Clandestino  by Manu Chao

Mano Negra disbanded in 1994. Manu Chao spent the next four years wandering around various parts of the planet, where he wrote and recorded new material. Some of these compositions led to the creation of his first solo album, Clandestino.

Clandestino reflects many of the moments Manu Chao lived and is clearly influenced by the places he chose to reside. Thus, in Clandestino we have songs in Spanish, English, French, and Brazilian Portuguese. Beyond the variety of languages, the album is also known for the interspersed "phrases" often heard in its songs, which come from whatever Manu Chao recorded on a small tape recorder (people's conversations, street sounds, sounds of nature, etc.). Among the sixteen songs on the album, Clandestino, Je Ne T'aime Plus, Bongo Bong, and Welcome To Tijuana stood out.

Album sales are estimated to be close to 1,800,000 copies. Clandestino was particularly loved in Latin American countries, European countries, even selling 50,000 copies in Canada. However, it went completely (or almost) unnoticed in the USA.