29 diciembre 2023

La canción de la semana #888

...is goosebumpingly gorgeous Remitente by María Peláe. The video featuring the dancer Pedro Sohu is directed by Mario Ruiz. This is one of the official entries for Benidorm Fest 2024. I don't hold my breath: this song is just too good for Benidorm Fest and, by extension, for Eurovision. Still, I wish María good luck.

22 diciembre 2023

La canción de la semana #887

...is Abrígame by Jaque Mate, a 1980s Peruvian duo composed of Jorge "Coco" Tafur and Maryna Pastor. This song, together with other delicious rarities, appears on the compilation Viva el Sábado: Hits de Disco Pop Peruano (1978—1989) (Buh Records, 2023).

24 noviembre 2023

La canción de la semana #883

...is No Me Pueden Parar by J Noa, from the Dominican rapper's new EP Autodidacta. Naturally, I discovered her thanks to the recent Tiny Desk Concert.

    J Noa: lead vocals
    Dominic Brogdon: trombone
    Carlos Colon: backing vocals
    Andres Ferret: bass
    Johnny Jones: alto sax
    Archie Knuckles: trumpet
    Jason Mathews: keys
    Marcos Rijos: guitar
    Nathalie Rodriguez (Gaiya): backing vocals
    John Samnson (Jun Blaze): drums

17 noviembre 2023

La canción de la semana #882

...is Un dragón para olvidar by Ceviche Mixto. This song opens the Bolivian band's new album Valses Para Perros.

03 noviembre 2023

La canción de la semana #880

...is Funky by Harold López-Nussa, from his new album Timba a la Americana.

    Harold López-Nussa: piano and Fender Rhodes
    Ruy Adrián López-Nussa: drums
    Grégoire Maret: harmonica
    Luques Curtis: double bass
    Bárbaro "Machito" Crespo: congas

28 octubre 2023

20 octubre 2023

La canción de la semana #878

The Tiny Desk was spoiling us with some great Spanish-language music during this "Latinx Heritage Month". That's where I discovered for myself Ivy Queen (Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez) — I would have discovered her years ago if I were into reggaeton, which I am not. So, ladies and gentlemen: Menor Que Yo by the one and only Ivy Queen.

Ivy Queen: vocals
Barba Blanca: percussion, piano, musical direction
Marco Jiménez Santana: violin
Adriana Lizardi: double bass
Lourdes Naomi Negrón: viola
Javier Tirado: cello

14 octubre 2023

La canción de la semana #877

...is Escándalo, the opener of the 1970 album Pan by Grupo Pan (Venezuela) led by Carlos "Nené" Quintero. Long out of print, this album was recently reissued on vinyl.

07 octubre 2023

La canción de la semana #876

...is Tortuga Mareña by Cantares del Pacífico, a folkloric group from Buenaventura, Colombia led by the marimba player Eryen Korath. This song appears on the album Aguajes de Mar y Manglar.

30 septiembre 2023

La canción de la semana #875

...is Papa Upa by Babalu, Eddy Mar Salsa y Sabor, from the band's 1976 record Tranquilisate. I'd never known who they were if not for Gia Fu's programme Salsa Records From Curaçao, full of equally obscure and wonderfully catchy tunes. I didn't even know they played salsa in Curaçao. Now I know.

22 septiembre 2023

La canción de la semana #874

...is DPM (De Pxta Madre) by Kany García. The song was released two years ago but I first heard it in Kany's recent (and gorgeous) Tiny Desk Concert.

    Kany García: lead vocals, steel guitar, ukulele
    Antonio Alonso: drums, percussion, background vocals
    José M. Gómez: keyboards, accordion, background vocals
    Olga I. González: background vocals, shaker, tambourine
    Bryan Pérez: bass guitar
    Cristian F. Rivera: music director, steel guitar, ukulele, background vocals
    Ricardo Rodríguez: classical guitar, background vocals

15 septiembre 2023

La canción de la semana #873

Irina Bogushevskaya (Ирина Богушевская) sang:

Ах, Рио-Рита! Как высоко плыла ты над нами,
Через страх и озноб, через восторг побед,
Аргентины далёкой привет!

But what Rio Rita has to do with Argentina? Very little. The pasodoble was composed in 1932 by the Catalan Enric Santeugini i Montsalvatge (Enrique Santeugini y Montsalvaje), then resident in Berlin. Originally called Adiós Madrecita (but seriously!), it really became famous as Für dich, Rio Rita (Rio Rita was the name of a dance bar in Tauentzienstraße 12, Berlin), with the German lyrics by Oscar H. Adam. In 1937, the instrumental version by Marek Weber and his orchestra came to the former Soviet Union where it was incredibly popular. By that time, both Weber and Santeugini left Germany.

