Cut to the chase on this one - get straight to the good stuff at 0:47.
This is based on a fairly meditative love song by a Spanish singer-songwriter. Boy Wonder, a Puerto Rican producer sped it up and juiced it with a reggaeton beat. The result is a poetic party piece.
The lyrics are phenomenal: "no es lo mismo ser que estar". They're hard to translate because they take advantage of the fact that Spanish has two verbs meaning "to be" - ser means "to be, permanently", and estar means "to be, temporarily".
For example: soy [ser] inglesa y estoy [estar] en my casa means "I am [ser] English and I am [estar] in my house" - I am always English, and I am in my house right now, temporarily
The first line of the song is simply: "it's not the same to be [ser] as to be [estar]" - transient facts [described using estar] about where we are, how we feel, how we look do not define who we are as people [which is described using ser].
There you go, reggaeton and grammar: grammar-ton? I don't think it's going to catch on.
Showing posts with label reggaeton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reggaeton. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
D Rakkas - Gangsta Revivial (JWLS remix)
I once went to a Moombahton night at The Camp. There were about eight people there and the DJs were atrocious.
The experience wasn't enough to put me off, which says more about the visceral appeal of moombahton than it does about my sticking power. This song is an example of why chopping and screwing can get you places in the world - I had never heard of D Rakkas or JWLS and I'm bumping this hard.
D Rakkas (South Rakkas Crew)-Gangsta Revival (JWLS Remix) by maddecent
The experience wasn't enough to put me off, which says more about the visceral appeal of moombahton than it does about my sticking power. This song is an example of why chopping and screwing can get you places in the world - I had never heard of D Rakkas or JWLS and I'm bumping this hard.
D Rakkas (South Rakkas Crew)-Gangsta Revival (JWLS Remix) by maddecent
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Julieta Venegas - Primer Dia
I love it when artists genre-bend. Especially when it comes out sounding better than the classics. Here, the ever-talented Julieta Venegas turns her hand to reggaeton, and utterly kills it.
There's the classic Dem Bow riddim at the bottom, and then an accordion on top, and Julieta belting out some post-feminist lyrics in her faultlessly rich voice. It sounds like a river of melted chocolate flowing through a dancehall, with Mexican accordion players floating in boats on the river, serenading passing dancers. Seriously.
Also, the video is a masterpiece. Calle 13 might have been the first artists to make interesting reggaeton videos, but Juli has upped the ante here.
There's the classic Dem Bow riddim at the bottom, and then an accordion on top, and Julieta belting out some post-feminist lyrics in her faultlessly rich voice. It sounds like a river of melted chocolate flowing through a dancehall, with Mexican accordion players floating in boats on the river, serenading passing dancers. Seriously.
Also, the video is a masterpiece. Calle 13 might have been the first artists to make interesting reggaeton videos, but Juli has upped the ante here.
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Calle 13 - Chulin Chulin Chunfly
It's a love song, I swear. It's just got a lot of brass on it, and - like all reggaeton - it's based on the driving Dem Bow riddim.
Calle 13 are pretty post-modern with all of this though. Their lyrics are always cynical, often political, and normally have a couple of bizarre sexual metaphors (this one asks whether she likes it when his "elephant coughs", and that he wants to drink "water from this well... even if it's salty or bitter").
I'm not sure whether it's an audacious attempt to get round Puerto Rico's strict censorship of songs or whether they're just reveling in the ridiculousness of it all. Either way, you have to love the fact that they've rewritten seduction with trumpets and metaphors.
Calle 13 are pretty post-modern with all of this though. Their lyrics are always cynical, often political, and normally have a couple of bizarre sexual metaphors (this one asks whether she likes it when his "elephant coughs", and that he wants to drink "water from this well... even if it's salty or bitter").
I'm not sure whether it's an audacious attempt to get round Puerto Rico's strict censorship of songs or whether they're just reveling in the ridiculousness of it all. Either way, you have to love the fact that they've rewritten seduction with trumpets and metaphors.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Freddy Sky - El Farsante
If I was ever on Mastermind, my specialist subject would have to be Latin American pop music 2008-2009. Tragic.
