THE TOP TEN MOST POPULAR POSTS ON SPANISH POP LYRICS

Since it is the tenth anniversary of Spanish Pop Lyrics, the time seems right to look back at some of the most popular songs that I have posted. Although this blog is basically for my own amusement, it is gratifying to see that if attracts a steady stream of visitors. The most popular songs are generally ones that have featured in TV shows. Less predictably, many of the most viewed songs come from Mexico. Anyway, here are the top ten most popular posts from the last ten years. Click on the links for the lyrics and translations, or you can listen to all the songs in the playlist above.

1) NEGRO Y AZUL by LOS CUATES DE SINALOA
The clear winner in this chart is this song which was featured in the TV show Breaking Bad. Two other songs from the series, “He Venido” by Los Zafiros and “1977” by Anita Tijoux also get a lot of views.

2) ESOS OJOS NEGROS by DUNCAN DHU
In second place on the list is the second ever song I posted on Spanish Pop Lyrics. Although I have translated several other songs by Duncan Dhu, this is the one that remains enduringly popular with visitors to this blog.

3) LA MUJER DEL PELOTERO by CLAN 537
Latin dance pop, the cheesier the better, also gets a lot of hits on this blog. This track ties in third spot with another drunken dancefloor favourite, “Mueve La Colita” by El Símbolo.

4) CUÉNTAME by FORMULA V
A sixties classic, no doubt helped up the list by its association with the TV series Cuéntame Cómo Pasó.

5) CUCURRUCUCÚ PALOMA by CAETANO VELOSO
This is one of several songs on this blog which can be heard in the films of Pedro Almodovar.

6) EL SON DE LA NEGRA by MARIACHI VARGAS DE TECALITLÁN
The Mariachi music of Mexico gets lots of love from visitors to this blog, not least this track.

7) BEGIN THE BEGUINE by JULIO IGLESIAS
When I started this blog I never imagined I would ever include Julio, but he has proved to be popular with visitors.

8) MARÍA DE BUENOS AIRES By ASTOR PIAZZOLLA
A classy entry from Argentina.

9) LA RUMBA DEL EMIGRANTE by JAVIER MORENO
This song was the theme to the YouTube series Spaniards in London, which sadly ended abruptly after five episodes.

10) FELIZ NAVIDAD by RAPHAEL & ALASKA
The number of visitors to this blog peaks over Christmas. This post is enduringly popular, with “La Marimorena” by Los Chunguitos not far behind.

NO LLORES MÁS by MORENA Y CLARA

Spanish Rock in the Seventies Part 5: Flamenco Pop

The previous entry in this series looked at the more serious side of flamenco rock. However there was also a more chart friendly flamenco pop movement at the same time, which often featured gypsy singers giving it loads over rhumba rhythms. Acts previously featured on this blog include Manzanita, Los Chungitos and Los Chichos. Morena y Clara got their first break singing backing vocals for the latter.

This was their big hit and it made the Spanish top ten in 1974. They are often compared to Las Grecas, a similar sisterly duo, but I think they actually outdo their rivals on this cut. In 1976 they entered the selection contest to represent Spain at Eurovision, but they weren’t chosen. After this indignity they faded from view.

This track features on the compilation ‘Acid Rumba: Spanish Gypsy Grooves 1969-1976’. However, I actually first heard it on an eccentric podcast about Spanish music by Simon Maxwell-Stewart. Anyone who compares Morena & Clara to both Abba and Amon Düül II has to be worth listening to…

NO LLORES MÁS Quiero que te olvides del pasado y vivamos el presente No quiero que menciones a ninguno de tu gente. Acuérdate amor mío cuando eras chiquitito, Yo te cogía la mano y te decía ven conmigo. Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay... ESTRIBILLO: No, no, no, no, no llores más, No, no, no, no, porque te quiero. No, no, no, no, que un torbellino de pasión Se abre en el cielo. Bésame en los labios como tú sabes hacerlo, Ama dulcemente y acaríciame mi pelo, Yo te prometo darte la felicidad completa, Y a través de mi muerte Escribiré tu nombre en letras, Y te diré... ESTRIBILLO

DON'T CRY ANYMORE I want you to forget about the past And we will live in the present I don't want you to mention it To any of your crowd Remember, my love, when you were little I took you by the hand and said 'come with me' Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay... CHORUS: No, no, no, no, don't cry anymore No, no, no, no, because I love you No, no, no, no, a whirlwind of passion Has opened up the sky Kiss me on the lips the way that you know how Love me sweetly and stroke my hair I promise to give you complete happiness And until I die I will write you name in letters And I will tell you... CHORUS

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LA MARIMORENA by LOS CHUNGUITOS

Spanish Pop Lyrics celebrates Xmas with the carol ‘La Marimorena’.
There are many versions with slightly different lyrics, and this 1984 version by the rhumba group Los Chunguitos includes some of the cheekier variations (humour in Spanish carols seems much more common than in the English equivalents).
I’ve also done a singable English version which you can see here:
https://spanishpoplyrics.wordpress.com/marimorena-the-black-madonna-sung-in-english/
UPDATE Dec 2015: I have changed the title of the translation, I think it is referring to noise and excitement rather than the Black Madonna.

LA MARIMORENA Esta noche es Nochebuena y mañana Navidad Saca la bota María que me quiero emborrachar ESTRIBILLO: Ande, ande, ande la Marimorena Ande, ande, ande que es la Nochebuena En el portal de Belén han entrado los ratones Y al pobre San José le han roído los calzones Hasta aquí hemos venido cuatrocientos en cuadrilla Si quieres que te cantemos saca cuatrocientas sillas. Llevo tres horas cantando villancicos a porrones Si quieres que no me vaya saca ya los polvorones

THE HURLY-BURLY Tonight it’s Christmas Eve And tomorrow Christmas Day Take out the wine skin Mary I want to get drunk CHORUS: Hurry, hurry, hurry, the hurly-burly Hurry, hurry, hurry, it’s Christmas Eve In the stable of Bethlehem The mice have come in And poor Saint Joseph They’ve gnawed at his pants Here we’ve arrived A group of four hundred If you want us to sing to you Put out four hundred chairs. I’ve been singing for three hours Loads of carols If you don’t want me to go Bring out the Christmas biscuits

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CHORDS:
Song: F and C
Intro/Bridge: Bb – Am – F – Gm-5 – C – F