Spanishsingers.com

Spanish Rock

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:56:46 +0000

Spanish Rock or Rock en Espanol is a music genre that originates in Latin America and belongs to the wider category of Ibero-American rock. Successful artists from this branch are often described as being crossover musicians as this genre bridges linguistic and cultural boundaries at the same time.
Spanish Rock emerged in the late 1950s with the first Spanish Rock song being ‘La Bamba’, played by Ritchie Valens in 1958. This song was the one to open the door to further rock in Spanish. Soon after ‘La Bamba’ a song called ‘Tequila’ and performed by Daniel Flores quickly became a hit and popularized this genre of music even more, not only in Latin America but also in the Northern America and in countries all over the world, especially Europe. Another success was the hit song ‘Maravilloso, Maravilloso’ interpreted by the band known as Los Cinco Latinos that came from Argentina. This song was also met with great success in both Americas.

The first rock bands were created in the late 1950s. Latin American rock was at first played by bands such as the Mexicans from Los Teen Tops, Los Blue Caps and Los Locos del Ritmo. These bands mainly recorded and played rock versions of famous creations of Elvis Presley, Little Richards, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.

Commercial Spanish Rock emerged in the 1960s when the so called Nueva Ola (the new wave) music style was created. This genre gained popularity in several Latin American countries and then had spread to Spain. In Europe, Spain produced several Spanish Rock bands in the mid 1960s among which Los Bravos, Los Brincos, Los Cheyennes and Pop Tops were the most famous. Also in the 1960s, but in another part of the world, the Mexican rock artists Carlos Santana started rising in fame by combining traditional Latin music with the rhythm of the rock guitar.

The late 1960s brought a movement in Argentina in what concerns the Spanish Rock and which was called the ‘rock nacional’. This style quickly became the most popular in the country and exponential rock bands adopting it were Arco Iris, Los Gatos and Sui Generis. This type of Spanish Rock is associated with the sexual revolution that took place in Argentina at that time.

A reborn of the Argentinian Rock took place in the 1980s when rock bands such as Soda Stereo (with Gustavo Cerati as a guitarist and composer), Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (with Vicentico as a vocalist) and singers such as Andres Calamaro and Fito Paez have started promoting a new movement in the rock music of Argentina.

Argentina can be considered the place where Spanish Rock originates from, although the genre has been populated in other countries around the world such as Spain through the creations of Enrique Bunbury and Chile through the voice of Beto Cuevas.

Singers From The Past

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:56:07 +0000

Latin American music has become more and more popular over the last decades mainly thanks to the latest commercial genres such as the Latin pop sang by artists such as Shakira, Enrique Iglesias and others. However, the Spanish music is quite old and this genre has always been popular although not often outside the borders of the performers’ native countries. This article has the purpose to offer you an overview of the Spanish music and of the artists who are no longer among us but whose music will always be remembered. Read on and learn about some of the most famous Spanish Singers From The Past.

Pedro Infante is one of the Singers From The Past whose music and acting were extremely popular in the Golden Age of the Mexican cinema, meaning in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Many would say that he is perhaps the most famous artist of this period and most agree that he was the idol of most Mexican people. He passed away in 1957, at the age of only 40. His death was caused by a flight crash while he was piloting the plane towards Mexico City. He received the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival and his portfolio includes more than 60 films and over 350 songs.

Celia Cruz is one of the other famous Singers From The Past who is very popular as a salsa singer. According to most sources, she was the most successful salsa performers of the 20th century. She is from Cuba and passed away in 2003, at the age of 79. On the international stage she was known as the Queen of Salsa or “La Guarachera de Cuba”. An article of the Billboard Magazine presented Celia Cruz as the best known and most influential woman in the history of Cuban music.

Other Singers Of The Past include names such as Julio Jaramillo and Carlos Gardel. Julio Jaramillo is an Ecuadorian artist performing throughout Latin America. He is famous for performing and recording boleros, valses, tangos, rancheras and pasillos. It is estimated that he recorded about 4,000 songs during his life time. His most famous creation was the song “Nuestro Juramento”, recorded in 1956. Julio Jaramillo died young, when he was only 42 years old. Some compare his funeral to the one of Frank Sinatra.