But the upside is songs like this. This is one of the lesser-known bangers, which you're going to love - it makes you want to dance like a slut, and sing along: it's straight-up reggaeton romantico, from one of Panama's local stars.
But the upside is songs like this. This is one of the lesser-known bangers, which you're going to love - it makes you want to dance like a slut, and sing along: it's straight-up reggaeton romantico, from one of Panama's local stars.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Randy & De La Ghetto - Sensación Del Bloque
More summer music. This one's a cheesy classic: it's got a falsetto chorus and a snare that sounds like UK garage. I love that contrast you get when the instrumental is computer-perfect and the voices are totally natural.
Also, the video looks a bit like home, and a bit like the barrios where they shot Talento De Barrio (which is essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand what street kids in Central America aspire to. Ignore the critics.)
Also, the video looks a bit like home, and a bit like the barrios where they shot Talento De Barrio (which is essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand what street kids in Central America aspire to. Ignore the critics.)
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Big Pun ft Joe - Still Not A Player
Sometimes I wish my life was a musical. Not because I have any particular fondness for chorus lines or hairspray (pun intended*), but just because I think it would be amazing if sometimes conversations were underscored by pop songs expressing the salient points.
This song, in particular, popped into my head as a banker was explaining his dating philosophy to me. I think the evening would have been much improved by a little bit of late-90's tongue-in-cheek slut-rap.
This is the finest work of Puerto Rico's first international superstar, and was one of the songs that filtered back to the island and kick-started the nascent reggaetón industry. Also probably one of the first international hits to have "boricua, morena" as its refrain.
* Seriously, did you think I could get through a piece about someone called "Big Pun" without making a pun? If so, you massively overestimate me. (Yeah, I know it's short for "Punisher"... don't spoil my fun.)
This song, in particular, popped into my head as a banker was explaining his dating philosophy to me. I think the evening would have been much improved by a little bit of late-90's tongue-in-cheek slut-rap.
This is the finest work of Puerto Rico's first international superstar, and was one of the songs that filtered back to the island and kick-started the nascent reggaetón industry. Also probably one of the first international hits to have "boricua, morena" as its refrain.
* Seriously, did you think I could get through a piece about someone called "Big Pun" without making a pun? If so, you massively overestimate me. (Yeah, I know it's short for "Punisher"... don't spoil my fun.)
Monday, 14 February 2011
Tego Calderon - Cosa Buena
And for Valentine's Day... a classic piece of over-sexed reggaeton. Definitely more fun than a card and flowers.
This is a beauty of its type: there's that unmistakable reggaeton rhythm, and a little bit of backing brass. Tego's on top form, with some lyrics exalting himself, women, and dancing, in his typical slangy slurred delivery. It's good. Also, the video makes me homesick for Central America, which isn't even really home, so it must be doing something right.
This is a beauty of its type: there's that unmistakable reggaeton rhythm, and a little bit of backing brass. Tego's on top form, with some lyrics exalting himself, women, and dancing, in his typical slangy slurred delivery. It's good. Also, the video makes me homesick for Central America, which isn't even really home, so it must be doing something right.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
La Factoria - Amiga
This is pure cheese. But it's good cheese. It has all of the essentials: catchy tune, bizarre instrumentation (is that a flute?), ridiculous lyrics, and deeply weird costumes. Oh, and boobs. Lots of boobs. Seriously, I defy you to not slightly enjoy this.
La Factoria are a duo straight out of Panama (current spiritual home of melodic reggaeton). The song's a duet, in which one of them apologises for having slept with the other one's husband. It's a musical catfight. It's awesome. The lyrics are a joy, and some kind soul has even translated them (really really badly... But you can get the gist. It's not complicated. It's a catfight.)
When I saw them live, one of them had left the band, and so the other one had to play both parts. It was the most brilliantly schizophrenic performance I have ever seen. Worthy of the Tate Modern or something.
