What Latin Music Must I Hear Before I Die?

Cafe Society
1

I just got my music downloading capabilities back, and I’m floundering about looking for solid Latin stuff–but don’t have much knowledge to go on.

So far the only artist I’m completely familiar with is Shakira (say what you will about her U.S. career, her Spanish stuff is AMAZING.)

I also appear to like The Kumbia Kings (cumbia) and Wilfrido Vargas (merengue.)

So tell me. What MUST I hear? Share with me your greatest Latin preferences. Extra points if it’s all political and impassioned about changing the world.

Olives,
Christy

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Correction: Upon further investigation, I like about two songs by the Kumbia Kings. (’'No tengo dinero" y ‘‘Mi gente.’’

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Political: Oh my, Nova trova and folk and all those, my loves!:

Get stuff from Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, Mercedes Sosa, Violeta Parra, León Gieco, for starters. They also sing beautiful romantic songs. Those are the most internationally known, different regions may have local well known singers (for example, in Puerto Rico you have Roy Brown, as well as Danny Rivera and Lucesita Benítez, these two are also international).

Merengue:

PLEASE check out Juan Luis Guerra y 4:40, especially their early stuff (Ojalá que llueva café). He also has a bachata album (Bachata Rosa), which is about all the bachata I love. Great stuff, try it.

Pop:

Shakira, in Spanish. I raise you one and tell you to try Ricky Martin, in Spanish. PLEASE, try the album A medio vivir. His latest album, the MTV unplugged one, is also awesome. Get them, and forget about Livin La Vida Loca.

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Another thread with suggestions…

And another thread with suggestions

Hope these help in getting you more suggestions!!!

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Oh, and I just realized… basically any pop/rock/salsa/merengue, what you call it in Spanish… every group or singer will have at least ONE (and probably more) songs that are political in nature… I guess that’s the way we are…

Other good pop choices: Franco de Vita and Ricardo Montaner if you like romantic ballads. Oreja de Van Gogh for unrequited and impossible love songs. Juanes for poppy happy songs (for the most part). Maná and Enanitos Verdes for pop/rock.

And check the other threads, they have more suggestions.

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Wow! Thanks so much for your enthusiastic and helpful responses!

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You’re welcome! I really really love music, especially in Spanish. In my not humble opinion, Spanish pop is waaaay better than the English counterpart. I love it!

You can try Yahoo music and check the latin stations, they have a good selection (plus you can rate them)… another one that I listen online is batanga.com…

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Seconded. I was skeptical, but this is an excellent album.

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I will second Juan Luis Guerra, in particular Ojalá que llueve café. Really some of the the best merengue.

Buena Vistia Social Club gives a good intro to Cuban son and artists such as Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Eliades Ochoa, and others.

As for political songs in Spanish, although they are not typical “Latin” music I really like Desorden Publico (Venezuelan Ska) and Manu Chao (not really catagorizable).

It’s not political, but I’ve been listening to Yerba Buena quite a bit recently.

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If you try Manu Chao, try also Mano Negra (the group from whom Manu Chao came).

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I’ll stand by my recommendations in one of those threads.

However: here’s an example of music you must hear before you die–that just happens be to filed under “Latin.”
Astor Piazzolla’s Tango: Zero Hour
Or download it for 86 cents!

Strictly instrumental–it won’t help your Spanish. And not exactly “typical” for tango. But you must hear this. (Many other Piazzolla works are available–& they’re mostly excellent.)

If you want words with your tango, go to the source. The Best of Carlos Gardel

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For Mexican rock which borrows reverently and sometimes humorously from dozens of regional and folk styles, try Cafe Tacuba.

For a beautiful progenitor of Cuban guitar-and-singing, try Guillermo Portabeles.

For creative Mexican trance-groove sort of stuff (think Beck), try Plastilina Mosh.