Carlos Gardel is known as the most prominent figure in the history of tango and worldwide known as an actor, singer and songwriter. Little information is known about his birth place as some claim he is French while others think he is Uruguayan, although he possessed Argentinian citizenship. His baritone voice is what made him so famous and his dramatic lyrics contributed to increasing his fame. Some classic tangos written by Gardel are “Soledad, Volver, Cuesta Abajo and El Dia Que Me Quieras”. In the end, Singers From The Past will never be forgotten as they have left us their legacy which will exist for the eternity.

Reggaeton

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:55:07 +0000

Reggaeton Music is one of the hottest music forms to sweep the world as of late. People everywhere and from all ages and all walks of life are doing their best to sign along to Reggaeton Songs, even when they don’t know exactly what the words mean. For those new to the Reggaeton scene, Reggaeton Music can best be described as urban Latin American music. It first became heard of in 2004 and since that time has become popular throughout North America and Europe and, recently, in Asia. It’s interesting to note, however, that Reggaeton isn’t all Latin in nature. The musical style is actually a mixture of West Indian music, reggae, and dancehall with a lot of traditional Latin American sounds and styles. So, while a lot of people think of this music as just another form of “rap,” it is actually much more.

One of the most talked about topics when it comes to Reggaeton Songs is the lyrics. Like rap music, Reggaeton Songs are often about having sex with women, other sexual exploits, and in some cases, violence or even gang violence. While many young people think the lyrics are “cool,” or even identify with them in some way, the subject matter of most Reggaeton has caused some controversy both in the United States and in Latin American countries.

Despite what some people may think about Reggaeton, the current popularity of Reggaeton Music suggests that it is here to stay. Popular artists in the United States who perform primarily Reggaeton Music or who have Reggaeton backgrounds include rapper N.O.R.E.; Nina Sky; Tego Calderon; and Daddy Yankee. The musical style has even been given its own special nickname in the states. It is called “Hurban,” which is simply a slang term for Hispanic Urban music.

While it still has a way to go, Europe seems to be the next big hot spot for accepting and falling in love with this slick musical style. It is especially helpful that many Latin American or Hispanic immigrants reside in various areas of Europe. This alone is causing the music to gain a wider following in Europe. In Europe, artists Lorna, Hector Y Tito, and Daddy Yankee are all fairly well known. A mixed Reggaeton style known as Moombahton,” has also garnered attention in European countries. Moombahton can best be described as mix of house music and slower than usual Reggaeton Music and lyrics. If the trend continues as expected, this form of music should take over Europe and then become even more popular in other areas as well. The best thing about all this is that this form of music is giving Hispanic and Latin American people a better understanding and stance in society, helping to bring tolerance and acceptance to a new level.

Other Genre

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:54:36 +0000

Latin American Music, such as the popular and well known Salsa Music form, actually has a long and very rich history. When most people think of Latin Music, images of dancers performing Latin Dance moves or people crowded into a room for sexy Salsa Lessons usually come to mind. However, the origins of Salsa Music and other forms of Latin Dance music are actually quite different. Latin American music as we know it today got its start in ancient Spain, which was separated into various ethnic or cultural groups. Each group developed its own music freely, resulting in a wide variety of different sounds and styles. One of the most well known is Spain’s imitation of the French troubadour music which became popular in the 16th century. Today, traces of this musical format can still be found in various types of Latin music.

Unfortunately, lots of people today confuse Salsa Music with what is actually tango music. In fact, some people are so unaware of the difference that they will go so far as to give Salsa Lessons using music actually meant for the tango. The mistake is somewhat understandable, since these two types of Latin Dance music are quite similar. However, the tango is actually from Argentina. Other popular music styles the area is also known for include the Chacarera, the incredibly famous Zamba, and El Cuarteto. Rock music also became a big part of Argentinian pop culture in the 1960s. Latin Dance music actually got its start here before sweeping to other parts of Spain and then to the United States and Europe.

