The life of Germán Albarracín, the participant of ‘Yo me llamo’ who conquered for being the perfect double of J Balvin, is a novel of overcoming, because he was regarding to end up in a wheelchair and managed to overcome a severe economic setback.
In less than a year, the life of German Albarracin had an unexpected twist. The perfect double of J Balvin He had to overcome two great adversities that would have taken away the illusion of getting ahead for many. The first occurred when he was a National Police patrolman in Cartagena. “We responded to a call for theft. When we arrived, the people fled on a motorcycle and in the chase a car closed us off, and I, who was going as a barbecue, flew out.”
Germán woke up in the hospital. “I had pain all over my body and I mightn’t even move. I was diagnosed with a fracture of the T8 vertebra and underwent surgery. I had little chance of returning to my previous life. It was very hard. I locked myself up to cry, I did it hidden from my parents and I asked my God a lot to help me. I never denied, but I felt very bad, although inside something told me that I might, that I was going to get up.
He was in a wheelchair, and although they said he would never walk once more, the doctor who operated on him did a great job and he was able to do it once more, although he has consequences, such as not being able to move or lift heavy objects and do activities such as washing dishes. because they are painful. After his recovery, which took almost a year, he retired from the institution. “I didn’t feel so happy anymore and I wanted to do something different, that would impact people.”
In his native Cúcuta, Germán opened a barbershop where he combined his passion for soccer. “It was ‘Barber shop El 10′, a dream that I made come true. I learned to cut hair and I was happy, but the pandemic came and everything ended. He had to reinvent himself, and, as he is a talented cartoonist, he dedicated himself to making drawings. He gained prestige and received orders from all over Colombia.
New Horizons
Seeking new horizons, he took a barman and barista course, and was hired at a restaurant in his city. Because of his ability to socialize, they put him to attend tables. Germán had long hair, and seeing that there were waiters with the same look, he made a decision that would change his life. “I went to a barber and he told me that he looked like J Balvin, so he cut my hair short and painted it yellow.”
That night at the restaurant My name was Jorge Celedón. “When I arrived, people looked at me and asked for photos. Jorge Celedón, jokingly, said: “it is an honor to have my name is J Balvin here”. Seeing that people were moved, my boss asked me if he sang and I sang I keep missing you. He scheduled me for the following Saturday. They took pictures of me, they advertised. I started nervous, but I got upset when I saw that people were dancing, taking pictures of me and applauding”.
He began to upload videos and was contacted by who is now his manager. “He called me in Yopal, because he was preparing material to send.” She began her life as an artist working from January 2021 as a tribute to J Balvin and in October she joined Yo me llamo, where she made her great leap to recognition.
total admirer
Germán comments that for 13 years he has been a great admirer of J Balvin, fervor that grew when he saw him on stage. “I served as a high school assistant in the Police, in Cúcuta, and they sent me to an event. That day they took J Balvin and I saw him and said ‘what a chimba he sings, his style’, and I asked him to take a photo. José answered me, ‘in one, partner’, and he gave me a hug. If I liked it before, now I like it more. He followed his music, his videos, if he produced a shirt or a bracelet, I had it made. I unconsciously prepared myself to be his imitator.”
© Courtesy Caracol Tv
The paisa singer was surprised to join the show of his imitator, who was ‘mute’ as soon as he saw him. That was the emotional moment.
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