La Factoria are a duo straight out of Panama (current spiritual home of melodic reggaeton). The song's a duet, in which one of them apologises for having slept with the other one's husband. It's a musical catfight. It's awesome. The lyrics are a joy, and some kind soul has even translated them (really really badly... But you can get the gist. It's not complicated. It's a catfight.)
When I saw them live, one of them had left the band, and so the other one had to play both parts. It was the most brilliantly schizophrenic performance I have ever seen. Worthy of the Tate Modern or something.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Calle 13 - La Jirafa
This one's like a mad cumbia, killing it on the accordion and the drums. Fittingly, the lyrics are a tongue-in-cheek love/lust song.
Fit video too: Calle 13 always manage to make Puerto Rico look like one of those dreams you don't want to wake up from.
Fit video too: Calle 13 always manage to make Puerto Rico look like one of those dreams you don't want to wake up from.
Monday, 17 January 2011
Calle 13 - Tocarte Toda
I'm not sure if I love this for the sweet violin sample, the tongue-in-cheek lyrics, or for the memories it brings me. I'm pretty sure it's amazing though. The video's a bit of a piss-take of your standard reggaeton tits-and-bits videos.
I could wax lyrical about how Calle 13 push out the boundaries of a genre that is its own worst enemy, but you can read Wikipedia. Suffice to say their lyrics are often hilarious, always on point, and their music is fresh to death.
I could wax lyrical about how Calle 13 push out the boundaries of a genre that is its own worst enemy, but you can read Wikipedia. Suffice to say their lyrics are often hilarious, always on point, and their music is fresh to death.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Tego Calderón & DJ Voltio - Julito Maraña
If I told you this was a reggaeton reworking of a salsa classic, you would probably wince and not listen to it.
But this is incredible: it's a tiny saga, a slice of the Puerto Rican underworld. The lyrics are just slang-sodden poetry. The video is also pretty hot: sort of what Boyz N The Hood would be like if the hood had palm trees.
The original song, Juanito Alimaña, also tells the story of an unloved gangster. It's also tasty good. And it contains one of my favourite Spanglish words: "ratear", which is derived from "to rat someone out", the 1950s US term for grassing someone up. What a word.
But this is incredible: it's a tiny saga, a slice of the Puerto Rican underworld. The lyrics are just slang-sodden poetry. The video is also pretty hot: sort of what Boyz N The Hood would be like if the hood had palm trees.
The original song, Juanito Alimaña, also tells the story of an unloved gangster. It's also tasty good. And it contains one of my favourite Spanglish words: "ratear", which is derived from "to rat someone out", the 1950s US term for grassing someone up. What a word.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Angel y Khris - Ven Bailalo
This aboslute gem has one of the best videos ever (sunflower bra anyone?), and combines latin guitar with a contagious beat. Also features Angel and Khris wearing some excellent hats.
All in all, top marks to the costume department. Nil points to casting: why do they always put kids in reggaeton videos? It's disturbing.
All in all, top marks to the costume department. Nil points to casting: why do they always put kids in reggaeton videos? It's disturbing.
Monday, 20 December 2010
Tego Calderon & Don Omar - Bandoleros
Straight out of Puerto Rico, this video is pure art. And the chorus is one of my favourites ever written.
The lyrics are mostly about the trumped-up charges Don Omar was arrested on. They also address the dismal state of Puerto Rican politics - to quote Tego:
"soy bandolero como el mister politiquero que se robo to el dinero y lo postularon de nuevo" ("I'm as much a gangster as the Mr. Politician who stole the money and they put him up to run for office again")
The lyrics are mostly about the trumped-up charges Don Omar was arrested on. They also address the dismal state of Puerto Rican politics - to quote Tego:
"soy bandolero como el mister politiquero que se robo to el dinero y lo postularon de nuevo" ("I'm as much a gangster as the Mr. Politician who stole the money and they put him up to run for office again")
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)