Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Puerto Rico
Calle 13 joins up with Cuba’s Orishas to sing a paean to those pobres who hike pa’l norte (northward) in search of a better life. The first 13 captions are very colloquial and difficult, but after that this video is very clearly annunciated with lots of great vocabulary, so hang in there! This song is thought-provoking and catchy. No one will ever accuse Calle 13 of taking a weak position in rhythm or in politics!
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.
Difficulty: Beginner
Panama
There’s a lot to love about Panama’s Cienfue. Take this great song and its even better video. It makes you want to walk right into the ocean to play guitar underwater on a sunny day, doesn’t it?
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
We had the chance to interview Spanish superstar Enrique Bunbury about his music, his art. The former Héroes del Silencio lead singer has been enjoying a successful solo career since 1996. Now he’s promoting his most recent album, Las consecuencias, which couldn’t be more different from his previous album.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Meet Enrique Bunbury, a big name in rock en español. The Spaniard was the lead singer of the classic rock band Héroes del Silencio for 12 years. When the group disbanded in 1996, Bunbury began his solo career. "Frente a frente"—a cover of the song first recorded by Euro-pop star Jeanette in 1981—is the first single from Bunbury’s 2010 album Las Consecuencias.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
Mmmm. A feast of flowers. Literally. This music video features lovely ladies in flowing dresses stuffing their faces with petals, stems and pollen. We can’t tell whether it’s right or wrong, but it’s fun to watch.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
Depedro is the solo project of Spanish singer and guitar player Jairo Zavala. Here, Yabla talks to the talented musician from Madrid about his exploration of Latin American pop, picking up new instruments on tour in Mexico, his musical beginnings and his appearances with U.S.-based Calexico.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
We’re always curious about what goes on backstage. On a warm Miami night, we venture behind the scenes of La Mala Rodriguez’s great show. There we chatted with some friendly people who are making the musical magic possible.
Difficulty: Beginner
Colombia
Guess who was voted the best new band in the world in 2009? Drum-roll, please… Our friends Bomba Estéreo! Yabla met them back when they were the opening act of (the also great and friendly) ChocQuibTown. Since then, Bomba Estéreo have been spreading like fire all over America and Europe.
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: Beginner
Colombia
Shakira certainly knows something of the change-up life. A Colombian, she lives in the Bahamas, dates an Argentinian, switched to English, was a brunette, is now a blonde. In this video for “Gitana” (Gypsy), watch her flirt with Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal as she tells us what fans already know.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Argentina
Argentinian born and Mexico-based, Noel Schajris is better known as half of the sensational duet “Sin Bandera.” Since 2000, Noel, along with Leonel Garcia, has composed, played and sung hit after hit after hit. But in 2007, Noel and Leonel decided to part ways. Lucky for us, we still can listen to their emotive songs!
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
This video is about all those things that make us different—they are many! But it doesn’t matter how different we are, Mexican band Café Tacuba has been around long enough to have a song for every taste! Artists of self-invention, they rock the house from Mexico City to Japan!
Difficulty: Beginner
Colombia
The old saying goes “Hijo de tigre, sale pintado”. Literally, it means the baby tiger is going to bear the same marks as his father. But it also means that there are some things we inherit and carry with us. Here, Aterciopelados is singing about leaving some inherited, violent habits behind.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
Antonio Vargas is a talented painter and sculptor. In this video, he’s going to show us his works, explain what they mean and how he made them. A self-portrait as a fish? His father in clay? It’s all here.
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