Colombia is actually the place to thank for Salsa Music and those popular Salsa Lessons everybody seems to be taking. To be more specific, however, Salsa Music is popular throughout Spain now, not just in Colombia. Other than Salsa Music, popular forms of Latin music in the area include the Currulao, Bambuco, Torbellino, and Musica Llanera. For those who haven’t heard of these types of music, don’t feel too badly. More traditional forms of music have yet to become huge in the states.

Of course, more than just traditional forms of Latin Dance music exist. In fact, part of the reason for the Salsa Music craze in the United States is the fact that many Latin American artists and bands in recent years have produced more mainstream types of music. Artists brave enough to step outside of the genres of Salsa Music and other traditional forms of Latin American music include such celebrities as Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, and others. They are thought to have paved the way for Latin Americans in acting and other entertainment venues as well. This means that Selena Gomez, George Lopez, Salma Hayek and other famous celebrities may have Latin American music to thank for their positions in Hollywood.

Mexican Music

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:53:55 +0000

Mexican Music is one of the best known types of music that is produced by Latin American artists. Unfortunately this type of music remains largely unknown to the worldwide public, in particular to those individuals who do not speak Spanish. Most of the Mexican Music is obviously sung in Spanish and no matter how good quality it is, many do not understand it and so refuse to listen to it. This article however deals with some of the best Mexican genres and some artists whose creations deserve being listened. Read on and find out more about Mexican Music and certain Mexican singers such as the legendary Vicente Fernandez.

Mexican music may not be familiar to many of us, but one particular genre should be known by everyone and that is the Mariachi music. Mariachi is one of the best known musical genres that comes from Mexico, played live at different stringed instruments. The Mariachi music is mainly influenced by the historical and cultural development of the country and that is why when studying about Mexico, one need to know what Mariachi is. We can certainly say that this genre of music is emblematic to Mexico. Mariachi implies a grouping of artists, each of them playing a particular instrument and some of them singing. The lyrics are usually romantic and the performers are dressed in traditional national Mexican costumes, with the large, dark color hats which are widely known as being a symbol of Mexico.

But Mariachi is not the only type of Mexican Music. Several individual artists have managed to become famous outside their own country and here you can read about some of them. Vicente Fernandez is known as the King of the ranchera song and is very well known throughout the Latin world. Vicente Fernandez was not only a singer but also a producer and actor and even though he was not very popular in the English speaking world, his career was indeed successful. It is said about Vicente Fernandez that he started his career on the streets. Yet, during his lifetime Vicente Fernandez recorded more than 50 albums and played in several movies. One thing important to mention about this great name in the Mexican Music is that his repertoire was made from exclusively ranchera music. Also, he is the father of Alejandro Fernandez. Alejandro Fernandez is a Grammy Award winner and one of the most popular mariachi and ranchera singers from contemporary Mexico. Alejandro Fernandez is also successful as he has sold over 20 million albums.

Javier Solis is another resonant name in the Mexican music. He was a singer and an actor. Javier Solis mainly sang boleros and rancheras. Javier Solis died young, at only 35 years old due to an airplane crash. To conclude, Mexican Music is definitely valuable and even though it may not be the best known in the world, it encompasses a wide array of resonant names and talents.

Latin Pop

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:53:14 +0000

Latin Pop is a music genre very similar to the pop music that we all know, just that it comes with a Latin American influence. Latino Pop, as it is called in Spanish or Portuguese, can refer to anything from pop music produced or sung by Latin Americans to Latin Europe which includes songs and singers from Spain, Portugal and even Italian. Apart from the rhythm, the main characteristic of this type of music is that it is mostly sung in Spanish or a Romantic language. Some famous songwriters that have excelled in this type of music are Juanes and Estefano.

This genre comprises two main variations of pop music. One is obviously the regular pop music sang mainly in Spanish, Spanglish, Portuguese or English. The latter is intended for international audiences predominantly but it is also successful in Spanish speaking countries. The other type of such pop is a combination of the regular pop and typical Latin American rhythms such as samba, salsa, tex-mex, flamenco, tango, reggae, vallenato, or merengue.

