Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
"De todo el mundo" is a wish list put together by our friend Enrique Bunbury. We're sure that somebody as famous as him is always looking for freedom. He doesn't want to be owned by anybody, he just wants to be part of the whole world.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Dominican Republic, Spain
Not every day do two huge talents like Enrique Iglesias and Juan Luis Guerra get together. Spanish pop royalty and one of the most recognized Dominican faces decided to blend their styles and create this lovely song!
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
The beautiful Leire Martínez had the difficult challenge to fill Amaia Motero's shoes as lead singer of the Spanish pop band “La Oreja de Van Gogh”. In “Inmortal”, she sings about all the little things from the past that we keep and carry with us; but it’s also about all the possibilities that the future brings. Her final words seem to be fitting to her role in “La Oreja”: “I’ll be your destiny.”
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
What happens when you mix Mexican pyschedelic rock band Zoé with Spanish rock singer/songwriter Enrique Bunbury? The answer is: Nothing. Or, in Spanish, “Nada,” the title of this song. Take a listen and you’ll see that the combination of sensibilities creates a whole lot of something.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Amaia Montero, formerly the singer of La Oreja de Van Gogh, began her solo career in 2007. This song, “Quiero ser,” lasted for thirteen weeks at the number one spot on the Spanish charts in 2009. Listen and you’ll see why: her voice is captivating.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
“La Quinta Estacion” is Spanish for “The Fifth Season.” Although this band originated from Spain, after a Mexican telenovela (soap opera) adopted one of their songs as its theme, they toured the country and decided to make it their home. “Que te quería” (“That I Loved You”) is the first fiery single from their 2009 album.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Listen to the whispery, seductive sound of the Corpus Christi lead singer’s voice as she sings a beautiful declaration of love and of the angst it can create. The video, directed by Nadia Mata Portillo, captures the mood perfectly.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Ana Fernández-Villaverde, aka La Bien Querida, sings hauntingly about regret in “De Momento Abril.” Sharing the stage with this Spanish songstress are guitars, violins, a piano, a drum set and a cajón—that is, a box-shaped percussion instrument to sit on. The cajón is originally from Peru, but it’s used in modern flamenco and other musical genres.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
Manu Chao is French, but he has Spanish roots. He sings in six or seven different languages, from Spanish to English to Arabic, and his music has even more diverse influences. “Clandestino,” the title track from Manu’s first album, deals with the issue of immigration: “I wrote it about the border between Europe and those coming from poorer nations. Look around – maybe thirty percent of the people in this street are clandestino (illegal).”
Difficulty: Intermediate
Peru, Spain
Novalima is very aware of the importance of Peruvian folk music, not just in their sound but in another musical genres as well. Paco de Lucía, a Spanish flamenco musician, might have made the sound of the “cajón” (a box-like musical instrument) famous, but that sound is Peruvian as it gets.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Peru, Spain
Novalima mixes Peruvian folk music with electronic beats. Touring has become an important source of inspiration. That’s how they translate their musical roots onto the dance floor. Universal tunes with local sounds!
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
How is the weather on the fifth season? According to this video we should expect some winds with a few sunny flashbacks. And there is also a chance of Marc Anthony, mostly know for being Jennifer Lopez’s significant one.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Peru, Spain
Continue learning about what specific kinds of music go into the mix to make the special sound that is Novalima.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Peru, Spain
The Peruvian group Novalima took a break from their European tour for an interview. Learn about the branching out and coming back together that the band members went through to achieve their rich and eclectic sound.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
“Reinvention” could be Enrique Bunbury's middle name. He’s a prolific composer, always finding inspiration in various books, movies, songs, and moods. And he thrives on creative collaborations. In the second part of YABLA’s exclusive interview, Bunbury opens up and tells us about the creative process behind his music.
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