THE LYRICS TRANSLATE TOP TEN MOST POPULAR POSTS FROM SPANISH POP LYRICS

When I started this blog the main idea was that you could look at the lyrics of a song in Spanish and English side by side. At the time most people were using a monitor to view the site. These days more and more people are using smaller screens, not least Smartphones, which rather spoils the effect. However, I have posted much (but not all) of my work on the site Lyrics Translate. If you are using a phone then my songs will be easier to read on this page.
Interestingly, the songs which are most popular on Lyrics Translate are quite different from those on my own site. Which is all the excuse I need for an alternative top ten.

1) LA PEREGRINACIÓN by ARIEL RAMÍREZ
I have translated all six songs from the brilliant Argentinian Christmas suite “Navidad Nuestra”. This is the most popular song.

2) EL CUMBANCHERO By CATERINA VALENTE
This must be one of the shortest and silliest songs I have ever translated. The album which it comes from is great fun.

3) TU MIRÁ by LOLE Y MANUEL
This flamenco track is featured in the movie ‘Kill Bill 2’ (directed by Quentin Tarantino).

4) EL CASCABEL by MARIACHI VARGAS DE TECALITLÁN
The only artist to make it into both top tens but with different tracks.

5) PLAYA GIRÓN by SILVIO RODRÍGUEZ
Translating more poetic texts can be borderline impossible. I’m still not sure how close I got with this one!

6) VERDE by MANZANITA & ANA BELÉN
Another poetic text, here the lyrics are based on a poem by Lorca.

7) SERÍA FELIZ BY JULIETA VENEGAS
Mexico continues its impressive showing on these charts.

8) EL SITIO DE MI RECREO By ANTONIO VEGA
I have translated several songs by Vega’s band Nacha Pop but this solo effort has proved more popular.

9) YO NO SOY ESA by MARI TRINI
This was part of my series on Spanish pop and rock in the seventies.

10) LA LEYENDA DEL TIEMPO By CAMARÓN
Another lyric based on a poem by Lorca.

TU MIRÁ by LOLE Y MANUEL

Spanish Rock in the Seventies Part 4: Flamenco Rock / El Rock Andaluz

Flamenco rock, known as ‘el rock andaluz’ in Spain, was especially popular during the 1970s. Acts who have been previously featured on this blog include Veneno and Camarón.
Lole (vocals) and Manuel (guitar) were a flamenco duo. In the mid-seventies they experimented with fusion, adding elements of Arabic music and rock production to their sound.
‘Tu Mirá’ comes from ‘Pasaje del Agua’, their second album released in 1976. It is featured in the movie ‘Kill Bill 2’ (directed by Quentin Tarantino) in the scene where Uma Thurman is driving through Mexico. The version on the soundtrack is edited, the two verses in italics only appear on the full album version.

NB The title and several other words in the lyrics are in abbreviated form:
mirá = mirada (look, glance or in context stare)
espá = espada (sword)
madrugá = madrugada (dawn)
 

TU MIRÁ ESTRIBILLO: Y tu mirá Se me clava en los ojos como una espá Se me clava en los ojos como una espá De amores llora una rosa De amores llora una rosa Y le sirve de pañuelo una blanca mariposa De tanto volar Sedienta de tanto vuelo En un charco de agua clara La alondra se bebe el cielo Para recibir al día Para recibir al día La rosa, niña, se puso Un traje de pedrería Lo vi desde mi barquilla, Lo vi desde mi barquilla Y un pez se vistió de plata Para asomarse a la orilla Para asomarse a la orilla Aquella tarde de abril Te dije, vente conmigo Y no quisiste venir Y no quisiste venir ESTRIBILLO Y mi tren de alegría Se va, se va Y no tengo más sueño que tu mirá Y tu mirá, grillo de mis tormentos Rosa tronchá Cuando sueño tus ojos de madrugá Yo no puedo apartarme de tu mirá ESTRIBILLO

YOUR LOOK CHORUS: And your look It drives itself into my eyes like a sword It drives itself into my eyes like a sword A rose cries for love A rose cries for love And a white butterfly is her handkerchief So much flying Thirsty after so much flying In a pool of clear water The lark drinks up the sky To start the day To start the day The rose, girl, dressed herself A jewelled dress I saw it from my little boat I saw it from my little boat And a fish dressed in silver Peeking out to look at the shore Peeking out to look at the shore That afternoon in April I told you: 'Come with me' And you didn't want to come And you didn't want to come CHORUS And my train of happiness It's leaving, it's leaving And my only dream is your look And your look, shackles that torment me Rose cut down When I dream of your eyes at dawn I can't escape from your look CHORUS