cerati has admitted, “it was very easy to write about the city of fury.”

Nevertheless, the lyrics are not explicitly political, even if they capture the gloomy atmosphere of the times. They directly reference the Greek myth of Icarus, in which the son of a craftsman rises to the skies on artificial wings, only to fly too close to the sun and fall to his death when the wax holding his feathers together melts. A similarly tragic winged figure narrates “En la ciudad de la furia,” which opens with: “You’ll see me fly over the city of fury, where no one knows me and I’m a part of everyone.” He then goes on to describe desolate environments: empty terraces, blue streets, and darkness, into which he’ll either fall or lose himself. "Buenos Aires," says the winged figure, "se ve tan susceptible" (looks so fragile), and "ese destino de furia es lo que en sus caras persiste" (that destiny of fury is what resists on their faces). It’s the lament of a lonely man, who looks at the city around him from a distance and feels himself trapped in it.

"Even today, 'La ciudad de la furia' conjures up images of the Argentine capital, and the phrase has even become a nickname for it."

The language, though fragmentary and poetic, is not very local or particularly Argentine, which might have contributed to the band’s international appeal. Still, this song has a special meaning for citizens of Buenos Aires, or porteños, in that it describes a feeling many share about their city: it’s aggressive, tumultuous, and dangerous. Even today, “La ciudad de la furia” conjures up images of the Argentine capital, and the phrase has even become a nickname for it. The third person pronoun of "sus caras" (their faces) probably refers to porteños themselves, whose “faces” announce a “destiny of fury.” Nobody knows the narrator, and yet he’s a part of everyone else, because everyone else is as lonely and furious as he is. Cerati might be speaking from experience: he was born and raised in Buenos Aires.

Lyrics:

Me veras volar (You’ll see me fly)
Por la ciudad de la furia (Over the city of fury)
Donde nadie sabe de mí (Where no one knows who I am)
Y yo soy parte de todos (And I am a part of everyone)
Nada cambiara (Nothing will change)
Con un aviso de curva (With a turn signal)
En sus caras veo el temor (In their faces I see the fear)
Ya no hay fabulas (There are no more fables)
En la ciudad de la furia (In the city of fury)
Me veras caer (You’ll see me fall)
Como un ave de presa (Like a bird of prey)
Me veras caer (You’ll see me fall)
Sobre terrazas desiertas (Over deserted terraces)
Te desnudaré (I’ll strip you naked)
Por las calles azules (On blue streets)
Me refugiaré (I’ll find shelter)
Antes que todos despierten (Before everyone wakes up)
Me dejarás dormir al amanecer (You’ll let me sleep at sunrise)
Entre tus piernas (Between your legs)
Entre tus piernas (Between your legs)
Sabrás ocultarme bien y desaparecer (You’ll know how to hide me well and disappear)
Entre la niebla (Amidst the fog)
Entre la niebla (Amidst the fog)
Un hombre alado extraña la tierra (A winked man misses the earth)
Me veras volar (You’ll see me fly)
Por la ciudad de la furia (Over the city of fury)
Donde nadie sabe de mí (Where no one knows about me)
Y yo soy parte de todos (And I am a part of everyone)
Con la luz del sol (With the light of the sun)
Se derriten mis alas (My wings melt)
Solo encuentro en la oscuridad (Only in darkness do I find)
Lo que me une con la ciudad de la furia (What links me to the city of fury)
Me veras caer (You’ll see me fall)
Como una flecha salvaje (Like a savage arrow)
Me veras caer (You’ll see me fall)
Entre vuelos fugaces (Amidst fleeting flights)
Buenos Aires se ve tan susceptible (Buenos Aires looks so fragile)
Ese destino de furia es (This destiny of fury is)
Lo que en sus caras persiste (What remains on their faces)
Me dejaras dormir al amanecer (You’ll let me sleep at sunrise)
Entre tus piernas (Between your legs)
Entre tus piernas (Between your legs)
Sabrás ocultarme bien y desaparecer (You’ll know how to hide me well and disappear)
Entre la niebla (Amidst the fog)
Entre la niebla (Amidst the fog)
Un hombre alado prefiere la noche (A winged man prefers the night)
Me veras volver (You’ll see me come back)
Me veras volver (You’ll see me come back)
A la ciudad de la furia (To the city of fury)