Ricardo Arjona in Santiago, Chile (June 20, 2026)
When I asked my new friend from Uruguay, Emi Brïsa, why she was traveling to Santiago, Chile, she told me that she was going to attend a concert by Ricardo Arjona — her third in as many weeks! Knowing that this concert was happening just 20 minutes from my hotel, I was determined to join her for this incredible experience.
“Okay, it’s a cardboard cut-out, but why not?” asks Bill & Emi.
The thing is, Chile didn’t want to take my money. The tickets were all being sold online, but unlike Ticketmaster which enjoys sizable fees that rival the cost of the experience itself, Puntoticket refuses to accept credit cards from “foreigners.” Dang. Undeterred, Emi and I headed directly to the venue to see if we could buy a ticket for me onsite.
Then something peculiar happened. After explaining the problem to security for the venue, they recommend … a scalper!?! Turns out this scalper was selling tickets for LESS than what they were online and even had better seats! And the venue worked with him because he solved problems like mine with incredible and legitimate tickets! And THIS is how close I was to this South American legend:
Less than a foot from the “back stage” where Ricardo Arjona appeared
Imagine a South American Taylor Swift concert, only Ricardo Arjona has been touring for 40 years! The digital backdrop was insane. The artwork was worthy of a museum pass.
Salvatore Dali “Melting Clocks” background animation to the beat.
Just to confirm, the entire 3 hour show was sung entirely in Spanish and so I didn’t understand the vast majority of the lyrics. However, Emi was kind enough to share a few of them with me and I LOVE just how powerful and poignant Ricardo’s lyrics are. Here’s one:
El problema
El problema no fue hallarte: The problem wasn't finding you
El problema es olvidarte: The problem is forgetting you
El problema no es tu ausencia: The problem is not your absence
El problema es que te espero: The problem is that I still wait for you[chorus]
El problema no es problema: The problem is not a problem
El problema es que me duele: The problem is that it hurts me
El problema no es que mientas: The problem is not that you lie
El problema es que te creo: The problem is that I believe you
El problema no es que juegues: The problem is not that you're playing
El problema es que es conmigo: The problem is that it's with me
Si me gustaste por ser libre: If I liked you for being free
¿Quién soy yo para cambiarte? Who am I to change you?Si me quedé queriendo solo: If I ended up loving alone
¿Cómo hacer para obligarte? How can I force you
El problema no es quererte: The problem is not loving you
Es que tú no sientas lo mismo: It's that you don't feel the same way[chorus]
¿Y cómo deshacerme de ti si no te tengo? And how to get rid of you, if I don't have you?
¿Cómo alejarme de ti si estás tan lejos? How to get away from you, if you're so far away?
¿Cómo encontrarle una pestaña a lo que nunca tuvo ojos How to find an eyelash to what never had eyes?
¿Cómo encontrarle plataformas a lo que siempre fue un barranco? How to find platforms to what always was a ravine?
¿Cómo encontrar en la alacena los besos que no me diste? How to find in the cupboard the kisses you didn't give me?
¿Y cómo deshacerme de ti si no te tengo? And how to get rid of you, if I don't have you?¿Cómo alejarme de ti si estás tan lejos? How to get away from you, if you're so far away?
Y es que el problema no es cambiarte And the problem is not to change you
El problema es que no quiero: The problem is that I don't want to[chorus]
El problema no es que duela: The problem is not that it hurts
El problema es que me gusta: The problem is that I like it
El problema no es el daño: The problem is not all the damage
El problema son las huellas: The problem is the footprintsEl problema no es lo que haces: The problem is not what you do
El problema es que lo olvido: The problem is that I forget about it
El problema no es que digas: The problem is not what you say
El problema es lo que callas: The problem is what you don't say[chorus]
¿Y cómo deshacerme de ti si no te tengo? And how to get rid of you, if I don't have you?
¿Cómo alejarme de ti si estás tan lejos? How to get away from you, if you're so far away?
¿Cómo encontrarle una pestaña a lo que nunca tuvo ojos?How to find an eyelash to what never had eyes?
¿Cómo encontrarle plataformas a lo que siempre fue un barranco? How to find platforms to what always was a ravine?
¿Cómo encontrar en la alacena los besos que no me diste? How to find in the cupboard the kisses you didn't give me?
¿Y cómo deshacerme de ti si no te tengo? And how to get rid of you, if I don't have you?
¿Cómo alejarme de ti si estás tan lejos? How to get away from you, if you're so far away?
¿Cómo encontrarle una pestaña a lo que nunca tuvo ojos? How to find an eyelash to what never had eyes?El problema no fue hallarte: The problem wasn't finding you
El problema es olvidarte: The problem is forgetting you
El problema no es que mientas: The problem is not that you lie
El problema es que te creo: The problem is that I believe you[outro]
The problem is not to change you
The problem is that I don't want to
The problem is not loving you
It's that you don't feel the same way
The problem is not that you're playing
The problem is that it's with me
Beautiful. The lyrics are raw, real and volatile. I can feel the deep yearning in Richardo’s voice and the music perfectly fits the wisdom shared from being in the wrong relationship. No wonder I sat in a sold out stadium with more than 15,500 fans (and more than 150,000 attendees across all of ten of his performances in Santiago, Chile).
And when Emi offered to buy me a t-shirt, how could I refuse?
I’m a lost fan of Ricardo Arjona down here in South America!
Oh what a night! But I skipped over so much of what we did in the city together before the concert started. For example, I saw this outdoor playground and just had to see if I was able to climb the pole …
Proud of my upper body strength. All those workouts really pay off.
And earlier in the day, we had lunch near a pond with some very active ducks and geese who clearly were trained to snatch the unwanted bread customers where all too happy to share from their tables.
Bread? Did I hear you had some bread you wanted to share? Now?
And the sunset here in Santiago, Chile. OMG! True cotton candy sky in all it’s brilliance. The dappled clouds made a spectacular site as the sun was going down. It was a fabulous omen of what was to come later that evening. It’s moments like this where I feel truly blessed.
Radiant glory from the sky. Thank you, God, for your magnificence!
Since this whole post honors the beauty … especially in music, I’m inspired to share one last song that came to me as I marveled at the beautiful sunset. Enjoy!
