Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Mexico
Frida Kahlo’s grandniece, Dulce María, has been a star almost since birth. The Mexican singer, songwriter and actress made her acting debut on Plaza Sésamo (Mexico’s Sesame Street) and then appeared in telenovelas as she grew up. The soaps helped launched Dulce’s solo career in 2009. Tune in to this 2010 track.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Mexico
Plastilina Mosh delivers this frothy pop song pinned down by some less carbonated rap lyrics. The results are catchy. Mixing genres is nothing new for the Mexican band from Monterrey. You may hear Plastilina Mosh on the radio—or featured on a video game near you.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Puerto Rico
“No hay nadie como tú” (“There Is No One Like You”), the first single from Calle 13’s third album, features the Mexican group Café Tacuba. Over a blend of pop and reggaeton music, Residente, the lead singer of Calle 13 discovers that no amount of naming can contain or define his amor.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Puerto Rico
Get ready for Residente’s smart mouth and his tongue twister lyrics with a high level of cynicism. This song was co-produced with Gustavo Santaolalla, mastermind of the electronic tango band Bajofondo.
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: Adv-Intermediate
Panama, Puerto Rico
Meet Rubén Blades, a Salsa superstar. He helped mix Cuban and Caribbean rhythms with Jazz in New York City. Rubén Blades (or, Rubencito here among friends) composed some salsa classics while also excelling as a singer. But that’s not all. Moviegoers may recognize him as one of the victims in Predator 2. He also has a law degree and ran for president of Panama. When this video with Calle 13 was filmed, he was Panama’s Tourism Minister.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Colombia
Lo hecho está hecho means “What’s done is done,” and what’s done is another international hit from the bilingual diva from Barranquilla. The English language version is called “Did It Again,” and what it did was to give Shakira her 10th consecutive top-40 hit in the UK.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Colombia
The most famous Colombian hips belong to Shakira. In this video we see a lot of the sensual dance and catchy music that have made Shakira’s name known throughout the whole world. Beware the full moon when this lovely she-wolf is on the prowl.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Puerto Rico
Explosive rhythms and politically incorrect lyrics are part of what made Calle 13 an international superstar. This song "Atrévete-te-te" is one of their first hits that made people turn their heads and move their hips all over the dance floor.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Mexico
Ever wonder how the music video for A-ha’s “Take On Me” would look if it were directed by Jackson Pollock? This video, from the Mexican group Motel, brings you the answer.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Cuba
Even if Orishas left Cuba looking for new fortunes, they never forgot where they came from. In Nací Orishas, they’re singing to the same streets where they grew up.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Cuba
Orishas is the most famous Cuban band of recent years. They have achieved fame and glory all over Europe and Latin America. Even those who don’t understand their lyrics (sometimes hard enough even for Spanish speakers) can’t seem to keep their hips and shoulders still.
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: 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: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. For all you semiotics majors, Maria “La Mala” Rodriguez explores the intersection of sex, commerce, technology, gender and competition in "Jugadores, Jugadoras" (Male Players, Female Players).
Are you sure you want to delete this comment? You will not be able to recover it.