Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Colombia
Shakira serves up another smoking, upbeat song. This one’s about a love triangle, as seen through the eyes of the other woman.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Camila was founded by award-winning composer and producer Mario Domm one day while he was recording a client’s album. Samo was called in to do back-up, and his voice impressed Mario so much that he thought they should work together. Add in Pablo Hurtado on guitar, and you have Camila. See what it’s all about with this song from their 2010 album. The vocals are a marvel.
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: 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: Intermediate
Uruguay
Uruguayan musician Gonzalo Yáñez has been making music from a very young age. After working with different groups, he began his solo career in 2004. In this song, the title track of his latest album, he blends acoustic guitar with synthesized sounds, and the catchiness of the chorus contrasts with the darkness of the narrative lyrics.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
Camilo Lara is the man behind the Mexican Institute of Sound (when he’s not busy being the president of EMI Music in Mexico). With this project, he intended to create a fusion of traditional elements with electronic music. MIS tunes have been invading TV and advertising lately; see if you recognize the song “Alocatel.”
Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
Quiero Club is an indie band from Monterrey, Mexico. The name of the group (in Spanish, “I want club”) points to the types of music they combine: rock, pop, and electronic music. From their second album released in 2008, “Minutos de Aire” is a collaboration with Jorge Gonzalez from the Chilean band Los Prisioneros. You don’t want to miss this trippy adventure of a video!
Difficulty: Intermediate
Chile
Formerly known as “Bitman y Roban,” DJ Bitman is one of the new faces of Chilean music. But DJ Bitman’s music is far from belonging to only one place: you can hear traces of Brazilian samba and even some New York hip hop. There is also some Caribbean salsa and some European dub. It’s not a surprise that people from everywhere enjoy it!
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Mexican rock singer Alejandra Guzmán is known as the “Queen of Rock” in Latin America. Take a listen to her soulful singing in “Porque no estás aquí” (“Because You’re Not Here”), and you’ll see why. Those lyrics sung in that raspy voice get right into your core.
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: Beginner
Colombia
New York has the Hudson; Paris has the Seine; London has the Thames. Rivers were important in the building of these cities: they were commercial routes and also a source of food. Aterciopelados (in English, literally “The Velvety Ones”) the well-known Colombian band, remind us of the importance of our rivers with the title song of their socially conscious album Río.
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: Beginner
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican pop star Chayanne is infatuated… Not so much with a girl as with her succulent lips and mouth. He can’t get her mouth off of his mind!
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