Latin music pop has become popular and internationally recognized by the middle of the 20th century. In this period Ritchie Valens, a vocalist, had become famous by incorporating Latin rhythms and instrumental music into tracks. Later on, this type of music has succeeded to keep increasing in popularity through the work of the well known Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan and even Thalia.

The last decade of the 1900s was perhaps the period when this type of music achieved mainstream success in many parts of the world. One of the representative figures of this era of the pop Latin music is Ricky Martin, whose Livin’ la vida loca is still vibrating discos all over the world. Ricky Martin is worldwide recognized for a variety of collaborations with other popular artists such as Christina Aguilera. Ricky is a Puerto Rican singer who rose to fame after quitting the boy band Menudo and starting his own solo career in 1990.

Enrique Iglesias is another famous singer who has produced songs in both English and Spanish. He comes from Spain and performs as a singer, actor and songwriter. He is by far one of the most popular Latin singers in both Latin America and the United States, and also in a great part of Europe. Enrique Iglesias has been criticized for his vocal talent with various opportunities and yet he sold over 60 million records worldwide and is the winner of a Grammy Award and many other such musical awards.

Shakira is perhaps the most popular Latin singer at this moment. She comes from Colombia and is one of the Latin American singers who has won two Grammy Awards and is by far the most successful Latin American performer as she is the first Latin singer to reach no. 1 in the US tops. To conclude, Latin music is definitely popular and various names are now well known over the world and their music will continue to be in the top charts worldwide.

Latin Folk Music

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:52:22 +0000

Trova music is an old genre of Cuban music, believed to exist from the 19th century when this type of music emerged as the result of the so called trovadores who activated in Santiago de Cuba. The trovadores used to move around and earn their living by playing this type of music on guitar and singing along. According to the specialists trovadores can only be defined as such if they compose their own songs, their music is made with the help of the guitar and they deal poetically with the song. There is however no doubt that trovadores have played a great role in the development of the Cuban folk music and that they have set the roots of larger groupings that have carried on the tradition. From a social point of view, it is believed that they reached every village in the country and have helped spreading this type of music all around the world.

Perhaps the most important and well known contribution of the trova music is its role in the evolution of the nueva trova. Nueva trova is a music genre originating from Cuba as well and which has appeared after the Cuban revolution, as a response to the social changes that came about. This type of music is very similar to the traditional trova meaning that there are groupings of trovadores who sing accompanied by their guitars but the main distinction is made by the content of the song. The nueva trova lyrics are highly politicized which are combined with the traditional trova style. This type of Cuban folk music is highly associated and defined by its connection to the Cuban revolution. The lyrics of nueva trova are always attempting to escape the banalities of life and are mostly focused on socialism, injustice and various serious social problems of the Cuban society.

Some of the best known exponents of this genre are Silvio Rodriguez and Pablo Milanes. Silvio Rodriguez is considered the leader of the nueva trova movement especially as a result of the lyrics he composed which are highly symbolic and representative for his genre. Many agree that this singer is the symbol of Latin American left wing, both from a musical and political point of view. Romanticism, idealism, love and revolutionary politics are the main themes of his creations. Carlos Puebla and Joseito Fernandez were old-time trova singers, from which the first wrote pro-revolution songs.

But Latin-American folk genre does not end with trova music. Argentinian composers such as Facundo Cabral, an Argentinian singer and Joaquin Sabina, a Spanish exponent of the Latin folk have also greatly contributed to this type of music getting much more popular around the world and surpassing the borders of their native countries.

Bands

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:51:13 +0000

One of the hottest things to hit the music scene as of late are Latin Bands. This huge trend has people everywhere swinging their bodies to the music and trying their best to sing along. Some of the hottest Latin Bands out there right now include La Ley, Soda Stereo, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Santana, Heroes Del Silencio, and Mana. This article will provide a more up close and personal look at some of these famous and well loved Bands. Music lovers are encouraged to find out more about some of these great Bands and then make an effort to check out their music.

