Julio Iglesias Q&A

Maggiemaybe

Hello Julio, another huge fan here, both of you and your son Enrique.

Could you please tell us a little about your family? I know that you have children ranging in age from early 40s to under 10, and that you also have very young half-siblings. How old are your grandchildren, how do all the younger family members get on, and do you ever manage to get all the family together? Thank you for your time.

Hi. I have eight children. The eldest is my daughter, Chábeli, and the youngest is Guillermo, who will be seven on May 5th. I am proud of them all. I have been blessed with great children. The elder ones are independent and have succeeded by themselves in life, and the younger ones, aged between 17 and seven, are still at an age when they need their parents very much by their side. I also have two grandchildren, a boy and a beautiful little girl. We usually gather at Christmas, at my house in Punta Cana.

theMulberryTree

Hello Julio! Do you still tour? I would love to see you in concert. Has being on the road got harder as you have got older?

I've been touring for many years and I hope to do it for many years to come. You can see the world tour schedule on www.julioiglesias.com. Touring gives me energy and joy. I enjoy travelling and getting in touch with wonderful people around the world and now I am happy to return to the UK. Thank you for allowing me to come back!

seasider

Hi Julio your songs remind me of some of my best holidays in Spain when they were played everywhere. My question is do you ever regret that your football career was cut short?

I am thankful to life, for having given me a second chance. Before the car accident, I thought I was going to be a football player, but life had other plans for me. I am happy to be a singer. This doesn't mean that I stay away from football. I love to see Real Madrid's matches, for example and I never miss the World Cups.

JollyJack

Hi Julio. I have a question: did you enjoy being in the Eurovision song contest (1970 - I remember it as if it was yesterday) and were you upset about being beaten by Dana?

Sure, Eurovision was a very nice experience in my career. I was glad to be part of it, even if I did not win. Later on, I was happy to hear that 'Gwendolyne' was the most broadcast Eurovision song by the radio stations that year.

h20

Hello! I believe you once said you were part Jewish (or have I got that wrong?!) Is it a faith you practice at all?

Hi. My Mother had Jewish roots, but I was raised as a Catholic.

granontherun

Julio, to what extent do you think a successful career can be manufactured?

I'm referring to shows like the X Factor and American Idol (don't know if you're aware of them but they're talent shows that result in recording contracts etc for the winners). Do you think they are a good route to success?

Yes, I know these TV programmes. It's good to see that there are many talented people, but success needs to be based on daily hard work, not only on winning a contest. This kind of competition is an easy and fast way to become famous, but it doesn't guarantee long term success.

metalgran

Hello Julio, I've always been curious about the effects of singing in different languages.

So, how many languages do you speak? Do you think recording songs in languages other than your native Spanish has helped a lot in terms of your success elsewhere?

Hello. I speak English, French, Italian and Portuguese, besides Spanish. I've always considered it important to sing in the audience's mother tongue, whenever possible. It makes the communication easier. It hasn't been easy to sing in Chinese or Japanese, for instance, but I was lucky to have good and patient teachers. Now, of course, we should ask the native speakers if they understood me. (Laughs).

cauliflowercheese

Yet another huge fan here and can't quite believe I can actually ask you a question!

Do you think you would have been as successful if you were an average looking bloke from Britain) rather than a tanned Latin god with an accent that makes women (well, me) swoon?

Thank you. You know, I've never considered myself a good-looking man. I think the success of my music is based first of all on passion. I love to sing, I love that special bond with the audience during the concerts, I always try to give my best in the recording studio and these details, in the end, make the difference. Success, in the long term, cannot be based only on being good-looking.

rachelsnan

I read somewhere that you have released 80 albums. Where on earth do you find your inspiration to write so many songs?

Thank you for many years of entertainment from another big fan

I wrote my songs especially at the beginning of my career. Then, I was lucky to work with very talented composers and I also did covers.

CH352

Hello Julio I am another big fan. I always picture you as a young (or youngish) man. Are you under pressure to spend a lot of time on your looks in order to keep the Latin god image going? I can't imagine you going grey like the rest of us. Or even bald!

Hi. Well, time goes by for everybody. What really matters is that we accept it. I do pay attention to my looks, but I don't do anything extraordinary. I simply like to have a healthy diet, to exercise, to swim and these kind of regular things we usually try to do, first of all for our health. If you feel good and happy inside, then you also look good.

shelagh

My question follows on from Bonsai's... are the rumours really true? If so how did you find the time?! And if not - how many people were you singing about in To All The Girls I've Loved Before?

To All the Girls I've Loved Before has been a key song in my career. It's been a privilege to sing it with Willie Nelson. It's a love song we dedicated to all the women. I have learnt so much from women, in my life and I am grateful to all of them.

peanutbutter

Hope not Bonsai......I have a question!

Do you think you will ever retire?

I don't think about retirement. I shall be happy to keep singing as long as my body and my brain will allow me to and as long as the audience will want me to do it. Right now, I am very excited to keep touring the world.

Bonsai

Am I too late?

You've previously claimed to have over 3,000 notches on your bedpost... is this true? How do you keep score?

Well, I've never claimed that. This is what people say and, if they say so, who am I to contradict them? (Laughs.)

Spidergran5

Hi Julio, what do you do nowadays? I read that you obtained a law degree... have you put it to use?

Yes, I do have a law degree, but I've never practiced. I've been singing for the past 46 years. My life is music.

fruitloop

Hello Julio I am a huge fan. What do you think is the secret of your success? Obviously you are very talented but if you had been plain and pasty do you think it would have been quite the same?

The secret of success is passion. Hard work and talent are also important, but passion is the key.

brown

Hello Julio I love your voice and had a huge crush on you when I was a girl,and now my own daughter loves your son Enrique I have also got a c d of his.My question is do you go and see him when he performs and have you ever got up and sung with him ? and thanks gransnet x

Hi. Well, we are both on tour and our schedules are very tight, so it's quite difficult to attend each other's concerts. We haven't had the chance to sing together, but I am sure the opportunity will come up soon. I did sing with my son, Julio Jr, at the American Airlines Arena on Valentine's Day several years ago.

glammanana

Julio oh Julio What a catch for GN,I have had the pleasure of seeing Julio up close but not personal in Altea where he supported the Towns Arts Centre when I lived there,do you still get to go and visit Altea and manage to wander around the area and take in the fantastic atmosphere that the Town possesses.

I haven´t been in Altea for a while, but I did perform nearby in the past years. It is a beautiful place, indeed. This year, on August 5th, I shall perform in Alicante, very close to Altea.

Grannyknot

Julio, the heart throb of my youth. What is your favourite thing to do in the world (when you're not singing)?

You know, singing is my life, so there is nothing else in the world I enjoy more.

seasider

Gosh I have seen Julio a couple of times in concert but not for years. My question is where has he been hiding and please can I come and serve tea or something when he visits GNHQ!

Hi! I've had the privilege to tour the five continents in the past years. It's just that I haven't had the chance to return to the UK until now. I am looking forward to the two upcoming concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, on May 13th and 19th, and to have a hot cup of English tea!