MY TOP TEN PERSONAL FAVOURITE POSTS ON SPANISH POP LYRICS

The tenth anniversary celebrations continue! I have already posted two top tens here and here. As if that wasn’t enough, here are some posts that may not be the most visited but which are personal favourites.

1) CONTRAPUNTO by LOS QUE VIVIMOS

What is really special about this post it that several of the people involved in the band got in touch to tell their own story. My subsequent attempt to write a brief band biography is here.

2) EL ANILLO DEL CAPITÁN BETO by INVISIBLE

This was one of the highlights from my series about Argentinian rock (focusing on the 1960s and 1970s). It remains the finest example of Spanish language prog rock that I have discovered.

3) LA BALSA by LOS GATOS

Sticking with Argentina, this wonderful slice of garage rock really should have been on the “Nuggets II” compilation. This was also the point at which I decided Spanish Pop Lyrics could include Spanish language songs from countries other than Spain.

4) EL RELOJITO by GLORIA RÍOS

This is from my series about Mexican rock and it is the earliest (1956) example of rock and roll sung in Spanish which I have found.

5) A TU VERA by THE TOMCATS

Spanish rock in the 1960s could be disappointingly polite. This is one of the wildest (and funniest) tracks that I have found. If you like this sort of thing then check out my compilation.

6) EL AFINADOR DE CÍTARAS by NUEVOS HORIZONTES

Cool psychedelia from Spain has also proved to be difficult to find. This pop-psych gem was written by Vainica Doble.

7) TIERRA by XOEL LÓPEZ

Something more contemporary, this is by the artist formerly known as Deluxe. A rather beautiful song and I think I did a good job of the translation.

8) EL QUE by DAF

A crazed mixture of Spanish and German, which just might be your gateway drug into my German Pop Lyrics blog!

9) CANCION DEL ECO by CHRISTINA ROSENVINGE

One of my favourite contemporary Spanish singer songwriters. This is perhaps her greatest song, and I dared to attempt a version in English.

10) RÍU CHÍU by THE MONKEES

It’s interesting to find artists who usually sing in English having a go at Spanish. Sometimes the results are awful, but here the Monkees are surprisingly great. It’s also a cool alternative Christmas track.

REBELDE by LOS BEATNIKS

Four years ago I posted my compilation of Spanish language rock from the Sixties. This year I have been adding lyrics for several of the “missing” songs to this blog, and with this entry all 28 songs are finally included…

This track from 1966 is generally considered the first original rock single in Argentina. The band had little money or equipment, which led to one member of the group imitating a “fuzz guitar” sound with his mouth. The only single by Los Beatniks was generally ignored, and it was Los Gatos with “La Balsa” the following year who broke through. The B-side of that single was written by ex-Beatnik Moris, who enjoyed a successful solo career. The other former members went on to the groups Manal (who have featured on this blog) and La Barra de Chocolate.

REBELDE ESTRIBILLO: Rebelde me llama la gente rebelde es mi corazón soy libre y quieren hacerme esclavo de una tradición Todo se hace por interés porque este mundo es al revés si, todo esto hay que cambiar siendo rebelde se puede empezar ESTRIBILLO ¿Por qué el hombre quiere luchar, aproximando la guerra nuclear? ¡Cambien las armas por el amor y haremos un mundo mejor! ESTRIBILLO Yeah, rebelde seré Yeah, rebelde hasta el fin Yeah, y así moriré

REBEL CHORUS: People call me a rebel My heart is rebellious I’m free and they want to make me A slave to tradition They do everything for self interest Because this world is upside down Yes, all this has to change You can begin by being a rebel CHORUS Why do men want to fight Bringing nuclear war closer? Swap arms for love And we could make a better world! CHORUS Yeah, I'll be a rebel Yeah, a rebel untilthe end Yeah, and that's how I'll die

LO OLVIDARÁS by LOS GATOS

Los Gatos changed the face of Argentinian rock with their great single “La Balsa” (previously featured on this blog).

Here is another fine track from their eponymous debut album of 1967, featuring the superb organ playing of Ciro Fogliatta.

LO OLVIDARÁS Si prometió, Que te iba a amar Se olvidó, y se marchó Por eso no, no vayas a llorar Yo se muy bien que encontrarás El que te hará feliz Y olvidarás lo que paso, con el En vano es el recordar que se marchó y te olvidó Por eso no, no vayas a llorar Yo se muy bien que encontrarás El que te hará feliz Y olvidarás lo que paso, con el Lo olvidarás...

YOU'LL FORGET ABOUT IT If he promised That he was going to love you He forgot, and he left Don't, don't cry for that I know very well that you will find That which will make you happy And you'll forget what happened, with him There's no point thinking about the past That he left and forget about you Don't, don't cry for that I know very well that you will find That which will make you happy And you'll forget what happened, with him You'll forget about it ...

FIESTA CERVEZAL By PAPPO’S BLUES

Part 4: Blues Rock and Pappo

Blues rock was (and remains) hugely popular in Argentina. Deeply embedded in the family tree of Argentinian rock is the guitar hero Pappo (real name Norberto Napolitano). He started out as guitarist with the short lived psych band Los Abuelos De La Nada in the late 1960s. Then he toured with Manal (as a keyboard player!), who were the first important blues rock band to sing in Spanish. At the turn of the decade he played guitar with Los Gatos on their last two albums, leading them into a heavier direction.

When that group broke up he started his own band, Pappo’s Blues, and they released a series of successful albums during the seventies. This beer drinking anthem comes from Volúmen 4 (1973).

At the start of the eighties Pappo realised that tastes were changing, and he formed a new band Riff, pioneers of Heavy Metal in Argentina. However, by the nineties there was a blues rock revival in the country, and it was natural for him to return to the blues. He died in 2005.