La Ley was one of the world’s most loved Latin Bands, and their music is still popular today. The rock group, some would say “glam pop,” originated in Santiago, Chile in 1987. Like many other Bands, this group enjoyed a long and thriving career and only stopped producing music in 2005. La Ley, which translates to “The Law,” eventually went on to win a Grammy award and two Latin Grammy awards. However, the group got off to a slow start, with their first album tanking. This is why “Doble Opuesto” is considered by most the band’s first “real” album, even though the hard to find Desiertos actually came first. The band met with some hardship in 1994, when vocalist and guitarist Andres Bobe died. However, he was replaced by Pedro Frugone, and the band soared back to the top of the charts. The bands style changed somewhat in later years, when the bands style become more pop in nature. Fans of Latin music bands often find that they love this band, either in its early stages or its later stages, but rarely both.

Santana is probably the most popular of all the Latin Bands mentioned here. Amazingly, this is one of the older Bands still around and going strong today. The rock band was based around the already well known guitarist, Carlos Santana, and got its big break when the band performed at Woodstock in 1963. While the bands original sound was very Latin in nature, changes both to the sound and the members happened often. The group went from an esoteric sound, back to a more Latin sound, and today are viewed as light rock or even pop by some music fans. This deserving band entered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and has won eight Grammys, three Latin Grammys, and two solo Grammys for Santana as well. Obviously, this is one of the few Bands out there that is actually worth listening to.

The final one of the Latin Bands to discuss is Mana. While less people are familiar with these bands work, they are incredibly influential and have actually been around for quite some time. The group was first formed in 1978 in Guadalajara, Jalisco. The band has the honor of winning three Grammys. The band, which hasn’t released an album since 2008 is making a comeback with the slated release of their 2011 album, Drama y Luz.

Ballads

andres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:49:33 +0000

There are many singers of Ballads performing in the world today. Naturally, some Ballads singers are considered more popular than others. Some of the most famous singers of Ballads include Franco De Vita, Luis Miguel, Julio Iglesias, Jose Jose, Ricardo Montaner, and Rocio Durcal. Those who are new to the Ballads style of music will find that listening to these talented musicians is an excellent way to cultivate an interest in Ballads and ballad musicians.

Ballads singer Franco De Vita is a great choice for modern listeners. Though De Vita has been performing Ballads since 1982, he released his latest album as recently as 2010. The singer, who performs Latin style Ballads, is known for writing a great deal of his own music. He also has the honor of having had a song featured at number one on the Latin music charts and of winning an MTV Music Video Award. For listeners who don’t know a lot about the Ballads style and who want a slow and gentle introduction, De Vita’s happy, unique style is an excellent choice.

For Ballads enthusiasts or even newcomers who want to see the biggest and best in Ballads, look no further than Luis Miguel. This monumental recording artist, known simply as “The Sun” to his fans, is arguably the brightest star to ever hit the Ballads circuit. Miguel has been performing since childhood and is known for much more than just his Ballads. In addition to them, he also performs bolero and mariachi, traditional Latin musical styles. Miguel is also known for his soulful and fun pop music as well. The musician has won four Latin Grammys and five Grammys for his impressive body of work. He is also well known for his extravagant tours. He is, without a doubt, the Ballads singer to see live. His latest self titled album, Luis Miguel, was just released in 2010, and new and old fans alike are encouraged to check it out.

Another great artist for fans of Ballads is Julio Iglesias. He has one of the longest musical careers in Latin music,and it’s quite the impressive career. Iglesias has been active in the music circuit since 1968 and still records music today. In fact, his latest album, Numero Uno, is slated for release this year. He has the distinction of having sold over 300 million records and of being named one of the top ten best selling musical artists in the world. In addition to the ballad style, Iglesias also experiments with many other genres of music, so he’s perfect for any fan with varied tastes.

Of course, the artists mentioned here are just a few that fans can choose from. These artists are a great way to learn what this beautiful musical style is all about and to build a foundation of love for the music. Once that is instilled in a person, then they can go out and find lots of artists that peak their interests and make them fall in love with the music.

