Difficulty: Intermediate
Colombia
In Colombia, costeño y cachaco are almost opposite terms. Costeños, that is de la costa, people from the Coast, are usually depicted as festive, noisy, and colorful people who really enjoy killing time. Cachaco is usually the name given to people from the capital, Bogotá, and they’re characterized by elegance; they’re always dressed up and in control of their emotions. One group is seen as lazy, the other as boring. Regional differences aside, Bomba Estéreo is a fresh musical mix of both regions.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
Abraham Quintanilla, III (also known as the brother of late Tejano singer Selena) was one of the founding members of Los Kumbia Kings, a band he broke away from in early 2006 to form the Kumbia All-Starz, garnering many hits including "Speedy Gonzalez". The Kumbia All-Starz are from Texas.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Dominican Republic
19 year old Kat de Luna was born in the Bronx and raised in the Dominican Republic where she received operatic vocal training. Relocating to the States as a pre-teen, she entered and won a Karaoke contest where the legendary Cuban salsero Rey Ruiz gave Kat advice that she carries with her today, “nobody knows you better than you do, and no one can help you if you can’t help yourself.”
Difficulty: Intermediate
Puerto Rico
Some people say that rock ‘n roll is half attitude and half talent. We already know that Carli had enough disrespect for the rules to make it and in this video he makes it clear that he has enough respect for the music to complete the equation.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Argentina
This Argentine hip hop artist reminds us of the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince. Dante has been recording since he was 14, as part of the very successful duo known as Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas.
Difficulty: Beginner
Puerto Rico
Italian pop star Eros Ramazzotti teams up with Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin in this duet, “No Estamos Solos” (“We are not alone”—or, “Non Siamo Soli” in its Italian version). Born in Rome, the 44-year-old Ramazzotti is no duet virgin: He’s recorded songs with the late Luciano Pavarotti, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Cher and Carlos Santana, to name a few.
Difficulty: Beginner
Puerto Rico
Encarnita (Kany) García had her first brush with fame on the Puerto Rican talent-search show Objetivo Fama in 2004. But she had to pull out of the OF competition after a terrible car accident landed her in intensive care… Luckily, things have looked up since then. After writing songs for fellow OF alum Janina, singer/songwriter Kany released her own album, Cualquier Día, in 2007 to critical acclaim.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Argentina
Off-screen, Natalia Oreiro’s love life sounds a lot less complicated than her on-screen characters’. After her six-year relationship with fellow actor Pablo Echarri ended amicably, she found love with the front man of the band “Divididos,” Ricardo Mollo, with whom she had more in common with than people seem to think.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
Francisco Pérez recites about Fray Luis de León (one of Salamanca’s most noted poets and thinkers), while standing in a courtyard in front of the friar’s statue.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
When one of their friends suggested that the band’s name should be Belafunk, just half of a bell rang for them. They wanted something more cosmic, stellar, and looking in the closest encyclopedia they ran into the word Nova. That’s how Belanova — a beautiful star — got its name.
Difficulty: Beginner
Puerto Rico
For some people, the Menudo years stood as Ricky Martin’s best. Others might sing out Maria, Livin’ La Vida Loca or She Bangs to highlight the top of the pop singer’s ascent. It’s been a while since Ricky’s smiling face was everywhere and his name sat up high in the Billboard charts. Nowadays, he devotes much of his time to helping others as Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF and through the Ricky Martin Foundation.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuba
We associate Cuban Music with powerful drums, breathtaking mujeres and a bunch of smiles flying across the dance floor. But every coin has two sides and Gardi, one of the newest voices of Cuban Pop, bring us this sad, soft and smoky song that’s ready to move our feelings instead of our bodies.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Alejandro Fernandez is not just a Mexican singer any longer: he has become a star of Latin-American proportions. Not only has he succeeded everywhere but he also has adopted different sounds from different countries. Viento a Favor was recorded both in Buenos Aires and in Los Angeles, a perfect axis through the whole continent.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Mexico
The 51-year-old Alejandro Fernández has released twenty-three albums over the years. The son of another popular Mexican singer (Vicente Fernández), Alejandro has come into his own as a passionate man, unafraid to show his feelings. This documentary brings us inside the recording of Viento a Favor, an album that quickly went platinum.
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