SINGING A SONG IN THE MORNING By KEVIN AYERS May 22, 2012

This was released as a single by the eccentric singer-songwriter Kevin Ayers in 1970. However, my version was inspired by a live performance I saw recently by Gruff Rhys (formerly singer with the Welsh group Super Furry Animals). Gruff actually played it three times during his set (because it was April the 1st?!). Though he played one song in Spanish, he needed an interpreter to communicate with the Spanish crowd.

This is my singable Spanish version rather than a literal translation. In fact, it’s a bilingual version, so try and sing along!

SINGING A SONG IN THE MORNING Singing a song in the morning Singing it again at night I don’t even know what I’m singing about But it makes me feel I feel alright (yeah, yeah) It makes me feel I feel alright

CÁNTALA POR LA MAÑANA Cántala por la mañana Cántala por la noche Cuando la canto Que bien me siento Qué significa yo no lo sé (no sé) Qué significa yo no lo sé

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CHORDS:

E, A and D

HU HU HU By NATALIA LAFOURCADE & JULIETA VENEGAS May 13, 2012

Natalia Lafourcade is a Mexican singer-songwriter. This is the title track of her 2009 album, and it features her compatriot Julieta Venegas, with whom she is sometimes compared.

I saw Natalia live recently (supporting Xoel López, see the previous post), and her performance suggested that her forthcoming album will feature darker material. Sadly, the Spanish crowd seemed to have little idea who she was, though I think she is a star in Mexico (and elsewhere).

HU HU HU Quiero regalarte las estrellas, O la luna entera, Una hora extra para respirar Un pastel, una cereza, Un papel que tenga letras O también pinturas para dibujar. Un reloj que nos dé tiempo, Flores que ponen contento, Libros que te atrapen hasta el final. Hu-Hu-Hu Quiero regalarte el cielo Quiero regalarte el campo, Quiero regalarte todo un jardín. Quiero ver si llueve, Sólo quiero ver si crece Sólo quiero tantas cosas, Y te quiero a ti. Un reloj que nos dé tiempo, Flores que ponen contento, Un camino largo para caminar, Hu-Hu-Hu Quiero ver como te mueves Quiero inventar palabras Quiero y quiero más, No es suficiente para hacer Que esto vuelva a suceder. Quiero detener el viento Quiero detener el tiempo, Y quiero despertar. Hu-Hu-Hu

HU HU HU I want to give you the stars And the full moon An extra hour to breath A cake, a cherry A lyric sheet And coloured pencils to draw with too A clock to tell us the time Flowers that make you feel good Books that hold you ‘til the end Hu-Hu-Hu I want to give the sky I want to give the countryside I want to give you a whole garden I want to see if it rains I just want to see it it grows I want so many things And I love you A clock that tells us the time Flowers that make you feel good A long path to walk Hu-Hu-Hu I want to see how you move I want to make up words I want more and more It’s not enough to make This happen again I want to stop the wind I want to stop time I want to wake up Hu-Hu-Hu

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PRONUNCIATION
The letter H in Spanish is silent, and U is pronounced Oo (like You).
So Hu-Hu-Hu sounds like Oo-Oo-Oo (the funky gibbon...)

CHORDS / ACORDES

G5 – G5/A – G/B – Cm 
G5 – G5/A – G/B – Cm
G5 – G5/A – G/B – G/B
Bm – A – B 

Bm – E9 – F# – F#Maj7
Bm – E9 – F# – F#Maj7
Bm – E9 – F# – F#Maj7
Bm – A – G#

(Coda) G# – B – G# – G#

TIERRA By XOEL LÓPEZ May 1, 2012

One of the first songs on this blog was by Deluxe, the former project of Xoel López. Now, after several years out of the limelight, he makes a welcome return. This song is from his new album ‘Atlántico’, the first released under his own name.

Apparently he needed a break after the end of Deluxe, and he has spent a lot of time in Buenos Aires. He sings the last line of this song twice, first with a Spanish accent then with an Argentinian accent!

