Simple Minds return to Barcelona to never be forgotten

The nightly summer concerts in the Jardins del Palau de Pedralbes, accompanied by the sound of singing cicadas, continued on Friday with 80s new wave legends Simple Minds.

The Scottish group, currently on their 2024 Global Tour, returned to Barcelona for an unforgettable trip down memory lane. 

Frontman Jim Kerr took to the stage in a heatwave-defying attire of a white denim jacket, long multicolored scarf, skin-tight jeans, and black leather boots, and immediately took command of the crowd, shouting “Everything okay?” to the roaring fans before kicking off the concert with their 83 hit “Waterfront,” which got everyone on their feet and dancing from the start.

Although the band’s big break came over forty years ago, they have kept busy with 18 studio albums released and many hits, including “Someone Somewhere (in Summertime),” “Sanctify Yourself,” “New Gold Dream,” and “Promised You a Miracle,” all of which they played in the park on Friday.

Throughout the night, Kerr’s presence, from singing, dancing, waving, and shaking hands with fans, and the synergy with co-vocalist Sarah Brown made sure that everyone was present, with the breathtaking backdrop of the Palau de Pedrables, which lit up in different colors throughout the night.

But Simple Minds isn’t just a band that makes great dance songs, they also have political tunes, such as “Mandela Day” from 1989, which was written for the then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela as an expression of solidarity.

Later, an absolute silence descended upon the crowd, as the group played “Belfast Child,” a melancholy tune about the Troubles, with the famous black-and-white video playing in the background, and fans quietly swaying back and forth as if mesmerized by the lyrics.

Of course, the concert could not end without the 80’s smash hit "Don’t You (Forget About Me)", a song that had everyone in the concert dancing and singing along to the characteristic chorus of “la-la-la-la” over and over again.

And just when everyone thought that the concert was over, Kerr announced, “We don’t want to go home! Please let us play some more!”

As promised, the group returned to play “Alive and Kicking,” making sure that no one would ever forget that hot night in Barcelona, dancing and singing along to the songs of the legendary Simple Minds.