Flamenco

Flamenco is a type of Spanish folk music and dance from the region Andalusia in southern Spain. Flamenco includes singing, dancing, guitar playing, and handclaps. It is often associated with the Romani people of Spain. A large number of famous flamenco artist are from this ethnicity.  The Gipsy Kings, Paco de Lucia, and Estrella Morente, are some famous Flamenco artist. In the past couple of  years flamenco has become popular all over the world. It's taught in many countries. For example, in Japan there are more flamenco schools than there are in Spain. Flamenco occurs in four main settings: juerge is informal, tablaos are establishments, the professional concert is the most formal, and the theatrical presentation.

Flamenco is so much more than just the music. It's an art form that also includes dance / guitar playing. Also the dance isn't just one type is dancing not one type of guitar playing. The music isn’t just the voice thats important the guitar is equally important. There are vig ferati of Flamenco artist that do all different things. Flamenco music has its own Harmony called ‘Flamenco Harmony.’ In addition to the major and minor scales commonly used in modern western music, not just Flamenco. The Flamenco dance is the most important part of the Flamenco art form. Certains dances were performed for example weddings and celebrations in Spain was considered the most "authentic" form of flamenco. 

Tango

Tango is one of Buenos Aires's and Argentina's greatest aspects of tradition. Tango has a system of dance that contributes to the music, meaning that it's tune goes with a special dance. The biggest contributors to the music are the singer/songwriters and dancers. Tango originated in the European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay. Tango music, is almost always instrumental, but sometimes singing is incorporated. In the instrumental part of the music, there are multiple different instruments used, to make the unique sounds of the songs. In Argentina, tango is a huge part of life for the people. The music was printed as early as 1823 in Havana, Cuba. The "Golden Age" for Tango music in the United States was between 1935-1952. In this age Tango was performed by many orchestras or big groups of people playing instruments.

Carlos Gardel is by far one of the most famous tango musicians, his voice within his songs became one of the most popular sounds of tango. He was the main voice of Argentina when he was alive, but sadly passed away in 1935. Astor Piazolla was one of the artists who changed tango in his own way. He helped introduce tango to the American crowd by adding his jazz music into it. Azucena Maizana was one of the most influential and known women in the tango industry. She sang her music introducing it to the world by traveling the world to as far as New York City. Many other musicians showed their interpretations of tango around the world, like Horacio Ferrer, Carlos Saura, and many others.

The dancing of Tango is some of the most important part of the music. The dance was also originated in South America, and was first just performed by women. But once it was spread to Argentina the dance adapted into being performed by usually by a man and a woman, and within their movements they show romance and intimacy. The purpose of the dance is to find a connection with the music and to move your body of the flow of the rhythm.

Ye Ye Music

Yé-Yé music is a genre of music popular in the 1960s in France, Italy and
Spain. The term "Yé Yé" means "Yeah! Yeah!" Which was inspired by the
Beatles who were very popular at this time. This type of music was
inspired by American "rock and roll" yet it has a French twist on it.
The yé-yé music movement had its origins on "Salut Les Copains", a
popular radio show during that time. This radio show was known as the
"starting point" for most Yé-Yé singers.
Yé-Yé music mostly always featured a "Yé-Yé girl" who usually were young
female singers. A few popular female Yé-Yé singers are France Galle,
only 16 when she released her first album, 17 when she won the
Eurovision song contest , Sylvie Vartan, Annie Philippe and Clothilde.
The Yé-Yé music movement was known for girl groups. A few popular male
artists are Johnny Hallyday and Richard Anthony.
In Spain, yé-yé music was at first considered to be against Catholicism.
However, this did not stop the yé-yé culture from spreading, although a
bit later than in the rest of Europe.
Originally, it had started off as teenager girls singing French translations of
American songs, and a new girl got her 10 minutes of fame every week.
However, there was something special about Ye-Ye music. This kind of highly produced pop music was more catchy, fun and alluring which attracted English speaking people.
In the end many of the Ye-Ye’s ended up being one-hit wonders. The impact
they had on music scene was so influential, people  are still talking
about them to this day. This trend in music was not known much outside
of Europe, until recent films by Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and
the popular American TV show Mad Men have  featured Ye-Ye songs and a new interest struck up in the sound. The
 sound that this group of young French girls was made so influential
that it changed french pop from being “campy” to more rebellious which

influenced future female singers.



Listen here to a few classic Ye-Ye artists and songs: http://8tracks.com/explore/yeye

Mariachi Music

Mariachi is a type of Mexican folk music. It is a popular genre of music all around Mexico and the United States. When one refers to mariachi, it can mean the type of music or the musicians. Mariachis often perform at birthday parties, weddings or bars. They are also often hired to serenade a man or woman. The mariachi often play in groups consisting of a guitar player, violinist, a guitarrón mexicano player, someone who plays the guitarra de golpe, and a trumpet player. There are sometimes women who play in these bands, but is it a mostly male-dominated genre of music. When women are in the mariachi band, they often are the lead singer, but you will occasionally find a woman who plays an instrument. The bands wear matching charro outfits. The mariachi play only requested songs but tend to know hundreds. Most of Mariachi music is about love, death, betrayal, politics and revolutionary heroes.

Mariachi music started as a regional folk style called "Son Jaliscience" from the province of Jalisco, in the center west in Mexico. Son Jaliscience musicians only played string instruments. When people started to immigrate from rural towns to cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara, the Son Jaliscience musicians started adding brass instruments into the bands and made a change in their name from Son Jaliscience to Mariachi.