There’s an excellent interview (in English!) with Xoel here: http://friendswelove.com/blog/xoel-lopez/

TIERRA Yo soñaba cada día poder alcanzar la playa Y ahora está tan cerca casi ya la puedo oler Y espero cada vez más próximo al final Ya puedo sentir tierra seca tras la arena mojada Y no me da la gana de pensar que nada es para siempre Si esta canción se acaba que acabe el mundo para todos Todos somos nada sin las palabras dime qué nos queda Y vuelven algunas rimas a mi mente cansada Partes de guiones que creía olvidadas Melodías que una vez pensé que iba a perder Se tornan ahora bellas y valientes sinfonías Y hace tiempo que yo ya me fui, yo siempre me estoy yendo Pero siempre estoy contigo, aunque a veces pienses que no hay nada Cuando me quedo mirando como si estuviera ausente Es porque estoy viajando, no pienses que voy a perderme Mmm, mmm, mmm… Sí, ya sé que el mundo seguirá girando cuando ya no quede nada Y nosotros vaguemos por la historia como simples hombres solitarios Reyes que perdieron todo, todo lo que tanto amaban por quererlo demasiado Y lo intento cada día ser todo lo que había imaginado Y me encuentro que la vida siempre tiene algo preparado que supera cualquiera de mis fantasías Nada comparado con lo que realmente sucedía Mmm, mmm, mmm… Yo soñaba cada día poder alcanzar la playa

LAND I used to dream every day I could reach the beach And now it’s so close I can almost smell it And every time I wait closer to the end I can already feel the dry land after the wet sand And I don’t want to think that nothing is forever If this song finishes then the world ends for everyone We are all nothing without words tell me what we have left And some rhymes come back To my tired mind Lines from a script I thought was forgotten Tunes that I once Thought I was going to forget Which come back to me now Beautiful and brave symphonies It’s been a while since I left And I’m always going But I’m always with you Even though sometimes You think there isn’t anything When I’m staring into space As if I was absent It’s because I’m travelling Don’t think that I’m going to get lost Mmm, mmm, mmm… Yes, I know the world will keep Turning when nothing is left And we roam through history Like simple solitary men Kings who lost everything Everything that they loved so much Because they wanted it too much And everyday I try To be everything I had imagined And I find that life Always has something prepared for me That exceeds all my fantasies Nothing campares to What really happened Mmm, mmm, mmm… I used to dream every day I could reach the beach

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CHORDS / ACORDES
Intro: E – Emaj7 – Esus/B – E 
E – A – F#m – B7 (repeat)
(Mmm…) A – F#m – A – F#m
(Coda) E – Emaj7

CONTRAPUNTO By LOS QUE VIVIMOS April 22, 2012

I heard this track on the recent compilation “Chicas: Spanish female singers1962-1974″. There’s a fair amount of kitsch on the album, but this ambitious track really stands out.

I know almost nothing about the group, but they released this single in 1971. Their name comes from the Spanish title of Ayn Rand’s novel “We The Living”. The passionate delivery falls somewhere between Julie Driscoll and the Hair soundtrack. The dynamic keyboard playing has been compared to ABBA!

It’s also rare to hear protest style lyrics in a pop/rock record from this era. Could ‘rostros francos’ (sincere faces) actually be a veiled reference to Franco?

CONTRAPUNTO Mientras la tarde se va Y la sombra viene a mí Mi juventud se queda triste y amarga Tengo miedo de mirar En los espejos, veré Cómo el dolor, va marchitando mi vida Mas hoy, quiero escapar Ser libre, ser libre Quiero partir, al fin Donde haya sentimientos Donde haya la verdad Donde haya confianza Donde haya libertad Donde no haya tinieblas Donde no haya ansiedad Donde no haya consejos Donde no haya maldad Donde pueda guiarme Sólo mi corazon Y el latir de mi sangre Sea la única razon Lo ves, las flores sin colores Yo ví, promesas sin ningún valor Huir de mis viejas prisiones Gritar, sin miedo lo que siento Donde haya realidades Donde haya lo que son Donde haya rostros francos Donde haya comprensión Donde no haya pistolas Donde no haya rencor Donde no haya secretos Donde no haya rencor Lo ves, las flores sin colores… Gritar, lo de dentro ¡Gritar! Pero no podré alejar de mí El presente cruel, tan helado y gris Mis dias serán tan solo, una triste espera Sin fin, sin fin Donde haya sentimientos…