The song appeared on a B-side of a 78 rpm shellac record, whose A-side was occupied by... Argentina (Ich will ja nichts als deine Liebe) by Santiago Lopez, also performed by Marek Weber. (Neither composer was credited on a Soviet disc. Typical.) Maybe that explains the Rio Rita-Argentina connection?

01 septiembre 2023

La canción de la semana #871

I've been listening to this album by 2 Caras — in fact, the only album by 2 Caras — for I don't know how many years. How come I never shared a song on this blog? So, here you are: Chimango from Tango Ska.

23 agosto 2023

La canción de la semana #870

...is La Llama del Amor by Omar Montes with Jairo deRemache and Farruquito. I first heard this song in Omar Montes' fabulous acoustic — sans autotune! — Tiny Desk Concert (17 August 2023).

Omar Montes: vocals
Oscar Barrul: vocals, palmas
Javier Campos: saxophone, flute
Jose del Curro: vocals, palmas
Eduardo Figueroa: cajon
Cesar Galvez: flamenco guitar
Roberto Lorenzo: trombone
Marcos Ortega: trumpet
Alejandro Paez: bass guitar

18 agosto 2023

La canción de la semana #869

...is the traditional Garifuna song Maya Hatina (They Can't Bake Cassava) performed by Lebeha Drummers from Hopkins Village, Belize. This song appears on the band's new album Biama — another discovery thanks to Songlines. I find its simple lyrics strangely inspiring.

Maya Hatina

Maya Hatina Mebura Hatina.
Maya Hatina Mebura Hatina.
Caban neiy ga uguye mama aye Maya Hatina.
Caban neiy ga uguye mama aye Maya Hatina.

They Can’t Bake Cassava

I haven’t worked and I don’t bake.
I haven’t worked and I don’t bake.
So what am I going to eat today and I never bake.
So what am I going to eat today and I never bake.

11 agosto 2023

La canción de la semana #868

A ver, a ver... A Mover la Colita was composed by Miguel Orlando Iacopetti and Luis Alberto Sarmiento and made famous in the 1980s by the likes of La Sonora Dinamita and Wilfrido Vargas. My favourite version is the one by the Ecuadorian band Onda Latina. How did I live all these years and haven't heard this song until now — more precisely, until last month thanks to the French company Le G. Bistaki who used it in their show «Baïna[na]» — is a mystery.

14 julio 2023

La canción de la semana #864

...is Mi Paisa by Olmedo Torres and Polibio Mayorga. This song appears on Ecuatoriana: El Universo Paralelo de Polibio Mayorga 1969—1981, a monumental compilation by Analog Africa.

07 julio 2023

La canción de la semana #863

...is Un Chelo por Alegrías, featuring voice of Eva Durán. This song appears on the brand new album El Desliz by Cary Rosa Varona.

01 julio 2023

La canción de la semana #862

...is Cuéntamelo by Luis de la Carrasca, from his new album Baró Drom.

Luis de la Carrasca: cante
Jérôme Boudin-Clauzel, Antonio Paz: piano
José Luis Dominguez, Manuel Gomez: guitars
Olivier Lalauze: double bass
François Taillefer, Domingo Moreno: percussion

23 junio 2023

La canción de la semana #861

Momi Maiga: kora, voice and percussion
Aleix Tobías: drums, percussion, handclaps
Martín Meléndez: cello
Pau Figueres: Spanish guitar
Rusó Sala: voice
Carlos Montfort: bass

...is Mansani by Momi Maiga, from his album Nio.

16 junio 2023

La canción de la semana #860

...is La Lloroncita (Mexican son jarocho) performed by Diana Baroni. This song appears on the Argentine singer and musician's new album Mujeres.

Diana Baroni: vocal
Ronald Martin Alonso: viola da gamba
Rafael Guel Frias: baroque guitar

10 junio 2023

La canción de la semana #859

...is No Siendo Más by Valentina and Juanita Añez, aka Las Áñez. This song appears on the Colombian duo's Live on KEXP performance at El Desierto Casa Estudio, Desierto de Los Leones, Mexico on March 17, 2023.