Related Post: Manal

FIESTA CERVEZAL Quiero tomar un trago de cerveza fresca, para mi sed, hace calor en esta fiesta. Quiero tomar un trago de licor muy fino, con mis amigos, hace calor, y no he bebido.

BEER PARTY I want to have a gulp of cold beer For my thirst, it's hot in this party I want to have a gulp of really fine liquor With my friends, it's hot and I haven't had a drink

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AYER NOMÁS By MORIS

Part 2: The Birth of Argentinian Rock

The impact of Los Shakers quickly inspired local bands. Moris was the singer with Los Beatniks, whose 1966 single ‘Rebelde’ is generally considered the first original rock single to come out of Argentina. However, it was a complete flop. The breakthrough came the following year when ‘La Balsa’ by Los Gatos was a smash hit. For the first time the public bought an original rock single sung in Spanish, and overnight many groups were inspired to give up English cover versions and follow their lead.
The B-Side of ‘La Balsa’ was ‘Ayer Nomás’, a song written by Moris. However, Los Gatos toned down the protest elements of the original lyrics, turning it into more of a generic love song. Here is Moris’ own version from 1969, with the original lyrics. It also appears on his eclectic but occasionaly brilliant debut album which belatedly appeared in 1970.

Related post: La Balsa

AYER NOMÁS Ayer nomás, en el colegio me enseñaron, que este país es grande y tiene libertad. Hoy desperté y vi mi cama y vi mi cuarto en este mes no tuve mucho que comer. Ayer nomás, mis familiares me decían que hoy hay que tener dinero para ser feliz. Hoy desperté, y vi mi cama y vi mi cuarto, ya todo es gris y sin sentido, la gente vive sin creer. Ayer nomás, había una chica en mi cuarto y la besé sin fundamento. Hoy ya la chica ya no está. Ayer nomás vi una chica en mis brazos. En este mes no tuve mucho que comer. Ayer nomás salí a la calle y vi la gente ya todo es gris y sin sentido, la gente vive sin creer. Sin creer.

JUST YESTERDAY Just yesterday, They taught me in school, That this country Is large and free. Today I woke up And saw my bed and my room This month I didn't have much to eat. Just yesterday, My family told me Today you have to have Money to be happy. Today I woke up, And saw my bed and my room Now everything is grey and meaningless, People live without believing. Just yesterday, there was a girl in my room I kissed her without reason. Today the girl has already gone. Just yesterday, I saw a girl in my arms. This month I didn't have much to eat. Just yesterday I went outside and I saw the people Now everything is grey and meaningless, People live without believing. Without believing.

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CHORDS / ACORDES
Guitar Chords

Pop, Rock, Psych and Garage from Spain and Latin America (1964-69)

To celebrate four years of Spanish Pop Lyrics, and also as a kind of Xmas gift, here is this blog’s first ever compilation / mix-tape (much of it in authentic low fidelity). Download

All the songs are sung in Spanish, and all but a handful are original songs rather than covers.

It’s generally up tempo, but there are a couple of slower tracks at the end.
Almost all the songs have been featured on this blog, and those that aren’t may well appear in the near future. Anyway, you know where to look for the lyrics… 

UPDATE (Nov 2017): Now the lyrics to all 28 songs are available on this blog. The download link has also been updated.

LA BALSA by LOS GATOS

Today we relax border restrictions and welcome Los Gatos, all the way from Argentina.
Their first single from 1967 is arguably the most important in Argentinian rock.
A real gem (great organ playing!) that would fit easily onto the Nuggets compilation.

LA BALSA * Estoy muy solo y triste, acá, en este mundo abandonado, tengo una idea es la de irme al lugar que yo mas quiera. Me falta algo para ir, Pues caminando yo no puedo. Construiré una balsa y me iré a naufragar. * Tengo que conseguir mucha madera, tengo que conseguir, de donde pueda. Y cuando mi balsa esté lista partiré hacia la locura Con mi balsa yo me iré a naufragar.

THE RAFT * I'm very sad and lonely here, In this deserted world I’ve got the idea of leaving to a place I’ll like more I need something to go on, Because I can’t walk I’ll build a raft and I'll go and get shipwrecked * I have to get a lot of wood, I have to get it, from anywhere I can. And when my raft is ready I’ll set out towards the madness With my raft I'll go and get shipwrecked

CHORDS:
Verse:
E6 – F#7/13 – A7/13 – E6
E6 – F#7/13
F#m – F#mM7 – A – B7 – E6
Bridge:
C# – F#m – D# – G# – B7
Coda:
F#m – F#mM7 – A – B7 – E – E7
F#m – F#mM7 – A – B7
E6 – C#7 – Am – B7
G#m – F#m (repeat)
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GRAMMAR: TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE

There are lots of examples of the future tense here:

Construiré una balsa – I’ll build a raft

However, this tense is used less than in English, especially in spoken Spanish.
Often used is ‘Ir a’ – basically ‘Going to’:

Voy a construir una balsa – I’m going to build a raft

There is also the future perfect – Will have:

La habré acabado para el miercoles – I’ll have finished it by Wednesday

The present simple can also be used to talk about the future:
This can be used in English
e.g. We leave tomorrow, though it’s more common
to use the present continuous e.g. We’re leaving tomorrow

Nos vamos mañana en la balsa – We’re leaving tomorrow in the raft

In Spanish the present simple is frequently used like this.
However, the future can be full of doubt and uncertainty!
To emphasise this the present subjunctive can be used.

Cuando mi balsa esté lista – When my raft is ready (Will I ever finish it!)