Hello all, and welcome to another edition of What I'm Listening To! This month, I decided I would like to highlight some of my favorite songs in Spanish. Some people misinterpret what Cinco De Mayo actually is about. It is NOT about Mexican Independence over Spain, but it instead celebrates a key victory over Imperial French forces, called The Battle of Puebla. They fought for Mexico City, and despite overwhelming odds, the Mexican forces were triumphant. I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do.
"Guajira Guantanamera" - Compay Segundo (Guantanamera - the Essential Album)
I took Spanish classes in college, but it was actually one of fraternity brothers who introduced me to the Buena Vista Social Club. This was a group of elderly Cuban musicians who kept the old songs alive in their music. It is a patriotic Cuban song, but it is one of the most well known Cuban songs out there. I absolutely love the song, with the traditional Cuban instruments shining throughout.
Guantanamera - the essential album
"Espacio Sideral" - Jesse y Joy (Esta Es Mi Vida)
As I wrote in the above selection, I took Spanish classes in college, and one of the songs introduced to me in class was this song. Jesse y Joy have been around since the early 2000s, and you can actually get quite a few of their albums through Hoopla. I absolutely love the music video to this as it's very fun and campy. The consistent beat of this song makes me tap my foot every time, and I think that the two really are a great duet.
"Despacito" - Luis Fonsi (Despacito)
This song took over the airwaves when it came out in 2017. The melody is very easy going, while the track itself is very, very catchy. To this day, you can still hear it on radio stations, which just illustrates the popularity of this song in America.
"Taki Taki" - DJ Snake (Now That's What I Call Music! 69)
A newer song as well, this was an instant hit when it debuted in 2019. An ensemble cast of singers helped contribute to this song, including Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B. This is a fun jam to listen to, and I definitely blast this when I hear it come on.
"I Like It" - Cardi B ft. Bad Bunny and J Balvin (Invasion of Privacy)
This is a personal favorite of mine, and it's also the first time I myself had heard Bad Bunny, the biggest star in Spanish music today, on a track. Cardi B is one of my favorite female rappers, and in this song both English and Spanish are sung by the artists. I love the blend of languages, and to me its a cool reminder that we are a nation full of different cultures that make our country very unique.