COUNTERPOINT While the evening ends And the shadow comes to me My youth remains sad and bitter I’m scared to look In the mirror, I’ll see Like pain, my life withering But today, I want to escape Be free, be free I want to set off, finally Where there are feelings Where there is truth Where there is trust Where is freedom Where there is no darkness Where there is no anxiety Where there is no advice Where there is no evil Where I can find my own way Just with my heart And the throbbing of my blood Will be the only reason You’ll see flowers without colours I saw, promises without any value Escape from my old prisons I shout what I feel without fear Where there are realities Where there is what there is Where there are sincere faces There there is understanding Where there are no weapons Where there is no resentment Where there are no secrets Where there is no resentment You’ll see flowers without colours… Shout, what’s inside - shout! But I couldn’t get away from myself The cruel present, so cold and grey My days will be so lonely, a sad wait Without end Where there are feelings…

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CHORDS / ACORDES:

Edim – F# – Bm

D – A – G – D

Bm – D – Bm

Edim – F#b9 – Edim – Edim

Keyboard Riff:

Bm – D – G – E

Bridge:

Bm – G – E – D

LOS RICOS TAMBIÉN LLORAN By MARCOS EXTRANJERO April 15, 2012

‘La Crisis’ in Spain drags on, so I thought I’d sing you my Spanish version of an old song of mine. In English it’s called “The Rich Cry Too”.

Actually, the original song was inspired by the title of an old Mexican soap opera, so it makes sense to finally sing it in Spanish. NB I sing ‘lloran también’ because it sounds a bit more rock ‘n’ roll that way round. Also, I’ve retained a bit of English in the chorus.

LOS RICOS TAMBIÉN LLORAN Tu eres, tu eres caballero muy rico Los tercermundistas te deben un montón y pico La deuda es tuya ahora ¿y debes a quién? Lagrimea, por los ricos lloran también The rich cry too! Tu eres, tu eres caballero muy listo Por que has vendido tu alma a un hombre chino Ahora se cierra tu último almacén Lagrimea, por los ricos lloran también The rich cry too! Dime quien, dime quien es que tiene la culpa No hay nadie que me ha pedido disculpas La deuda es tuya ahora ¿y debes a quién? Lagrimea, por los ricos lloran también The rich cry too!

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS By THE BEATLES April 1, 2012

This week we go in the opposite direction again, from English to Spanish. This is my literal translation, but the group Los Mustang recorded many versions of the Beatles songs in Spanish during the sixties.

Thanks to an agreement with EMI they actually released their versions a couple of weeks before the originals came out! Unsurprisingly, this meant they were hugely successful. This song became “La ayuda de la amistad”, but I think a lot of the charm of the song is lost in their translation (judge for yourself below).

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS What would you think if I sang out of tune, Would you stand up and walk out on me. Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song, And I'll try not to sing out of key. CHORUS: Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends, Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends, Mmm, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends What do I do when my love is away. Does it worry you to be alone How do I feel by the end of the day Are you sad because you're on your own REPEAT CHORUS BRIDGE: Do you need anybody? I need somebody to love. Could it be anybody? I want somebody to love. Would you believe in a love at first sight? Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time. What do you see when you turn out the light? I can't tell you, but I know it's mine. REPEAT CHORUS REPEAT BRIDGE REPEAT CHORUS

CON UN POCO DE AYUDA DE MIS AMIGOS ¿Qué pensarías si cantara desafinado, te levantarías y me dejarías? Déjame tus oídos y te cantaré una canción y trataré no cantar desafinado. ESTRIBILLO: Oh, voy tirando con un poco de ayuda de mis amigos Mmm, me flipo con un poco de ayuda de mis amigos Mmm, voy a intentarlo con un poco de ayuda de mis amigos ¿Qué es lo que hago cuando mi amor está lejos? ¿Te preocupa estar sólo? ¿Cómo me siento al final del día? ¿estás triste porque estás sólo? REPETIR ESTRIBILLO PUENTE: ¿Necesitas a alguien? Necesito alguien a quien amar ¿Podría ser cualquiera? Quiero alguien a quien amar. ¿Creerías en un amor a primera vista? Si, estoy seguro que pasa a todas horas. ¿Qué es lo que ves cuando enciendes la luz? No puedo decírtelo pero sé que es mío. REPETIR ESTRIBILLO REPETIR PUENTE REPETIR ESTRIBILLO

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CHORDS / ACORDES:
Verse / Estrofa:
E – B – F#m
F#m – B – E
Chorus / Estribillo:
D – A – E
Bridge / Puente:
C#m – F# – E – D – A

CANCIÓN PARA MI MUERTE By SUI GENERIS March 18, 2012

Sui Generis (Latin for ‘of it’s own kind’) were one of the most popular Argentinian groups of the early seventies.