03 junio 2023

La canción de la semana #858

...is Desde El Cielo by the Guatemalan cellist, singer and songwriter Mabe Fratti, now based in Mexico. This song is taken from her magnificent Live on KEXP performance at El Desierto Casa Estudio, Desierto de Los Leones, Mexico on 15 March 2023.

Mabe Fratti: vocals, cello
I. La Católica: guitar
Jarrett Gilgore: saxophone
Gibrán Andrade: drums

27 mayo 2023

La canción de la semana #857

After seeing Maui's brilliant — and side-splittingly funny — performance earlier this week in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, as a part of «Voces de Ellas», I can't get this song out of my head. So I thought, why don't I share it here. De nada.

    Maui de Utrera: voice
    Ramón and Pepe Priego: guitars
    "El Cete", Juan Suárez "El Bomba", Antonio Montoya: palmas
    Gaspar "Nieto": bongos
Nada
Yo no soy de lanzarme
Y él tampoco
Y así llevamos tres meses
De sofoco
Conversaciones apretadas
Cruces de miradas, complicidad condensada
To' de a poquito a poco y después
Nada

Tras un tímido hasta luego
Algo nos come por dentro
Dificultad al desapego
Y nuestra boca pidiendo un encuentro
Y en la madrugada
Pero después
Nada

Nada, nada, nada, nada
Nada, nada, nada, nada
Nada, nada, nada, nada
Nada, nada, nada, nada

Que yo quisiera cruzar esa fina línea
Que hay de la buchera al beso
De la amistad al sexo
Que yo quisiera matar
En esta soledad en exceso
Y que la felicidad
No haga a perder peso
Yo solo quiero eso

Nada, nada, nada, nada
Nada, nada, nada, nada
Nada, nada, nada, nada
Nada, nada, nada, nada

Después de un año sin verlo
Ay, qué distinto lo noto
A él le da por el deporte
Y a mí por las papas con choco

Y entre montañas empinadas
Se esconde la luna asustada
Cae un rayo entre nosotros
Me lanzó con su mirada
Cachitos de hielos rotos

Fui a decirle que lo amaba
Pero él se fue
Con otro

Otro, otro, nada, nada
Otro, otro, nada, nada
Otro, otro, nada, nada
Otro, otro, nada, nada

19 mayo 2023

La canción de la semana #856

...is Gucci Los Paños by Karol G. I like the version of this song accompanied by a gorgeous all-female band as performed at the Tiny Desk.

    Carolina Giraldo (Karol G): vocals
    Susana Vasquez: guitar
    Jemma Heigis: piano
    Giulliana Merello: drums
    Patricia Ligia: bass
    Crystal Torres: trumpet
    Hailey-Mae Niswanger: flute
    Katiuska Fernandes: percussion
    Irany Martinez: accordion
    India Anderson: tuba

11 mayo 2023

La canción de la semana #855

...is Rezo a la Luna by Parranda La Cruz, from the Lyon-based vocal and percussion quartet's eponymous album. Once again, I learned about them thanks to Songlines.

27 abril 2023

La canción de la semana #853

Embarrassing as it is, it looks like I never posted here a song by a Paraguayan composer or performer. So, to correct this oversight (as well as to acknowledge the fact that I've just came back from the masterclass of Pedro Martínez), this week's song is Mangoré by Pedro Martínez Trio.

    Pedro Martínez: guitar, composer
    Gonzalo Resquín: drums
    Chino Corvalán: bass

20 abril 2023

La canción de la semana #852

...is A escondidas by ¿Who's the Cuban?, a French group that "mixes the essence of Cuban music with hints of rock, pop and psychedelia". This song appears on the band's new album Pafata.

    Paola Barreto: lead vocals, backing vocals
    Thibaut Chipot: drums, percussion
    Olivier Duranton: keyboards, backing vocals
    Cédric Geremia: guitar
    Olivier Herrmann: bass
    Carl Lelonge: trombone
    Dayron Ramirez Hernandez: lead vocals, backing vocals, trumpet

14 abril 2023

La canción de la semana #851

...is Por Qué Ou Ka Fè Sa featuring Brenda Navarrete and David Walters, from the new all-star album Estrellas by Guts. From the Songlines review:

This is a glorious album that was never supposed to happen. Fabrice Henri, the French hip-hop producer better known as Guts, had planned to record in Cuba. But COVID restrictions made that impossible so he flew the Cuban musicians to Dakar, and invited Senegalese stars to join the sessions, along with his own musicians from Europe. Twenty-five artists from three continents were involved, and in 15 days they recorded this 17-track set. The result is like a more funky, updated version of the original Buena Vista concept, and it works because the great cast were clearly enjoying themselves.

