“Flaca o Gordita” (Skinny or Fat) by Olga Tañon
Album: Soy Como Tú (I am like you), 2006
Style: Romantic merengue love song
Country: Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube
Qué bonito!
Ya llevamos tanto tiempo
Pareciera que fue ayer
Cuando te bese por primera vez
Me prometiste que por mi morirías.
How nice!
We’ve been together for so long
It would seem as if it were yesterday
When I kissed you for the first time
You promised me that you’d give your life for me (die for me).
“Maria of the Barrio” Lyrics
Style: Upbeat pop/salsa/merengue. This was the title song of a soap opera starring Thalia.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube
Y a mucha honra, Maria la del Barrio soy.
La que de escuincla* quedó resola*
Y pa’* cambiar su suerte
De su barrio querido se fué
Pa’ poder comer.
And to much honor, Maria of the Barrio am I.
The one that as a little runt was left all alone
And to change her luck
From her dear barrio went away
So she could eat.
“The Key to My Heart”
Album: La Llave De Mi Corazon (The Key to My Heart), 2007
Style: Bilingual version of a merengue/pop hit.
About: The album won six Latin Grammy Awards in 2007, including “Album of the Year,” and this song won “Song of the Year.” The album also won “Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album”. Some of the English is in italics because it’s part of the original song and not a translation. I tried not to repeat English parts too much.
Country: Dominican Republic
Listen: YouTube
Buenas noches damas y caballeros*
Demos la bienvenida a
Juan Luis Guerra Y Cuatro Cuarenta
Good evening ladies and gentlemen
Let’s give a (warm) welcome to
Juan Luis Guerra And Cuatro Cuarenta*
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yo escuchaba el otro día
Una emisora radial
Un siquiatra, Doctor Luis
Daba consejo matrimonial
I was listening the other day (to)
A radio transmission*
A psychiatrist, Doctor Luis
Was giving marriage advice
“Ice and Fire” Lyrics
Style: Merengue, pop
Country: Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube
Hay un sorbo de tus besos
En el vino que me embriaga.
Hay un soplo de tu aliento
Cuando escucho tus palabras.
There’s a whiff of your kisses
In the wine that intoxicates me.
There’s a gust of your scent
When I listen to your words.
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