Welcome To Spanishsingers.com

toyssex-com — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:28:55 +0000

Spanish singers and bands have always caused a commotion in non-Spanish speaking countries such the United States, Canada, Australia and England. In fact, the impact of Spanish music has been so great that many English-speaking artists have released at least one song, if not entire albums, in Spanish, including Bon Jovi, Roxette, Madonna, and others. However, this site is solely devoted to past and present Spanish and Latin American singers and musicians. Needless to say that pop music in Spanish as we know it today was greatly influenced by Spanish singers such as Raphael, Julio Iglesias, Dyango, Braulio, Victor Manuel, Miguel Bose; and more recently by bands like Mecano, Heroes del Silencio, Hombres G and La Oreja de Van Gogh. Latin America has also produced its fair share of best-selling artists though, the most important coming from Argentina (Sandro, Soda Stereo, Fito Paez, Sui Generis, Enanitos Verdes, Fabulosos Cadillacs), Mexico (Jose Jose, Luis Miguel, Mana) and Colombia (Aterciopelados, Shakira).

The Original Boy Band

Much has been said, both good and bad, about such acts as the New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync and the like, but the one that arguably started not only the boy band trend but also opened the US market to Latin pop music, was a Puerto Rican group called Menudo, which was formed in 1977 and only recently disbanded in 2009 (albeit with none of the original members). Furthermore, this band kick-started the career of Ricky Martin and spawned a successful spin-off called MDO. The menuditis was comparable to the Beatlemania, as they branched out into movies and could even afford their own private jet. They also appeared in many American shows, including but not limited to The Love Boat.

The Latin Frank Sinatra

As has been hinted, in order to stay current, Menudo had a revolving door policy in which members would be substituted when they turned 16 or when puberty ran amok on their bodies. This means that most members are nameless and faceless, but at least one is easily recognized today, even if people don’t know he was in Menudo: the aforementioned Ricky Martin. However, when it comes to solo artists, Luis Miguel is still at the top of the game. Born in Puerto Rico to a Spanish singer and an Italian actress, this Mexican crooner is a bonafide superstar in Mexico, Spain and beyond. Even though he has never been known for crossing over to the English Language, as most of his peers have, Luis Miguel is the only Latin performer to have two Spanish-language records reach platinum level in the United States, the only Latin artist to be featured in the Sinatra: 80 Years My Way show and the first to be awarded a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Although he has released a bunch of successful up-tempo hits, Luis Miguel has also gained a lot of recognition thanks to his romantic ballads, especially his Romances series of albums that breathed new life into many well-loved boleros, as well as tangos, rancheras and other genres. This kind of effort was imitated but not duplicated but lesser artists like Charlie Zaa.

Spanish Rock Bands

Fortunately, Spanish-language music is not limited to singers who do not play any instruments nor write their own songs, and is also graced with many bands from both sides of the Atlantic. Spain and Latin America have a sort of England-USA relationship when it comes to rock’n'roll, with many seminal European acts that have influenced their counterparts in the New World. Essential in all of these proceedings is the Movida Madrilena countercultural movement that occurred mostly in Madrid (but also Barcelona, Bilbao and Vigo) after the death of Generalissimo Francisco Franco. Among many art forms, the Movida also affected the music scene, allowing many bands to freely exploit their creativity, including Radio Futura, Nacha Pop, Siniestro Total, Golpes Bajos, and more. Contemporary to, but not usually associated with the Movida, Spanish band Mecano, creatively driven by brothers Nacho and Jose Maria Cano and led by singer Ana Torroja, was one of the biggest breakthroughs to the Latin American market. The combination of songs written from a male perspective being sung by an angelic female voice gave it an appeal that has been hardly been matched by any other band with a similar line up.

When it comes to Latin America though, one of the most representative bands is without a doubt Soda Stereo. Paralleling the Movida Madrilena acts, Soda Stereo was formed in 1982 right after the end of the Falklands War that signaled the downfall of the Argentinian dictatorship. Both trend-setting and experimental at different times, this band is one of the few legendary Latin American rock acts, if not the only one. Going from overwhelming success to band break-ups to massive reunion tours to a stroke that has kept lead singer Gustavo Ceratti in a coma for severals months, this band’s history is truly the stuff legends are made of.