~My culture in music~
I had a good old Latin selection come on the shuffle today and I thought I'd share with all of you. If you find trumpets offensive, look away now...
Juan Luis Guerra - Costo de La Vida. I picked this one mostly because it's actually quite a bleak song about the recession in the Dominican Republic (not the recent one obviously, fashion has moved on slightly not to mention video graphics...) and yet I'm sure anyone who dosen't speak Spanish would never know with the cheery tune. But the Latin American outlook is a bit like that - things might be a bit shit but life goes on and you might as well have a good time. And I think you have to appreciate the shameless cheese as well...though that will be a common theme.
Click to viewCelia Cruz - Que Le Den Candela
This a number by the, rightfully titled, Queen of Salsa. A song about the useless men in the world and basically wishing bad things upon them such as punishment and fire.Also things like tying him to a kite and cutting the string. Brilliant. Celia died a few years ago from a brain tumour and I don't think the Latin world has ever gotten over it. I not only loved her because she was feisty and talented, but also because the woman embraced her inner Drag Queen.
Carlos Vives - Tierra Del Olvido
Oh he was quite the heart throb back in the day! This my only Colombian choice for this entry (shock horror!) but his music always reminds me of travelling to Hiradot for holidays and watching the mountains unravel in front of me. Also there's a bit of lovely acordion in this one which is much more typical of the Andean countries in South America, and yeah it's just completely typically Colombian.