Difficulty: Newbie
Spain
The narrator of the 1998 single, “Agua,” from Spanish rock band, Jarabe de Palo’s second album, Depende, wants far more than his friend from their seemingly ambiguous relationship.
Difficulty: Newbie
Venezuela
We have the debut music video from La Vida Bohème -- an Indy, punkish Venezuelan band with a bit of French in its name. Playing on roof tops in Caracas, the band delivers a subversive song in just a few words. And then they are kidnapped. "Viva la résistance," says the writing on the wall (also dropping in a bit of French). This is one band worth following.
Difficulty: Newbie
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican Draco Rosa, or Draco for short, sings about a promised paradise somewhere near the end of the world. You have to get there, his song explains. On the guitar, Draco is backed up by a bevy of stringed instruments that create a haunting effect. Part of the video is shot on Draco’s ranch in Puerto Rico, which makes you wonder… Does the promised land look like a tropical island?
Difficulty: Newbie
Mexico
The trio Fase is hailed as a pioneer in “tropical electronica”. The wonderfully sweet voice of Alma Velasco helped make this plaintive song a favorite among pop fans on both hemispheres. Excellent electro-pop with simple and very clear lyrics that repeat many key words, super for beginners.
Difficulty: Newbie
Colombia
Colombian pop sensation Juanes sings this duet with Canadian superstar Nelly Furtado. The song gave each of them an award for best duet and Juanes one for best songwriter at the Latin Music Awards. This song is very clear, very easy, and repetitive using key vocabulary. Great for beginners!
Difficulty: Newbie
Puerto Rico
Polbo used to play sixties cover songs in bars “de mala muerte” in Yabucoa by night, while studying physics at university by day. They began to write their own songs, which the crowds started to demand more than the covers. Keep an ear out for them!
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Luis Miguel performs his famous tune, "La Bikina," which refers to a tormented woman. Composed by Ruben Fuentes, some say he coined the term after seeing women in bikinis during a walk on the beach, while others claim it was inspired by a legend during the times of the Cristeros in Jalisco, Mexico.
Difficulty: Beginner
Miami
Released in 2003, the hit single "Hoy" ["Wrapped" in English] marked Gloria Estefan's return to the charts following a hiatus. Its intriguing music video was filmed at Peru's magical Macchu Picchu.
Difficulty: Beginner
Chile
"Mentira" ["Lie"] is the first single from the 2001 MTV Unplugged album by the Chilean rock band, "La Ley" ["The Law"].
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Spanish singer Huecco performs his 2011 hit, "La brújula" ("The Compass"), from his album, "Dame vida" ("Give Me Life").
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Watch Spanish pop band La Oreja de Van Gogh's music video for "El primer día del resto de mi vida" (The First Day of the Rest of My Life).
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuba, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican duo Calle 13 and famed Cuban singer-songwriter, Silvio Rodriguez, team up to bring us this tune about how love can turn one's world around. Its charming video won the 2015 Latin Grammy award for Best Short Form Music Video
Difficulty: Beginner
Brazil, Colombia, Puerto Rico, USA
Bacilos was a Latin pop band founded in Miami and comprised of members from Puerto Rico, Brazil, Colombia and the United States. "Mi Primer Millón" ("My First Million"), a song about their desire to make it in the music business, won the Latin Grammy for Best Record in 2003.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Merry Christmas from the band La Oreja de Van Gogh as they sing the Spanish version of "Silent Night."
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