Spanish language music anyone?

Necromancer · 05-20-2010, 08:59 PM

Una palabra by Carlos Varela is one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard, I was just going through my collection and stumbled across this one.
I remember that it was on the sountrack off of the movie 'Man On Fire'.
starring Denzel Washington, this guy sings acapella through most of the song with a little spanish guitar during the chorus.
I dont speak spanish at all but it is so easy for me to relate to almost every word he is singing.
I did at one time have the words translated into english, anyway...this one really adds 'a touch of class'.

Zaqarbal · 05-24-2010, 06:30 AM

A YouTube user has translated Una palabra into English (here).

There is a tradition of notable folk singer-songwriters in Spanish like Carlos Varela. Unfortunately I don't know much about that genre. I've heard much less songs than I should have. But, just to mention two big names: Víctor Jara (Chile) and Atahualpa Yupanqui (Argentina).

Te recuerdo Amanda ("I Remember You Amanda") is about the love between two workers with a tragic end. Using simple words Jara made a very emotional song about common people.

And now, I'd like to add two current bands more to the list of my previous post. I discovered them yesterday: Second and Zenttric. These songs are Rincón exquisito ("Refined Corner") and Sólo quiero bailar ("I Just Wanna Dance"), respectively:

Zaqarbal · 05-28-2010, 09:50 AM

Going back in time again. There are still many "heavyweights" from the 80's and 90's to know.

* Pistones (1980-1986). Pop-rock. Here, Metadona ("Methadone") and Lo que quieras oír ("What You Want to Hear"). The second one is an awesome song dedicated to Gloria Swanson (a famous actress from Hollywood's silent-film era):

♫ ♪ "(...)
Who will shine for you today?
What could remain now?
There's only me,
your last admirer
Act again, only for me.
I'll say what you want to hear
(...)" ♫

* Parálisis Permanente (1981-1983). Precursors of Spanish post-punk. Autosuficiencia ("Self-sufficiency") and Vamos a jugar ("Let's Play"):

And Un día en Texas ("A Day in Texas"), Adictos a la lujuria ("Addicts to Lust"), Esa extraña sonrisa ("That Strange Smile").

* Alaska. 80's popstar.

Also A quién le importa and Quiero ser santa ("I Wanna Be a Saint"), among others.

I will continue...

glastonelle · 05-31-2010, 01:57 AM

Love it! The Gipsy Kings and Buena Vista Social Club are fantastic

Zaqarbal · 06-01-2010, 04:46 PM

* El Último de la Fila. Already mentioned here, but now I'd like to show two of their songs as an example. Because this is one of the most important Spanish-language bands of all time, among other things due to their originality. I recommend their entire discography. The following songs are Llanto de pasión ("Crying of Passion", 1988) and Lápiz y tinta ("Pencil and Ink", 1993). The former is about memories of a first love. A catchy, but also very emotional song, heartbreaking and melancholic like few others.

(Llanto de pasión's lyrics and translation here)

* The band (actually a duo) broke up in 1998, but Manolo García continued his career as a singer-songwriter. His songs (very good too) have also those characteristic folk elements of the former act.

* La Frontera (since 1985). I think their best album is Rosa de los Vientos (1989), which includes these two great songs: El límite ("The Limit") and Juan Antonio Cortés.

Zaqarbal · 06-08-2010, 07:42 PM

Continuing the review of the golden age. There were some bands that, despite having a limited success in general terms, released one or two very influential albums. For instance, Los Negativos and their Piknik caleidoscópico (1986). Iberian neo-garage and psychedelia at its best:

And Zombies, who made this classic of the Spanish-language pop in 1980.

Zaqarbal · 07-20-2010, 04:51 PM

* Let's go on. Another well-known act: Duncan Dhu (the name is a character from a R.L. Stevenson's novel. A Scotsman, I guess

). This trio from Spain, afterwards a duo, had a notable success in both sides of the Atlantic from 1985 to 1995, with songs such as A Hundred Seagulls and Somewhere:

(lyrics and translations here and here)

The group is remembered for their ballads, some of which were (and still are) popular in many Spanish-speaking countries. For example, Those Dark Eyes and Groping About:

(lyrics and translations here and here)

* Mikel Erentxun (the vocalist) continues solo. But before the definitive band's breakup, he published an album (Naufragios, 1992) which contains some of his best-known songs. The following are A Minute Away from You and California:

