Shakira & Alejandro Sanz
- La Tortura
Released in end 2004, this
song by Colombian diva
Shakira and Spanish singer
Alejandro Sanz is listed as
being the most successful
Spanish-language song
world-wide, selling well even in
non Spanish-speaking
countries. Sales were
undoubtedly helped by the
steamy video featuring
half-Arab Shakira's famous
belly dancing. Since all official
versions are either blocked or
refused embedding, this video
uses a remixed version.
- La Tortura
Released in end 2004, this
song by Colombian diva
Shakira and Spanish singer
Alejandro Sanz is listed as
being the most successful
Spanish-language song
world-wide, selling well even in
non Spanish-speaking
countries. Sales were
undoubtedly helped by the
steamy video featuring
half-Arab Shakira's famous
belly dancing. Since all official
versions are either blocked or
refused embedding, this video
uses a remixed version.
El Mundo Español
My Planet on YouTube
My third language (after English and French) was Spanish. Although I don't often have the chance to speak it
these days, it still manages to bubble back up to the surface on those all-too-rare trips to Spain, Texas and
Latin America. My love of Spanish music burns on, and in my mind Spanish remains with English the language
that always sounds good when set to music. Below are a few favourite songs from throughout the
Spanish-speaking world, several of which keep popping up on my various playlists. No, "La Bamba",
"Macarena" and the Buena Vista Social Club are not included here...
these days, it still manages to bubble back up to the surface on those all-too-rare trips to Spain, Texas and
Latin America. My love of Spanish music burns on, and in my mind Spanish remains with English the language
that always sounds good when set to music. Below are a few favourite songs from throughout the
Spanish-speaking world, several of which keep popping up on my various playlists. No, "La Bamba",
"Macarena" and the Buena Vista Social Club are not included here...
Ana Belén - Joaquin
Sabima - A la Sombre de
un Leon
Yet two more Spanish artists
who had trouble in the times of
Franco due to their leftist
politics. Both are Spanish, yet I
assume this is taken from a
concert in Buenos Aires due to
Joaquin Sabima's use of
dialect. Ana is a bit off key in
this live performance, but her
studio recording from her 1988
album makes this one of my
all-time favourite songs, with
beautiful music and surreal
imagery.
Sabima - A la Sombre de
un Leon
Yet two more Spanish artists
who had trouble in the times of
Franco due to their leftist
politics. Both are Spanish, yet I
assume this is taken from a
concert in Buenos Aires due to
Joaquin Sabima's use of
dialect. Ana is a bit off key in
this live performance, but her
studio recording from her 1988
album makes this one of my
all-time favourite songs, with
beautiful music and surreal
imagery.
Tarrés - Joan Serrat
Catalonian singer first famous
for being cancelled as Spain's
entry in the Eurovision song
contest when he insisted on
singing his song in Catalan
instead of Castellano (what
most of the world calls
"Spanish"). The alternative
singer went on to win. From his
2000 album "Canciones". A
beautiful voice that weaves
suspended through the music.
One of my favourite songs of all
time.
Catalonian singer first famous
for being cancelled as Spain's
entry in the Eurovision song
contest when he insisted on
singing his song in Catalan
instead of Castellano (what
most of the world calls
"Spanish"). The alternative
singer went on to win. From his
2000 album "Canciones". A
beautiful voice that weaves
suspended through the music.
One of my favourite songs of all
time.
Juanes - La Camisa Negra
Juan Esteban Aristizabal
Vasquez is better known by the
contraction of his Christian
names: Juanes. A young
singer from Medellin, Columbia,
he became famous around the
world with the 2004 album "Mi
Sangre", which included this
great track "La Camisa Negra",
sung here live at a charity
concert for "Peace Without
Borders".
Juan Esteban Aristizabal
Vasquez is better known by the
contraction of his Christian
names: Juanes. A young
singer from Medellin, Columbia,
he became famous around the
world with the 2004 album "Mi
Sangre", which included this
great track "La Camisa Negra",
sung here live at a charity
concert for "Peace Without
Borders".
Chocolate - Mayonesa
I like to call Chocolate my
"favourite ex-group from
Uruguay". I heard this music
during my 2001 trip to Buenos
Aires, my first serious
introduction to the dialect of
southern South America that
changes "ll" and "y" to a French
"j" sound. Thus "mazhonaysa".
A great song from a very
cheezy group famous for their
"tropical sound". This could be
a movie of my night out with
colleagues at an amazing club
in rural Puerto Iguazu,
Argentina (across the rivers
from Paraguay and Brazil) in
February 2008.
I like to call Chocolate my
"favourite ex-group from
Uruguay". I heard this music
during my 2001 trip to Buenos
Aires, my first serious
introduction to the dialect of
southern South America that
changes "ll" and "y" to a French
"j" sound. Thus "mazhonaysa".
A great song from a very
cheezy group famous for their
"tropical sound". This could be
a movie of my night out with
colleagues at an amazing club
in rural Puerto Iguazu,
Argentina (across the rivers
from Paraguay and Brazil) in
February 2008.
Soy Infeliz - Lola Beltran
Heart-breaking over-the-top
Mexican "Rachero" music from
one of the best singers in the
genre. The kitsch but
surprisingly touching music was
the perfect intro for Pedro
Almodovar's 1988 film "Women
on the verge of a nervous
breakdown". It later of course
figured prominently on my own
playlist "Rubio!", less delicately
called "the official soundtrack
album of my divorce"!
Heart-breaking over-the-top
Mexican "Rachero" music from
one of the best singers in the
genre. The kitsch but
surprisingly touching music was
the perfect intro for Pedro
Almodovar's 1988 film "Women
on the verge of a nervous
breakdown". It later of course
figured prominently on my own
playlist "Rubio!", less delicately
called "the official soundtrack
album of my divorce"!
Presuntos Implicados -
Como Hemos Cambiado
Brother-sister-plus-friend group
from Murcia in Spain, best
known for their light jazzy style
and the amazing voice of Sole
Giménez. From their 1991
album "Ser de Agua".
Como Hemos Cambiado
Brother-sister-plus-friend group
from Murcia in Spain, best
known for their light jazzy style
and the amazing voice of Sole
Giménez. From their 1991
album "Ser de Agua".
