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.

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.

EL CASCABEL by MARIACHI VARGAS DE TECALITLÁN

In Search of Rock and Roll Thrills in Mexico: Part 14

Finally it is time to end this much interrupted series about Mexico. It you want to see all the entries click on the tab ‘History of Rock in Mexico’.
Yes, I know this isn’t a rock song, but I can’t resist finishing with another Mariachi track. Written by Lorenzo Barcelata, this is one of the most famous songs to come out of Mexico. Another version was included on the discs sent out into space aboard the Voyager spacecraft.
A cascabel is a kind of little bell, a bit like a jingle bell, but this doesn’t seem to be a Christmas song. It is also a species of rattlesnake, so maybe you can imitate the sound of a rattlesnake with the bell. There is also another interpretation of what this song means, but I’ll leave that to your imagination…

EL CASCABEL Yo tenía mi cascabel con una cinta morada Y como era de oropel se lo di a mi prenda amada Pa' que jugara con él allá por la madrugada Anoche por la ventana platicando con Leonor Me pidió que le cantara el cascabel por menor y que no me dilatara me lo pedia de favor Ay, como rezumba y suena rezumba y va rezumbando mi cascabel en la arena

THE LITTLE BELL I had my little bell with a purple ribbon And since it glittered I gave it to my beloved darling So she should could play with it some time in the early morning Last night by the window talking to Eleanor She asked me to sing to her the little bell in a minor key and that I did not delay she asked me as a favour Oh, how it buzzes and rings It rings and resonates My little bell in the sand

EL SON DE LA NEGRA by MARIACHI VARGAS DE TECALITLÁN

In Search of Rock and Roll Thrills in Mexico: Part 9

While in Mexico it would perverse to not include a mariachi track on this blog. This is a classic of the genre performed by one of the best known ensembles. It was included recently in a great mariachi mix by the group Calexico which was played on 6music.

NB La Negra literally translates as ‘The Black Woman’ but in the context of the song (about a beautiful Mexican woman who was unusually dark skinned) I think ‘Dark Lady’ sounds better.

The silk shawl in the song is a gift that a man gives to a woman when he wants to marry her.

EL SON DE LA NEGRA Negrita de mis pesares, ojos de papel volando. Negrita de mis pesares, ojos de papel volando. A todos diles que sí pero no les digas cuándo. Así me dijiste a mí por eso vivo penando. ¿Cuándo me traes a mi negra? Que la quiero ver aquí con su rebozo de seda que le traje de Tepic.

SONG OF THE DARK LADY Dark little lady of my sorrows Eyes fluttering like paper in the wind Dark little lady of my sorrows Eyes fluttering like paper in the wind Tell everyone yes But don't tell them when That's what you told me That's why I live in suffering When will you bring me my dark lady? I want to see her here With her silk shawl That I brought her from Tepic (Western Mexico)