I like how he describes one of those relationships which are both addictive and harmful in A Minute Away from You (lyrics and translation here):

♫ ♪ "(...)
I drink the water that flows along my way.
I'm stagnant at your reflection.
Only from you... drop by drop.
Only from you... poison and thirst.
(...)" ♫

"Poison and thirst". Way to go.

derek · 07-20-2010, 08:24 PM

Zaqarbal · 07-20-2010, 09:34 PM

^ I guess there are many interesting things out there at this moment, but I'm not into electronic music since a loooooong looooooong time ago... so I add four "historical documents" more:

Zaqarbal · 07-21-2010, 08:38 PM

* La Unión (since 1984). Pop and rock with some influences from other genres such as blues. More than 2 million records sold during their career. Lobo-hombre en París ("Werewolf in Paris") and Sildavia are two of their first hits. The former is based on Le loup-garou (1947), a short story by French writer (also musician) Boris Vian. Notice that in Vian's tale (very ingenious) it is a wolf (Denis) who is bitten by a man (actually a werewolf with human appearance at that moment). That's why song says lobo-hombre (literally "wolf-man") instead of hombre-lobo ("man-wolf", which is the Spanish name for a werewolf).

♫ "(...)
(chorus)
La luna llena sobre París........The full moon over Paris
ha transformado en hombre a Denis......has transformed Denis into a man
(...)" ♫

Más y más ("More and More") and Ella es un volcán ("She's a Volcano") have an "interesting" erotic content:

♫ "(...)
Do whatever you want with me, baby
You know I belong to you, baby
Every pore of my skin is yours
Do whatever you want with me, baby
Give in to your temptations, baby
(...)
Riding on the passion
Ritual game
Riding on the passion
I want more and more
I want more and more...
C'mon baby, right to the end
You want more and more
You want more and more...
(...)
Now you're gonna do what I say, baby
You know you belong to me, baby
Every curve of your skin is mine
(...)" ♫

05-20-2010, 08:59 PM	#61 (permalink)
Necromancer Divination Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,655	Una palabra - Carlos Varela Una palabra by Carlos Varela is one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard, I was just going through my collection and stumbled across this one. I remember that it was on the sountrack off of the movie 'Man On Fire'. starring Denzel Washington, this guy sings acapella through most of the song with a little spanish guitar during the chorus. I dont speak spanish at all but it is so easy for me to relate to almost every word he is singing. I did at one time have the words translated into english, anyway...this one really adds 'a touch of class'.

05-24-2010, 06:30 AM	#62 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	A YouTube user has translated Una palabra into English (here). There is a tradition of notable folk singer-songwriters in Spanish like Carlos Varela. Unfortunately I don't know much about that genre. I've heard much less songs than I should have. But, just to mention two big names: Víctor Jara (Chile) and Atahualpa Yupanqui (Argentina). Te recuerdo Amanda ("I Remember You Amanda") is about the love between two workers with a tragic end. Using simple words Jara made a very emotional song about common people. And now, I'd like to add two current bands more to the list of my previous post. I discovered them yesterday: Second and Zenttric. These songs are Rincón exquisito ("Refined Corner") and Sólo quiero bailar ("I Just Wanna Dance"), respectively: __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies."

05-28-2010, 09:50 AM	#63 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	Going back in time again. There are still many "heavyweights" from the 80's and 90's to know. * Pistones (1980-1986). Pop-rock. Here, Metadona ("Methadone") and Lo que quieras oír ("What You Want to Hear"). The second one is an awesome song dedicated to Gloria Swanson (a famous actress from Hollywood's silent-film era): ♫ ♪ "(...) Who will shine for you today? What could remain now? There's only me, your last admirer Act again, only for me. I'll say what you want to hear (...)" ♫ * Parálisis Permanente (1981-1983). Precursors of Spanish post-punk. Autosuficiencia ("Self-sufficiency") and Vamos a jugar ("Let's Play"): And Un día en Texas ("A Day in Texas"), Adictos a la lujuria ("Addicts to Lust"), Esa extraña sonrisa ("That Strange Smile"). * Alaska. 80's popstar. Also A quién le importa and Quiero ser santa ("I Wanna Be a Saint"), among others. I will continue... __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies." Last edited by Zaqarbal; 06-26-2011 at 06:30 AM. Reason: Fix broken video link

