Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
So what is it with this Latin American love of ska, a Jamaican genre from the early 60’s that’s had a second coming amongst British and American bands since the early 80’s? Lucky for us, ska is almost always sung very clearly, in short, catchy, easy to understand phrases. Liquits hails from Mexico City, but this award winning group has been hopping continents to record and play for a growing audience since 1993. The animation is ¡padrisimo!
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Chido, is Mexican for “cool” (and we don’t mean leaning towards cold). As is typical, a precise definition can vary with context. Liquits, representative of Mexico City’s young and playful, enjoy riffing and aren’t afraid to mix languages (and cultural references) with abandon.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
If there was an entry for “trippy” in the English-Spanish dictionary we think there would be a photo of Liquits sitting there next to it. Lyrically, this neat little tune is not as simple as it at first sounds, and is loaded with double meanings and word plays—we’ve tried to point out a few! Have fun (you know you like to sing)—vocab quiz on naked stork firefly poppies first thing Monday.
Difficulty: Advanced
Mexico
Want to know what you didn’t know before? Here’s the first in our series of what you didn’t know about… electronic art. We talk to a veteran electronic artist who’s been playing around with computers since the old Commodore and Amiga machines connected to TV sets. He’s linking and looping, moving from one networked idea to the next. See if you can follow his rapid-fire monologue about his digital works.
Difficulty: Advanced
Mexico
The more we know, the bigger the dark abyss of our ignorance seems to become. Don’t worry: We can’t understand all of what this guy is saying either. That’s why the name of the show is Lo que no sabías. Follow this fast-talker to learn a bit more about electronic art, audiorhythmic shock boxes, the first computers and more…
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
In this video, art meets toys! Forget about quiet museums and long art history classes, this is playful, colorful and full of sound! But don't you dare think of this as kid’s stuff. These artists take their toys very seriously!
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Mexico
More on the thought-provoking, circuit-straining arts created via technology. Are you ready to enter new virtual environments and meet the artists behind them? Here’s part 4 of our 5-part series.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Mexico
Ideas about what art is are always evolving. Throwing “electronic” into the mix seems to get things going even faster! In this episode of What You Didn't Know, see how the world of art continues to change as electronic art becomes a prevalent art form. But with all the controversy about whether or not electronic art is a valid art form, some try to keep in mind that the message is the most important thing.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Venezuela
In the song “Mentiras,” or “Lies,” by the Venezuelan band Los Amigos Invisibles, a girlfriend hears rumors about her boyfriend going out with other women, but he tells her the rumors are pure lies. Who’s the real liar? Watch the video to find out. Shot in a bar in New York City, the camera follows the lead singer of the group around and “mockuments” the evening he sings about.
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
This group formed in 1991 to fill a gaping hole in the Venezuelan club/dance band scene. They have a Latin Grammy under their belts as well as nominations for Grammys and Latin Grammys. Move to the beats of “Como sabes tú” from the album Commercial.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Argentina
Nothing lasts forever. Sadly, sometime in 2001 the fabulous Argentinian band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs announced their final tour. But after a long hiatus, in April of 2008, they announced a comeback! This song comes from the album they released that year. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, or LFC, is the most famous ska band of Latin America, and an obligatory part of any dance playlist!
Difficulty: Intermediate
Argentina
Enjoy this original video by the legendary band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. Not bad at all for a 26-year-old band!
Difficulty: Intermediate
Venezuela
"Indeleble" is the title track from the Venezuelan rock band, Los Mesoneros' 2011 album of the same name.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
Los Originales de San Juan, a Norteño Quartet based in California, has 25 albums to their name and a long history of hard work and controversy, mostly stemming from two self-released singles which both told stories of drug dealers. One of these singles became a massive hit on Norteño and Tejano radio, leading to a deal with EMI Latin.
Difficulty: Beginner
Argentina
Los Pericos formed in 1986, a bunch of buddies who shared a love for Jamaican icons like Toots & The Maytals, Peter Tosh, and, of course, Bob Marley. No tribute band, they formed their own unique sound and have been jammin’ ever since.
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