Songlations

"Obsession"
Style: Bachata, conversations-song between a guy and the girl he is obsessing over
Countries: United States (New York); Dominican Republic

( Son las cinco de la mañana y yo no he dormido nada... )

Listen:

At YouTube here.

This is the 200th translation post! Yay!

"Your Love Makes Me Well", alt. "Your Love Does Me Good"
Style: Salsa, love song
Countries: USA (New York), Puerto Rico (parents)

( Te quiero así, deliciosa, insospechada... )

Listen:

At YouTube here.

"Smaragdos Margara", 1995
Singers: Salvador Cardenal and Katia Cardenal
Style: Soft, strong vocals; hauntingly pretty and ambiguous
Country: Nicaragua

( Con una aguja con hilo blanco... )

Listen:

Renditions: original by Dúo Guardabarranco (softly spoken) and cover by Monroy & Surmenage (more modern rock).

I like how music travels the world. I actually first heard this song on Une Histoire de Famille, an album by the Montreal band Hart-Rouge. Everything else on that album is French. If you’re looking for cool Canadian French music, I recommend Hart-Rouge.

"Shock", 2011
Style: Hip hop social criticism, in support of students protesting for accessible education
Country: Chile (parents), France (born)

( Venenos, tus monólogos. Tus discursos, incoloros. No ves que no estamos solos... )

Listen:

At YouTube here.

I found out about Ana Tijoux when a visitor requested Ana Tijoux’s "1977". I am working on that one, too, but it is not ready yet. Ana Tijoux also worked with Julieta Venegas on "Eres Para Mi".

"You Promised Me You Would Return", 1981
Singers: Joaquín and Lucía Galán
Style: Back-and-forth conflict dialog in song form, musical style duo
Country: Argentina

( Hoy he recibido tu carta. Hoy he muerto de pena... )

Listen:

At YouTube here. This is an entertaining way of singing a story within a song. It is like a musical piece, but standalone.

More old songs from Argentina: "Rosa, Rosa" by Sandro de América (before rock & roll), "Botas Locas" by Sui Generis (1974 anti-war song).

"One or the Other"
Style: Upbeat, ultimatum, love song
Country: Mexico

( Una de dos: te quedas al lado mio o te vas de una vez... )

Listen:

At YouTube here.

"Loving Without Being Loved"
Album: El Sexto Sentido (The Sixth Sense), 2005
Style: Pop, dance, about how life lessons can be cruel but useful
Country: Mexico

( Todo este tiempo he tenido que escucharte, que comprenderte, que consolarte... )

Listen:

Spanish version at YouTube here. I also found an English version with modified lyrics on YouTube, but Thalía’s thick accent doesn’t work for me since I am already used to her Spanish work. Perdoname, Thalía. ¡Sabes que amo tu musica en español!

"To Dance (I Always Want More)"
Album: Mar Dulce (Sweet Sea), 2008
Style: Tango Nuevo, a modern tango style
Countries: Argentina and Uruguay (Bajofondo), Mexico (vocalist Julieta Venegas)

( No sé donde acomodarte, no sé de que color pintarte... )

Listen:

At YouTube here. This tango was stuck in my head thanks to internet radio. :-)

"Lining the Sun"
Album: Maná MTV Unplugged, 1999
Style: Rock, pining for love
Country: Mexico

( Rayando el sol, rayando por ti... )

Listen:

At YouTube.

"Wild Heart", 1997
Style: Folk pop, flutes, love song
Country:Argentina

( Ay! Corazón, corazón, corazón, que si no me avisas te estaré esperando... )

Listen:

At YouTube here.