06-01-2010, 04:46 PM	#65 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	* El Último de la Fila. Already mentioned here, but now I'd like to show two of their songs as an example. Because this is one of the most important Spanish-language bands of all time, among other things due to their originality. I recommend their entire discography. The following songs are Llanto de pasión ("Crying of Passion", 1988) and Lápiz y tinta ("Pencil and Ink", 1993). The former is about memories of a first love. A catchy, but also very emotional song, heartbreaking and melancholic like few others. (Llanto de pasión's lyrics and translation here) * The band (actually a duo) broke up in 1998, but Manolo García continued his career as a singer-songwriter. His songs (very good too) have also those characteristic folk elements of the former act. * La Frontera (since 1985). I think their best album is Rosa de los Vientos (1989), which includes these two great songs: El límite ("The Limit") and Juan Antonio Cortés. __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies." Last edited by Zaqarbal; 08-15-2010 at 01:14 AM. Reason: First video link (it was broken) fixed

06-08-2010, 07:42 PM	#66 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	Continuing the review of the golden age. There were some bands that, despite having a limited success in general terms, released one or two very influential albums. For instance, Los Negativos and their Piknik caleidoscópico (1986). Iberian neo-garage and psychedelia at its best: And Zombies, who made this classic of the Spanish-language pop in 1980. __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies." Last edited by Zaqarbal; 03-21-2011 at 05:17 PM. Reason: Video link fixed

05-31-2010, 01:57 AM	#64 (permalink)
glastonelle lets make a mess, lioness Join Date: May 2010 Location: NZ Posts: 400	Love it! The Gipsy Kings and Buena Vista Social Club are fantastic

07-20-2010, 04:51 PM	#67 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	* Let's go on. Another well-known act: Duncan Dhu (the name is a character from a R.L. Stevenson's novel. A Scotsman, I guess ). This trio from Spain, afterwards a duo, had a notable success in both sides of the Atlantic from 1985 to 1995, with songs such as A Hundred Seagulls and Somewhere: (lyrics and translations here and here) The group is remembered for their ballads, some of which were (and still are) popular in many Spanish-speaking countries. For example, Those Dark Eyes and Groping About: (lyrics and translations here and here) * Mikel Erentxun (the vocalist) continues solo. But before the definitive band's breakup, he published an album (Naufragios, 1992) which contains some of his best-known songs. The following are A Minute Away from You and California: I like how he describes one of those relationships which are both addictive and harmful in A Minute Away from You (lyrics and translation here): ♫ ♪ "(...) I drink the water that flows along my way. I'm stagnant at your reflection. Only from you... drop by drop. Only from you... poison and thirst. (...)" ♫ "Poison and thirst". Way to go. __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies." Last edited by Zaqarbal; 03-21-2011 at 03:07 PM. Reason: Video links fixed

07-20-2010, 08:24 PM	#68 (permalink)
derek Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 778

07-20-2010, 09:34 PM	#69 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	^ I guess there are many interesting things out there at this moment, but I'm not into electronic music since a loooooong looooooong time ago... so I add four "historical documents" more: __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies."

07-21-2010, 08:38 PM	#70 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	* La Unión (since 1984). Pop and rock with some influences from other genres such as blues. More than 2 million records sold during their career. Lobo-hombre en París ("Werewolf in Paris") and Sildavia are two of their first hits. The former is based on Le loup-garou (1947), a short story by French writer (also musician) Boris Vian. Notice that in Vian's tale (very ingenious) it is a wolf (Denis) who is bitten by a man (actually a werewolf with human appearance at that moment). That's why song says lobo-hombre (literally "wolf-man") instead of hombre-lobo ("man-wolf", which is the Spanish name for a werewolf). ♫ "(...) (chorus) La luna llena sobre París........The full moon over Paris ha transformado en hombre a Denis......has transformed Denis into a man (...)" ♫ Más y más ("More and More") and Ella es un volcán ("She's a Volcano") have an "interesting" erotic content: ♫ "(...) Do whatever you want with me, baby You know I belong to you, baby Every pore of my skin is yours Do whatever you want with me, baby Give in to your temptations, baby (...) Riding on the passion Ritual game Riding on the passion I want more and more I want more and more... C'mon baby, right to the end You want more and more You want more and more... (...) Now you're gonna do what I say, baby You know you belong to me, baby Every curve of your skin is mine (...)" ♫ __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies."