“I Will Wait For You” Lyrics
Style: Pasillo, vals (waltz), unrequited love song
Country: Ecuador
Listen: YouTube
Continue reading ““Te Esperaré” by Julio Jaramillo, English translation”
“La Mujer” by Mon Laferte and Gloria Trevi, English translation
“The Woman” Lyrics
Album: Seis (Six), 2021
Style: A gloriously dramatic bolero breakup song. The dramatic but energetic style makes the lyrics imagery clearly figurative, not literal, but possibly this needs a trigger warning for suicide/murder/drugs. Just in case!
Countries: Chile, Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Continue reading ““La Mujer” by Mon Laferte and Gloria Trevi, English translation”
“El Caballo Blanco” by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation
“The White Horse” Lyrics
Style: Corrido about a white horse, but it’s really about a road trip all over Mexico on a car (romanticized as a horse).
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
About:
This song is about a road trip [es] that José Alfredo Jiménez took from Guadalajara (in central Mexico) to Baja California (just south of the United States southwest) on a white 1957 Chrysler. It is a good song to teach Mexican geography, since he mentions the places he passes on his journey.
Continue reading ““El Caballo Blanco” by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation”
“Primer Día” by Julieta Venegas ft. Dante Spinetta, English translation
“First Day” Lyrics
Album: Limon y Sal (Lemon and Salt), 2006
Style: Pop, love song, possibly breakup song, possibly the start of a new relationship though it sounds like one person wants it more than the other.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Continue reading ““Primer Día” by Julieta Venegas ft. Dante Spinetta, English translation”
“Tuyo y Mío” by Camilo and Los Dos Carnales, English translation
“Yours and Mine” Lyrics
Album: Mis Manos (Mi Hands), 2021
Style: A romantic Norteña (a North Mexican music style)
Countries: Colombia (Camilo), Mexico (Los Dos Carnales)
Listen: YouTube.
Continue reading ““Tuyo y Mío” by Camilo and Los Dos Carnales, English translation”
“Quiero Verte Feliz” by La Santa Cecilia and Lila Downs, English translation
“I Want To See You Happy” Lyrics, 2021 single
Countries: USA (California), Mexico
Style: Cumbia about being ready to be happy again despite all the bad things happening in the world
Listen at YouTube. Buy from Amazon.
Continue reading ““Quiero Verte Feliz” by La Santa Cecilia and Lila Downs, English translation”
“Algo Con Sentido” by Calle 13 feat. PG-13, English translation
“Something With Meaning” Lyrics
Album: Residente o Visitante (Resident or Visitor), 2007
Style: Hilarious but explicit rap song, slow tempo, increasingly disturbing lyrics
Country: Puerto Rico
Listen at YouTube. This song is hilarious because of its disturbing build-up and then the abrupt end after the first end. Residente Calle 13’s voice acting in this song is great.
***Warning: Explicit language, graphic descriptions of violence.***
Translation:
La gente está jugando con mi mente
Y ando con la mirada borracha.
Mi cabeza está pensando en remolacha,
Por eso no tiene sentido esta guaracha.
People are playing with my head
And I walk around with a drunk look.
My head is thinking about beets;
That’s why this song makes no sense.
“Cuánto Más” by Antony Santos, English translation
“How Much More” Lyric
Style: Bachata
Country: Dominican Republic
Listen: YouTube
Continue reading ““Cuánto Más” by Antony Santos, English translation”
“Y Todo, ¿Para Qué?” by Intocable, Natalia Lafourcade, and Pedro Reyna Cisneros, English translation
“And All For What?” Lyrics
Style: Pop or ranchera versions, romance song
Songwriter: Pedro Reyna Cisneros
Country: Mexico
Listen @ YouTube to Intocable (ranchera) or Natalia Lafourcade (alt pop)
Continue reading ““Y Todo, ¿Para Qué?” by Intocable, Natalia Lafourcade, and Pedro Reyna Cisneros, English translation”
“El Perro Negro” by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation
“The Black Dog” Lyrics
Style: Corrido (a storytelling style) about a loyal dog
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
About:
José Alfredo Jiménez was a famous and prolific Mexican singer-songwriter. Remember his name if you are interested in the music history of Latin America or Mexican culture. His songs created a new mythology in Mexico. He sang about characters and stories. This song is about the murder of Gilberto the Brave, who was killed in his sleep by a cowardly but powerful rival. Gilberto had a loyal dog who avenged his murder.
Continue reading ““El Perro Negro” by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation”“Una de Dos” by Mariana Seoane ft. La Sonora Dinamita, English translation
“One or the Other” Lyrics
Style: Upbeat cumbia, romance, relationship ultimatum. She wants either commitment or a breakup.
Country: Mexico
Listen at YouTube
Translation:
Una de dos:
Te quedas al lado mio o te vas de una vez.
No soy de las que se entregan por un simple placer.
Sabes que no te miento y si no date la vuelta.
(x2)
One or the other:
You stay by my side or you leave once and for all.
I am not one of those girls who give themselves up for simple pleasure.
You know I don’t lie to you and if you don’t, turn around now.
(x2)
“Como un Fantasma” by Chenoa, English translation
“Like a Ghost” Lyrics, 2011
Style: Pop/rock, techno-inspired, about a love that haunts you
Countries: Argentina (born), Spain (raised)
Listen at YouTube. When you break up with someone, it can be hard to forget them. They linger in your mind… like a ghost. For more techno-influenced pop about moving on, see “Mi Mundo Sin Ti” by Soraya.
Translation:
Decido no extrañarte,
Vestirme y levantarme,
Quiero escaparme de tu sombra.
I decide not to miss you,
To dress myself and get up,
I want to escape your shadow.
“Un Lugar Para Renacer” by Natalia Lafourcade, English translation
“A Place To Be Reborn” Lyrics
Album: Hu, Hu, Hu, 2009
Style: Pop, light and floaty, gentle fairy-ish, some piano
Country: Mexico
Listen at YouTube
Translation:
Qué protección sentí ayer,
Aunque afuera vi la lluvia.
Me dieron ganas de llorar
Con la canción que me enseñabas.
What security I felt yesterday,
Even though saw the rain outside.
I felt like crying [*lit. I got the urge to cry]
With the song that you were teaching me.
“Interrogación” by Julio Jaramillo, English translation
“Question” Lyrics
Style: Pasillo, heartsickness
Country: Ecuador
Listen at YouTube. Julio Jaramillo would rather be stabbed in the gut than lied to about love. He just wants the truth. I love the lyrics. They are clear and concise but so poetic.
Continue reading ““Interrogación” by Julio Jaramillo, English translation”
“Tarde De Domingo Rara” by Amaral, English translation
“Rare Sunday Afternoon” Lyrics
Album: La Barrera Del Sonido (The Sound Barrier), 2009
Style: Pop/rock, energetic, sounds cheerful, song about spending a weekend with a crush
Country: Spain
Listen at YouTube.
Translation:
Domingo por la tarde
Me vienes a buscar
Y vamos a perder el tiempo un rato.
Sunday (by the) afternoon
You come to look for me
And we go to waste some time.
Songlations 
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