La canción de la semana #1026

...is Acidito by the Venezuelan cantautor Adelis Fréitez, reinterpreted by Magalí Sare and Manel Fortià.

Magalí Sare: vocals, percussion Manel Fortià: double bass

La canción de la semana #1010

...is Yo vengo regando flores by Agustín "Chupa Caña" Rivas as performed by L'Arpeggiata, an early music ensemble led by Christina Pluhar. This song appears on the group's new album La Torre del Oro (out 17 April 2026).

Luciana Mancini: vocals Vincenzo Capezzuto: vocals Manuel A. Sánchez: cuatro Rafael Mejías: percussion Leonardo Teruggi: double bass Francesco Turrisi: accordion David Mayoral: perussions Sergey Saprychev: percussions Christina Pluhar: musical direction

La canción de la semana #990

...is Aquel Zuliano by Renato Aguirre, made famous by Ricardo Cepeda. Here's a version by Eliana Cuevas and Aquiles Báez, from the duo's 2021 album El Curruchá.

La canción de la semana #975

...is Sol de Luna Llena by Rebecca Roger Cruz, from the Venezuelan singer's gorgeous debut album Río Abajo.

Léna Aubert: double bass Juri Cainero: percussion Léonore Grollemund: cello Sylvain Rabourdin: violin Rebecca Roger Cruz: lead vocals

La canción de la semana #961

...is Velacandela by Velaviee. Watch the live version of this song in the recent La Biblioteca Sessions concert.

La canción de la semana #934

You can say it louder, but not clearer: don't spoil a perfect drink with inferior liquids. Just don't. So says Conjunto Papa Upa (self-described as "a psychedelic journey with a possessed voodoo priest piloting a half-broken 1970's Caribbean space ship") in No le pongas Coca Cola, and I couldn't agree more. This song appears on the Amsterdam-based band's new album Fruta Madura.

No le pongas Coca Cola Una tendencia agravante De incortonables factores Andan diluyendo el ron Con líquidos inferiores Le dan nombres atractivos para poderte engañar Llenan el vaso de hielo y te cobran un dineral Los incautos no perciben que esto es una atrocidad Compran esa porquería sin ninguna calidad ¿Sabes lo que cuesta hacerlo? Son siglos de tradición Sino te gusta no lo bebas Fácil, sin complicación Vamos a ponernos serios Acá en la licorería Ahorremos los improperios No hay que decir groserías Aunque me saque la piedra, yo me voy a controlar Tanta chavacanería que me cuesta soportar Quien te ha dado a ti el derecho de arruinar el elixir Una chaborrada de esas no lo puedo permitir Ponle dos piedritas de hielo Si acaso una rueda de limón Pruébalo y llega hasta el cielo Así es que se bebe un ron No seas tan ordinario, respétalo No le pongas Coca-Cola, por el amor de Dios Tú jamás de comerías un sushi de cambur Por favor ten un poquito de glamour No me le pongas Coca Cola al ron No me le pongas.

La canción de la semana #931

...is Que Chimbo by Carmen DeLeon. Watch the live version of this song from Carmen's La Biblioteca Sessions concert (23 February 2024).

La canción de la semana #903

...is Sola by La Chica featuring the fantastic Sandra Nkaké, from Live at Le Café de la Danse, Paris (2023).

La canción de la semana #891

...is Siento una pena by Mito y Comadre, a Venezuelan electronic roots group now based in Bogotá, Colombia. This song appears on their debut album Guajirando. The video was created by the Peruvian animation studio Tenis.

Music Shanna Hernández: voice Guillermo Lares: cuatro, percussion, drums, marimba, marímbola, pads, keyboards, voice effects Christian Castagno: guitars Andrés Álvarez: keyboards José Chepe Ariza: bass Video Animated and directed by Tenis Direction: Diego Tenorio Animation and drawings: Sergio Dapello, Sofia Lores, Muriel Holguín, Jorge Maita, Diego Tenorio Edition: Muriel Holguín Executive Producer: Laura Jordan

La canción de la semana #881

...is Homenaje al Tres by La 5^ta Galaxia, from their eponymous 1982 album. Another gem found thanks to Gia Fu, this time in her mix Salsa Records From Venezuela.

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.

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.

La canción de la semana #828

...is Canto del Pilón by Sophie Fustec aka La Chica. This song appears on the Franco-Venezuelan singer's 2019 album Cambio.

La canción de la semana #759

...is Tonada del Cabrestero by Simón Díaz, beautifully reinterpreted by Magalí Sare and Manel Fortià. This song appears on the duo's 2020 album Fang i núvols.

La canción de la semana #724

...is Bocón by Raúl Monsalve y los Forajidos featuring Luzmira Zerpa, from the band's 2020 album Bichos.

La canción de la semana #698

...is Nobreza, a brand new single by LADAMA in Portuguese! This song appears on the band's forthcoming album Oye Mujer (to be released 12 June 2020 on Six Degrees Records).

La canción de la semana #695

... is Resistiré, a 1988 song by Dúo Dinámico, re-interpreted by more than 30 artists including Álex Ubago, Andrés Suárez, Álvaro Soler, Blas Cantó, Carlos Baute, Conchita, David Bisbal, David Otero, David Summers, Despistaos, Diana Navarro, Dvicio, Efecto Mariposa, Efecto Pasillo, ELE, Georgina, India Martínez, José Mercé, Josemi Carmona, Manuel Carrasco, Melendi, Mikel Erentxun, Nil Moliner, Pastora Soler, Pedro Guerra, Pitingo, Rosana, Rozalén, Rulo, Sofía Ellar and Vanesa Martín that became a Spanish-language anthem of resistance in times of COVID-19 pandemic.

But that's not all. On 16 April, Resistiré México was released. This version was recorded by Artists for Mexico featuring Aida Cuevas, Arath Herce, Axel Muñiz, Benny Ibarra, Belinda, Camila, Caztro, Chucho Rivas, Cristian Castro, DLD, Edith Márquez, Gloria Trevi, Ha*Ash, Horacio Palencia, Kaia Lana, Kinky, Leonel García, Lila Downs, Lupe Esparza, María José, María León, MC Davo, Mijares, Mœnia, Paty Cantú, Río Roma, Rodrigo Davila, Sandra Echeverría, Ximena Sariñana and Yahir.

La canción de la semana #684

Yet one more fine band discovered (by me) thanks to fantastic NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert series: the New York-based Spanglish Fly. According to the band's website, their "multicultural cast has origins in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Japan, and Upper Manhattan". This week's song is Boogaloo Shoes from the band's 2018 album Ay Que Boogaloo!

La canción de la semana #683

María Fernanda Ruette: vocals, cuatro venezolano Raúl Monsalve: bass Edgar Bonilla Jiménez: keyboards Andres Sequera: drums Juan-Sebastien Jiménez: maracas

...is Vuelve by Insólito UniVerso, a Venezuelan psych-folk quartet based in Paris, France. This song appears on the band's 2018 album, La Candela del Río.

La canción de la semana #652

...is Voy composed by Javier Limón and sung by Nella Rojas. Nella plays this Saturday, 22 June at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus together with the Cuban sax legend, Paquito D'Rivera.

Nella Rojas: vocal Javier Limón: guitars, bouzouki, keyboards Brigitte Sosa: bass Israel Suárez "Piraña": percussion