30 marzo 2023

La canción de la semana #849

El Pichi is a song from Spanish 1931 revue Las Leandras. It was composed by Francisco Alonso with lyrics by Emilio González del Castillo and José Muñoz Román. The song was performed by Celia Gámez, Sara Montiel, Lina Morgan, Rocío Dúrcal, Sofía Álvarez and Paloma San Basilio, among others.

91 years later, Rozalén released the version of the song with new lyrics called Pichi 2.0. It appears on the singer's 2022 album Matriz.

23 marzo 2023

La canción de la semana #848

...is Dear Paco (Cepa Andaluza) performed by Maureen Choi Quartet featuring Maureen Choi (violin), Mario Carrillo (double bass), Daniel García Diego (piano) and Michael Olivera (drums). This composition appears on the band's 2019 album Theia.

17 marzo 2023

La canción de la semana #847

...is Guanabacoa by Ana Carla Maza Quartet.

    Arnaud Dolmen: drums
    Fidel Fournneyron: trombone
    Ana Carla Maza: cello, vocal
    Vincent Peirani: accordion

24 febrero 2023

La canción de la semana #844

...is Alaé Alaá by La Ruca y El Quinde de Barbacoas. This song appears on the magnificent debut album ¡Dale Duro al Bombo! of the Colombian folkloric group led by Ruth Elena Cabezas "La Ruca".

17 febrero 2023

La canción de la semana #843

...is Tres Hermanos by Hermanos Gutiérrez featuring Dan Auerbach who, I presume, is the third brother of the title. This theme appears on the Ecuadorian-Swiss guitar duo's album El Bueno y el Malo. You can hear its two-brother version in the recent Tiny Desk Concert.

    Alejandro Gutiérrez: guitar, lap steel
    Estevan Gutiérrez: guitar, percussion

10 febrero 2023

La canción de la semana #842

...is Tabú, Tabú composed by Manuel Alejandro and performed by Sola. This song appears on her 1971 eponymous debut album, also known as Un muñeco de madera and Soy Rebelde . There's precious little information about this Mexican singer on the web; I hope to find out more one day.

02 febrero 2023

La canción de la semana #841

...is Canterurías by Chabuca Granda, here performed by Susana Baca in her Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, at the Babel library and bookstore in Lima, Peru and introduced as “Afro-Peruvian bonus track en Babel”.

    Susana Baca: vocals
    Óscar Huaranga: bass
    Jonathan Mendoza: acoustic guitar, vocals
    Alex Quijandría: percussion, vocals
    Manuel Mejía: percussion, vocals
    Luis Miguel: percussion
    Renzo Vignati: electric guitar
    Juan Carlos: piano, violin

28 enero 2023

La canción de la semana #840

...is Por si volviera by Eva Sierra & María de la Flor. A different version of this song, together with Respirar, appears on Sierra's brand new (released last week!) album Equilibrio.

Por si volviera
(Eva Sierra)
hoy
se ve que llueve
será el murmullo
limpiando el aire
hoy
los laberintos
de las ciudades
borran sus pasos

por si volviera
por si quedara
alguna rama
de primavera

hoy
que soy sincera
llevo en el pecho
mi libertad
la que construye
la que se deja
la que permite
mi caminar

por si volviera
por si quedara
alguna rama
de primavera
por si el silencio
se lleva hablando
más de la cuenta
para contarlo

hoy
la calle tibia
de tu refugio
besa su nombre
hoy
si te quedaras
espantarías
las emociones

por si volvieras
por si algún día
la melodía
no te bastase
por si el silencio
que hay en tu pecho
ya no volviera
para quedarse

por si volviera
por si quedara
alguna rama
de primavera
por si el silencio
se lleva hablando
más de la cuenta
para contarlo
    Eva Sierra: guitar, vocals
    María de la Flor: vocals
    Iker García: guitar

13 enero 2023

La canción de la semana #838

...is El pavo real by Pedro Canale aka Chancha Vía Circuito with the Colombian band Meridian Brothers. This song appears on the Argentine musician's fabulous new album La Estrella, featuring collaborations with artists such as Fémina, Las Añez, María José Montijo, Lido Pimienta and Manu Ranks.

06 enero 2023

La canción de la semana #837

Happy New Year everybody! I learned about Tambor Hembra, a folklore group from Manizales, Colombia, thanks to their collaboration with La Perla, the protagonists of my previous post. This week's song is No Va Pal Río.