Vainica Doble

Vainica Doble was the Spanish folk duo of singing guitarists Gloria van Aerssen (May 1, 1932 — Oct. 22, 2015) and Carmen Santonja (1934 — July, 2000). Their most active phase (1970 to 1984) produced six albums and twelve singles on assorted labels. The duo became best known for “Habanera del primer amor,” “Déjame vivir con alegría,” and “Con las manos en la masa,” a 1984 television theme sung by van Aerssen with Joaquín Sabina.

Members: Carmen Santonja (vocals, guitar), Gloria van Aerssen (vocals, guitar)

Background

Vainica Doble formed in 1966 in Madrid when Gloria van Aerssen called Carmen Santonja with a proposal to compose songs for other performers. Van Aerssen traced the idea to the eighth Benidorm Song Festival, where the repertoire prompted her to contact Santonja. The two women knew one another through the circle around the Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and performed comic-musical numbers at private gatherings with Elena Santonja and Chus Lampreave.

Carmen Santonja was born María del Carmen Santonja Esquivias on July 4, 1934, in Madrid. She came from a family of painters that included father Eduardo Santonja Rosales and great-grandfather Eduardo Rosales; sister Elena Santonja married director Jaime de Armiñán. Santonja studied piano at the Madrid Conservatory through the fifth course and learned guitar as a second instrument. She left the conservatory and earned money as a rehearsal pianist for dancer Marianela de Montijo, then spent two years accompanying classes at the Karen Taft academy. Santonja also played piano and guitar in Teatro Lara productions directed by Adolfo Marsillach and took small film and television roles.

Gloria van Aerssen was born Gloria Eliza van Aerssen Beijeren van Voshol on May 1, 1932, in Dos Hermanas, Seville. She grew up in Ronda with a Dutch diplomat father who played violin and brother Alberto Lorca, a dancer and choreographer. Van Aerssen moved at age ten with her family from Ronda to Madrid. She entered the Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Fernando as a young teenager and toured internationally with Ballet Español de Pilar López, where Lorca served as principal dancer. Van Aerssen subsequently married painter Juan Ignacio de Cárdenas and pursued illustration, fashion, and other visual-art projects in Madrid.

Early Songs

Santonja and Van Aerssen commenced their songwriting partnership with material intended for other singers. TVE executive Enrique de las Casas introduced them to Music Son, for whom they wrote “El marinero de Mozambique” and “Lágrimas de cocodrilo.” Jaime de Armiñán commissioned the pair for television music, including songs for the TVE series Fábulas. The pair also made a demonstration tape for the Areta production company, where arranger Pepe Nieto presented the songs to Nuevos Horizontes, who recorded “Las cuatro estaciones” and “El afinador de cítaras” for a Columbia single, then used “Mi mosca favorita” and “Mi churumbel” on subsequent releases.

José Luis Borau introduced the pair to director Iván Zulueta, who enlisted them for music and cameo appearances in Un, dos, tres… al escondite inglés. Jaime de Armiñán also used their music and screen appearances in Carola de día, Carola de noche. Nieto subsequently persuaded Columbia to record the pair under a group name.

Santonja and Van Aerssen chose Vainica Doble (Spanish for “Double Hemstitch”) while discussing possible names at the Madrid home of Zulueta. They cut their debut duo single, “La bruja” (b/w “Un metro cuadrado”), in 1970 for Columbia (EMI).

Vainica Doble continued television sessions with Tickets and composed “El rigor de las desdichas” for the group. The duo secured release from the Columbia contract once the second Fábulas series was completed with Tickets. Nieto then connected Santonja and Van Aerssen with Manolo Díaz, who was establishing the Acción and Ópalo labels. Vainica Doble signed an LP contract with Ópalo in 1971 and brought a rehearsed repertoire to arranger Pepe Nieto for the self-titled debut album.

Vainica Doble

Vainica Doble released their self-titled debut album in 1971 on Ópalo.

