Valencian Busker Beats the Best

The word ‘busker’, a street musician, actually comes from the Spanish verb ‘buscar’, (to seek) and so it is appropriate that the world’s best busker is Spanish, and Valencian what’s more.

Borja Catanesi was the winner in 2018 of the Universal Street Games of the USA, and in September 2020 he was also the winner of the Roma International Buskers Festival.

Borja is from the Ruzafa neighbourhood of Valencia, but now lives in Holland.

This is what he said about busking in 2018:

“Hi everyone! My name is Borja Catanesi and I am from Valencia. I´ve been travelling over the past 3 years in Europe doing what I most like, playing my guitar in the streets. A tour that I´ve shared on my social media accounts, showing you the great moments that music creates, the most international language.

My new project is recording my first album. I´m very excited to get in to the studio, surround myself with instruments and to show what I want to do. I´ll be recording the guitar, the bass, beatbox and piano. Funk, reggae, blues and rock&roll. There will also be collaborations with other musicians.

https://es.ulule.com/borjacatanesi/

First of all, I want to thank you all for the support I receive daily! I´m very excited about this project and I hope to get your help! Thanks again, and see you on the streets!”

In most major cities around the world, you will find Street musicians at the corners of major city blocks, subway stations and open spaces with a lot of crowds. Street performance also known as busking is the act of performing in public places for gratuities.

There have been performances in public places for gratuities in every major culture in the world, dating back in history. For most musicians back then, street performance was the most common means of employment before the advent of recording devices and personal electronics. In those ancient times listening to a performer in the street was the only way to hear music.

Street musicians are giving something to the world. It takes a great deal of talent to be able to alter someone’s mood and attitude just by playing a few riffs or singing a few verses. They do nothing more than try to bring something beautiful into our everyday world.

So next time you pass a saxophone player playing a jazz classic, or a guitarist playing a country song, Stop – Take a small break – and just listen to the music. Sometimes simply acknowledging the presence of these performers makes all the difference.

AS Joni Mitchell said, he was playing real good for free.