The duo had a soft-rock sound strongly influenced by singer-songwriters of the period.

This beautiful song opens their 1972 debut LP ‘Vida’.

CANCION PARA MI MUERTE Hubo un tiempo que fue hermoso y fui libre de verdad guardaba todos mis sueños en castillos de cristal poco a poco fui creciendo y mis fábulas de amor se fueron desvaneciendo como pompas de jabón ESTRIBILLO: Te encontraré una mañana dentro de mi habitación y prepararás la cama para dos Tu-ru-du du-ru-du du-ru-du Tu-ru-da Es larga la carretera cuando uno mira atrás vas cruzando las fronteras sin darte cuenta quizás tomate del pasamanos porque antes de llegar se aferraron mil ancianos pero se fueron igual ESTRIBILLO Quisiera saber tu nombre tu lugar tu dirección y si te han puesto teléfono también tu numeración Te suplico que me avises si me vienes a buscar no es porque te tenga miedo solo me quiero arreglar ESTRIBILLO

SONG FOR MY DEATH There was a beautiful time and I was truly free I kept all my dreams In crystal castles I was slowly growing up and my tales of love were fading away like soap bubbles CHORUS: I'll meet you some morning in my room and you’ll make the bed for two Tu-ru-du du-ru-du du-ru-du Tu-ru-da The road is long When you look back You’re crossing all the borders perhaps without realizing it Take the handrail because before you arrived a thousand ancestors held it and they were the same CHORUS I wish I knew your name Where you are, your address and if they’ve given you a phoneline and your number too I beg you to tell me If you’re coming to look for me It’s not because you’re afraid I just want to make things right CHORUS

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CHORDS / ACORDES:
G – F9 – C – Dsus4 – D (repeat)
Chorus:
Bm – Em – Bm – Em
Eb – D – G – G
Em – Dsus4 – D

NO ME GUSTA EL ROCK By LA ROMÁNTICA BANDA LOCAL March 1, 2012

La Romántica Banda Local were misfits: too humourous for prog-rock, too musical for punk-rock, and too hippy-ish for ‘La Movida’. On this track they sound a bit like a Spanish Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band! It comes from their first album (1978), which is rather eclectic and well worth a listen.

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NO ME GUSTA EL ROCK Sombra, mi hermano era una sombra; transeúnte fiel de las sombras del tejado aquel. El, exiliado a voluntad con el gato del vecino, convencido de que a Occidente le huelen los pies Es su antigrito preferido: ESTRIBILLO: No me gusta el rock, no me gusta el rock: ¡que me den música country! Cientos, millares de individuos, intentaron que depusiera pronto su actitud, Que abandonara su postura, sus trenzas de vikingo y el gran amor que sintió de joven por Charlot, o su antigrito preferido: ESTRIBILLO Sombra, mi hermano era una sombra, que hace tiempo fue y se marchó sin decir ni mú . El, exiliado a voluntad con el gato del vecino, convencido de que a Occidente le huelen los pies Es su antigrito preferido: No me gusta el rock…

I DON’T LIKE ROCK Shadow, my brother was a shadow; A real wanderer from the shadows of that roof. He, in voluntary exile, with the neighbor’s cat, Convinced that the West’s feet stink His preferred battle cry is: CHORUS: I don’t like rock, I don’t like rock, Give me country music! Hundreds, thousands of individuals, They quickly tried to make him give up his attitude to abandon his stance, his Viking plaits and the great love he felt in his youth for Charlie Chaplin and his preferred battle cry: CHORUS Shadow, my brother was a shadow, it was a long time ago and he upped and left without saying a word He, in voluntary exile, with the neighbor’s cat, Convinced that the West’s feet stink His preferred battle cry is: I don’t like rock…

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CHORDS / ACORDES:
Verse / Estrofa
C – Am – F – Am – Dm – G
Chorus / Estribillo
C – F – A – Dm – A – Dm
Coda
Blues in A (A7, D7 and E7)
Here is the full version with the coda:

OUR HOUSE By MADNESS February 16, 2012

This time we go in the other direction, with a translation into Spanish of an 80s hit by the British group Madness. This song is often used in classes to teach English as a foreign language.

