Songlations

"To The First Person"
Album: El Tren de los Momentos (The Train of Moments), 2006
Style: Pop romantica, slower tempo
Country: Spain

Listen:

This is a song about a guy who wants to love, but finds it hard. It sounds like he had bad experiences in the past and is cautious. Hear the song at YouTube here.



Translation:

A la primera persona que me ayude a comprender
Pienso entregarle mi tiempo, pienso entregarle mi fe.
Yo no pido que las cosas me salgan siempre bien,
Pero es que ya estoy harto de perderte sin querer {querer}.

( To the first person who helps me understand...Collapse )

"From My Steps"
Albums: Aquí (1997), Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged (2008)
Style: Folk rock, accordion, drums, string instruments
Country: Mexico

Listen:

Julieta rocks an accordion and drums for this song’s music video in her VEVO account at YouTube here. Accordions are a traditional instrument in Mexican music, but I rarely see them in rock videos. I also love the MTV Unplugged version with strings at YouTube here. The song is about learning from past experiences.



Translations:

( No conocere la cara del tiempo pasado, y tu y yo...Collapse )

"May Things Go Badly For You", 2012
Style: Pop, cumbia, ska fusion; percussion, brass, wind instruments
Country: Puerto Rico

Listen:

Hear this bitter but catchy song of a woman whose boyfriend abruptly breaks up with her to date someone else at YouTube here. This song was nominated for record of the year in the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards.



Translation:

Con esta guitarra maltrecha
Escribo esta historia de dos.
Pa' [para] hablar de ti con lazo y cuerda
Sería muy halagador.

( With this worn out guitar, I write this story of two...Collapse )

"Red Wine"
Style: Pop/rock, flamenco influence
Country: Spain

Listen:

This song is fast paced, which is appropriate because the lyrics are about living life at a fast pace. Listen to it at YouTube here. Minor warning: It has a lot of drug references.



Translation:

( Hay pistolas que descargadas se me disparan...Collapse )

"From the Moment I Wake Up", alt. "Since I Wake Up"
Album: Un Día Normal (A Normal Day), 2002
Style: Pop, love song
Country: Colombia

Listen:

This is a short love song. Hear it at YouTube here.



Translation:

( Mira que mis ojos ven mejor si tú eres la luz...Collapse )

"Fresh Fruit", 1999
Style: Tropical, salsa, flutes
Country: Colombia

Listen:

Lively and happy love song at YouTube here. It was nominated for "Song of the Year" and "Best Tropical Song" in the 2000 Latin Grammy Awards.



Translation:

Ese beso de tu boca
Que me sabe a fruta fresca,
Que se escapó de tus labios
Y se metió en mi cabeza.

( That kiss from your mouth...Collapse )

"(Everybody) Let Me Cry"
Album: Déjenme Llorar, 2012
Style: Alternative rock, melancholy, soft but strong voice, mourning a breakup
Country: Mexico

Listen:

"Déjenme Llorar" the song won "Best Alternative Song" and its album won "Best Alternative Album" in the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards. The song was also nominated for "Song of the Year." Listen to the melancholy melody at YouTube here. Also, read this good review of the album and the title song.



Translation:

( He estado recordando los momentos que te di, cuantos tu me diste y por que ahora estoy aqui...Collapse )

"You Are"
Album: Cuatro Caminos (Four Paths), 2003
Style: Alternative rock, love song
Country: Mexico

Listen:

This song keep coming up on internet radio for me. I also heard it in a cafe. Hear "Eres" at YouTube. It won a 2004 Latin Grammy for "Best Rock Song" and was nominated for "Song of the Year."



Translation:

Eres,
Lo que más quiero en este mundo eso eres,
Mi pensamiento más profundo también eres.
Tan solo dime lo que es,
Que aquí me tienes.

( You are what I desire most in this world...Collapse )

Announcement:

By the way, I started a Facebook fan page and a short Spotify playlist that I will edit every now and then. I also have Twitter.

"Her"
Style: Ranchera (a storytelling style) about love lost, with patriotism
Country: Mexico

Listen:

Traditional Mexican ranchera at YouTube, sung by José Alfredo Jiménez (my favorite), Pedro Fernández, and Vicente Fernández.



Translation:

( Me canse de rogarle. Me canse de decirle que yo sin ella de pena muero...Collapse )

"Something With Meaning"
Album: Residente o Visitante (Resident or Visitor), 2007
Style: Humorous rap/urban song, slow tempo, increasingly disturbing lyrics
Country: Puerto Rico

Listen:

This song is hilarious because of its disturbing build-up and then the abrupt end after the first end. Residente Calle 13’s voice acting in this song is great. You can listen to it at YouTube here.

Warning: Explicit language, graphic descriptions of violence.



Translation:

( La gente está jugando con mi mente y ando con la mirada borracha...Collapse )