La Alaskeña

I made a new mix cd and brought it to work, and to most of my co-workers’ chagrin, it contains some songs in Spanish. Americans are so stuck on being able to understand the music they listen to, and I’ve been thinking about that lately: what is that about?

Mexicans have no qualms about listening to music in English, French, Portuguese, Italian… My English students asked me to translate “My Humps” for them, which I used as an opportunity to teach a class on American slang. Because I was the slacker hip, fun teacher.

Los Chicharos de Ojos Negros

Some people say that I listen to Spanish language music due to the fact that I can understand it, but I listened to it before I spoke Spanish. If you look in my iTunes library, you’ll find music in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Russian, Japanese, Finnish, Ukrainian, Greek and I don’t know what else. Most Americans listen to music in English. That’s it. And they’re totally missing out.

One year at school, I was blessed with roommates that would happily listen to music in any language. That year I discovered tons of great music from all over the world, especially Greece.

Beautiful abs, beautiful singing voice.

I believe I’ve mentioned before that Sakis Rouvas is a Greek god among men. He has also put out some great music. Seriously. Check him out.

     My girl Shakira is better in Spanish…

and Astrud Gilberto is better in Portuguese.

I don’t speak Portuguese, so I can’t really understand Astrud Gilberto or Sylvia Telles. I don’t speak French, so I can’t understand Keren Ann or Daphné. But aren’t a good beat and catchy melody universal? And I don’t think you have to speak the language to comprehend the emotion of a bolero, fado, or chanson.

I now present the greatest break-up song of all time. It just so happens to be in Spanish.

Any questions?