A1. “Caramelo de limón” (2:49)
A2. “Díme Félix” (4:26)
A3. “El duende” (3:08)
A4. “Quién le pone el cascabel al gato” (2:46)
A5. “Mariluz” (3:14)
A6. “La cigarra y la hormiga” (1:57)

B1. “La ballena azul” (3:19)
B2. “La cotorra” (1:22)
B3. “Roberto querido” (5:00)
B4. “Fulgencio Pimentel” (2:46)
B5. “Guru Zakun Kin Kon” (4:51)
B6. “Pájaro de mal agüero” (1:44)

Heliotropo

Vainica Doble released their second album, Heliotropo, in February 1974 on Ariola.

A1. “Requiem por un amigo” (3:30)
A2. “El pabú” (3:05)
A3. “Dos españoles, tres opiniones” (3:32)
A4. “Elegía al jardín de mi abuela, con una dedicatoria y un suspiro” (3:04)
A5. “Moros, cristianos y chinos” (1:12)
A6. “Ay, quién fuera a Hawai” (3:13)

B1. “Agáchate que te pierdes” (3:19)
B2. “Nana de una madre muy madre” (2:54)
B3. “La máquina infernal” (3:20)
B4. “Habanera del primer amor” (4:13)
B5. “A la sombra de un banano” (1:20)
B6. “Coplas de un iconoclasta enamorado” (3:21)

Contracorriente

Vainica Doble released their third album, Contracorriente, in March 1976 on Movieplay.

A1. “Un Mal Entendido Amor (Respeto y Obediencia)” (6:01)
A2. “El Oso Poderoso” (2:04)
A3. “Que No” (3:17)
A4. “La Rabieta (Diálogo de la Película “Bambi” y Tema Musical de la Película “Furtivos”)” (4:02)

B1. “Todo Desapareció” (3:57)
B2. “Eso No lo Manda Nadie” (3:24)
B3. “Alas” (3:50)
B4. “Déjame Vivir Con Alegría” (4:04)
B5. “Magnificat” (4:18)

El Eslabón Perdido

Vainica Doble released their fourth album, El Eslabón Perdido, in 1980 on Guimbarda.

A1. “Doñana” (5:46)
A2. “Alas de Algodón” (3:33)
A3. “La Cocinita Mágica” (3:36)
A4. “Canción del Eslabón Perdido” (3:13)
A5. “La Niña Precoz” (3:32)

B1. “Escrito Con Sal y Brea / Coloniales y Ultramarinos” (9:22)
B2. “Pájaro Phatwo” (4:14)
B3. “Amigo Mío Del Alma” (4:12)

El Tigre del Guadarrama

Vainica Doble released their fifth album, El Tigre del Guadarrama, in 1981 on Guimbarda.

A1. “Ser un Rolling Stone” (3:15)
A2. “El duelo” (3:36)
A3. “Chaparrón de abril” (3:10)
A4. “El rey de la casa” (5:48)

B1. “Crónica madrileña” (3:50)
B2. “Cartas de amor” (4:00)
B3. “Madre no hay más que una” (3:58)
B4. “El tigre del Guadarrama” (6:20)

Taquicardia

Vainica Doble released their sixth album, Taquicardia, in 1984 on Nuevos Medios.

A1. “El niño inseminado” (2:12)
A2. “La funcionaria” (5:24)
A3. “Yo le imagino” (6:47)
A4. “Sígueme” (2:30)

B1. “Pasos en falso” (2:58)
B2. “Nana a una estrella recién nacida” (5:21)
B3. “No lo pienses más” (3:27)
B4. “A veces” (2:50)

C1. “Un “siseñor” con las patas verdes” (4:55)
C2. “Tu mirada” (4:45)
C3. “A la manera de” (1:10)
C4. “Mi alumno” (5:33)

D1. “La mona coqueta” (3:09)
D2. “Darío el gigante” (3:17)
D3. “Cero a la izquierda” (4:18)
D4. “Taquicardia” (5:02)

Discography:

• “La bruja” / “Un metro cuadrado” (1970)
• Vainica Doble (1971)
• Heliotropo (1973)
• Contracorriente (1976)
• El eslabón perdido (1980)
• El tigre del Guadarrama (1981)
• Taquicardia (1984)
• 1970 (1991)
• Carbono 14 (1997)
• En familia (2000)

Sources:

• Discogs: Vainica Doble
• MusicBrainz: Vainica Doble
• RYM: Vainica Doble
• 45cat: Vainica Doble