Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
What happens when you mix Mexican pyschedelic rock band Zoé with Spanish rock singer/songwriter Enrique Bunbury? The answer is: Nothing. Or, in Spanish, “Nada,” the title of this song. Take a listen and you’ll see that the combination of sensibilities creates a whole lot of something.
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: Beginner
Spain
Ester brings lots of interesting and entertaining riddles to El Aula Azul. Think fast!
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Amaia Montero, formerly the singer of La Oreja de Van Gogh, began her solo career in 2007. This song, “Quiero ser,” lasted for thirteen weeks at the number one spot on the Spanish charts in 2009. Listen and you’ll see why: her voice is captivating.
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Alberto Jiménez’s album Causalidad was released in 2009 throughout Venezuela. Listen to snippets of songs and hear the rest of the story behind the production of it.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Listen to the whispery, seductive sound of the Corpus Christi lead singer’s voice as she sings a beautiful declaration of love and of the angst it can create. The video, directed by Nadia Mata Portillo, captures the mood perfectly.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Javier is proud of his fruit stand: he says it’s the best in all of Tijuana, Mexico. He explains to us how he prepares the different fruit shakes, fruit cocktails, and fruit salads, as well as a special recipe from Tijuana for tostilocos.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
A robbery in San Sebastian's renowned Spanish language school, El Aula Azul?. Whodunnit? What did they steal? Ester tells the story of the robbery and another story about a trip her school took.
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
Spain
Ana Fernández-Villaverde, aka La Bien Querida, sings hauntingly about regret in “De Momento Abril.” Sharing the stage with this Spanish songstress are guitars, violins, a piano, a drum set and a cajón—that is, a box-shaped percussion instrument to sit on. The cajón is originally from Peru, but it’s used in modern flamenco and other musical genres.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Listen to Silvia, a teacher at San Sebastian's Spanish language school, El Aula Azul, tell about her family, which she describes as a normal family: not too big. It’s not that small, either. You might want to take out a pen and map out her family tree!
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Alberto Jiménez put together ten of his latest songs for the album Causalidad, released in 2009 throughout Venezuela. Here, he tells us the story behind the production of it.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Ah, family… We love them all, each in their own special way. Ester, a teacher at San Sebastian's Spanish language school, El Aula Azul, tells us what makes cousin Carolina attractive and what makes us love cousin Pedro. These two Spaniards couldn’t be more opposite.
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: 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.
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