OUR HOUSE Father wears his Sunday best Mother's tired she needs a rest The kids are playing up downstairs Sister's sighing in her sleep Brother's got a date to keep He can't hang around CHORUS: Our house, in the middle of our street Our house, in the middle of our street Our house, in the middle of our street Our house, in the middle of our ... Our house it has a crowd There's always something happening And it's usually quite loud Our mum she's so house-proud Nothing ever slows her down And a mess is not allowed CHORUS (Something tells you that you've got to get away from it) Father gets up late for work Mother has to iron his shirt Then she sends the kids to school Sees them off with a small kiss She's the one they're going to miss In lots of ways CHORUS BRIDGE: I remember way back then when everything was true and when We would have such a very good time such a fine time Such a happy time And I remember how we'd play simply waste the day away Then we'd say nothing would come between us two dreamers GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING FINAL CHORUS Our house, was our castle and our keep Our house, in the middle of our street Our house, that was where we used to sleep Our house, in the middle of our street

NUESTRA CASA Padre lleva su traje de los domingos Madre está cansada, necesita un descanso Los niños dan guerra en la planta baja Mi hermana suspira mientras duerme Mi hermano tiene que ir a una cita Él no puede demorarse ESTRIBILLO: Nuestra casa, en medio de nuestra calle Nuestra casa, en medio de nuestra calle Nuestra casa, en medio de nuestra calle Nuestra casa, en medio de nuestra ... Nuestra casa tiene mucha gente Siempre pasa algo Y normalmente es bastante ruidoso A nuestra madre le gusta tener la casa impecable Nada le frena Y el desorden, no se permite ESTRIBILLO (Algo te dice que tienes que alejarte de la) Padre se levanta tarde por su trabajo Madre tiene que planchar su camisa Luego envia a los nińos a la escuela Les despide con un besito Ella es a la que van a echar de menos De muchas maneras ESTRIBILLO PUENTE: Recuerdo que en aquellos tiempos, cuando todo era verdad y cuando Disfrutabamos tanto un tiempo buenisimo Un tiempo tan feliz Y recuerdo como jugábamos pasabamos ociosamente todo el día Entonces decíamos que por nada nos separaremos dos sońadores VOLVER A PRINCIPIO ESTRIBILLO FINAL Nuestra casa, era nuestro castillo y nuestra torre Nuestra casa, en medio de nuestra calle Nuestra casa, era donde dormíamos Nuestra casa, en medio de nuestra calle

CHORDS / ACORDES:

C – Gm – Dm – Fm

Chorus:

D – Am –Em – G

(though there are lots of key changes during the song)

YO ME PREGUNTO By THE VALRAYS February 2, 2012

The Valrays were a white doo-wop group from New York. This charming 1964 single was their biggest hit. Apparently the group just preferred the sound of this song in Spanish (their other songs were in English). I’d be interested to hear more doo-wop in Spanish – especially any groups from Spain.

YO ME PREGUNTO Yo me pregunto En que pensaras me pregunto la fiesta con quién me pregunto ¿Esta noche que harás? Yo me pregunto Si triste tu estás me pregunto Si lloras también me pregunto ¿Esta noche que harás? Yo me pregunto Por qué nos separamos Y si supieras cuanto te adoro vuelve mi alma ¿Por qué dudamos? Yo me pregunto Si en otro pensarás me pregunto si yo quieres también me pregunto ¿Esta noche que harás?

I WONDER I wonder What you’re thinking about I wonder Who you’re with at the party I wonder What will you do tonight? I wonder If you’re sad I wonder If you’re crying too I wonder What will you do tonight? I wonder Why we split up And if you know How much I adore you Come back my love Why are we hesitating? I wonder Are you thinking about someone else I wonder If you love me too I wonder What will you do tonight?

GRAMMAR:
Yo me pregunto means literally ‘I ask myself’
but I think ‘I wonder’ is a better translation.

Unsurprisingly, the grammar isn’t perfect in the original lyrics!
For example ‘Si yo quieres’ should be ‘Si me quieres’.

CHORDS / ACORDES:

D – Bm – G – A (repeat)
D – G – D
G – D – G – A 

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