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: Intermediate
Venezuela
"Indeleble" is the title track from the Venezuelan rock band, Los Mesoneros' 2011 album of the same name.
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
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: 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: Intermediate
Mexico
Mexican singer Lila Downs sings soulfully about the fictional character, Naila and how, after betraying her lover, she cannot be “Naila for you anymore.”
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Mexico
Listen to the catchy pop tune "Girasol" [Sunflower] by Mexican Band Latin Monkey.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Here's another catchy tune by the Latin Monkey band. Let's dance!
Difficulty: Beginner
Aruba
Landa Henriquez is a mother of three, Business Sciences graduate, entrepreneur, songwriter and singer. She’s also owner of a cute red descapotable and leader of the band. Not bad for a woman of 40.
Difficulty: Newbie
Venezuela
We have the debut music video from La Vida Bohème -- an Indy, punkish Venezuelan band with a bit of French in its name. Playing on roof tops in Caracas, the band delivers a subversive song in just a few words. And then they are kidnapped. "Viva la résistance," says the writing on the wall (also dropping in a bit of French). This is one band worth following.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Uruguay
Uruguayan rock band, La Vela Puerca's intriguing single, "Se le va," is from their 2011 album, Piel y hueso.
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