One popular mariachi band is Mariachi Vargas de Tecaitlán. The band formed in 1897 and has since changed every single member many times over. A popular mariachi singer is Vicente Fernandez, son of Alejandro Fernandez. One of my favorite songs by him is called "Estos Celos." The song is literally translated into "This Jealousy." It is about how he cannot bear to see this woman with another man. In the chorus, he says "ay ay amor, ay ay que dolor", translating to "ay love, ay what a pain", showing that it hurts him to see her with someone else. This is a good example of what type of songs are incorporated in the style of music. Another good example is a song called "Un Rinconcito en el Cielo." This means "A little corner of the sky." The song is about how he is trying to find a little corner of the sky for him and this girl to hide and to be united together forever. Mariachi is a really cool genre of music and I recommend it to anyone who loves Spanish music!

Mariachi has had a huge influence on Mexican music since its beginning. Although mariachi is typically played in groups, many famous mexican singers have branched off to just sing solo, but have kept mariachi in the background. Today, mariachi music has influenced many amazing artists.

 

Mariachi Instruments

The instruments played in the Mariachi bands are super cool! One instrument that is confusing to people is the “guitarra de golpe.” This is a stringed instrument from Mexico. It has five nylon strings. During the 20th century, there was discussion on whether to use the guitarra de golpe and it was eventually replaced by the classical guitar. However, the guitarra de golpe is still very important in the mariachi music. Another confusing instrument is the guitarron. This is a large, deep-bodied six string acoustic bass that is the principal rhythm instrument in mariachi groups.

Noche De Paz

               Fifth Harmony is an American girl group created on the second season of The X Factor. The group is made up of 5 members: Ally Brooke Hernandez, Normani Hamilton, Dinah Jane Hansen, Camila Cabello, and Lauren Jauregui. After The X Factor they signed a joint deal with Syco Music which is owned by Simon Cowell. They don't just sing in English they also sing in Spanish. Here is the song Noche De Paz, which is a spanish Chirstmas song. It's a beautiful uplifting and magical song that brings joy to the holidays. Happy Holidays Everyone!

Noche de Luz by Alejandro Sanz

Alejandro Sanz born Alejandro Sanchez Pizarro on December 18, 1968 in Spain, is a Spanish singer-songwriter and musician. Sanz has won fifteen Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards. He has experimented with rock, salsa, and hip hop. Noche de Luz is a little-known song that is still very intimate to listen to while enjoying in the holidays. Happy holidays!
By paula

"Oh Ven, Oh Ven Emanuel" by Jaci Velasquez

"Oh Ven, Oh Ven Emanuel" by Jaci Velasquez is from the spanish version of her Christmas album released in 2001. The album includes covers of all the classic English language Christmas tunes like "The First Noel", "White Christmas", "It Wouldn't Be Christmas", and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". The album also includes three original tracks including "The Angel Song". The album is "beautifully orchestrated with touches of traditional Christmas-style jazz and contemporary pop". Oh Ven Oh Ven Emanuel is my favorite Christmas song. Jaci Velasquez makes the song joyful and a perfect song for the holidays!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Burrito de Belen by Juanes

Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez also known as Juanes sings a cover of the well-known Christmas song "Burrito de Belen". Juanes is a Columbian musican who has sold around 15 million albums worldwide. Juanes sang this song in 2006, in one of his holiday albums. The original "Burrito de Belen" was written by Jameson Genest. This holiday song is very commonly sung by many different famous Latin American musicians. So, for the holiday season listen to this song to feel cultural while having an amazing Christmas!!

Blanca Navidad by Luis Miguel

Feliz Navidad todos! Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri is a Puerto Rican artist. He was born on April 19, 1970. He is a Latin American icon, he is often referred to as El Sol de Mexico (the sun of Mexico). He is one of the most successful artists in Latin American history, and has preformed in a wide variety of musical styles.One example is his version of Blanca Navidad
By Julia

Blanca Navidad

Andrea Bocelli is a blind Italian tenor and singer-songwriter. He has 14 solo albums which were all very succesful. He has sold over 100 million albums worldwide and has won over 30 awards. He has been featured in the Guinness Book of World Record for having three of his albums be in the first, second and third spot of the US Classical Album charts. In 2006, Bocelli was named a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He is extremely popular all around the world and even performed at Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's wedding! When getting in the Christmas spirit, make sure to listen to Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album, "Mi Navidad", which contains many Spanish and Italian versions of famous Christmas Carols. My favorite song on the album is his spin on "White Christmas" called "Blanca Navidad". It's a graceful and timeless song that makes the Christmas spirit present everytime you listen to it. I wish all of you a Merry a Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Click Here to Go to Bocelli's Site

Here's a link to a video!

Feliz Navidad

"Feliz Navidad" was written in 1970 by Jose Feliciano. He is a Puerto Rican singer. It has a simple Spanish chorus "Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad" meaning "Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness. It is half in Spanish and half English. It has been translated in many languages and is probably one of the most famous Spanish Christmas songs in America and throughout the world.
Musicas and Musiques want to wish you a merry christmas and good health in the coming new year. Tune in for more blog posts coming in 2015!

Chimene Badi

Chimene Badi was born on October 30th of 1982 in Melun, in the Paris suburbs. She later spent her entire childhood living in France. In 2002, she signed up for an audition for the reality TV talent show "Pop Stars”. Chimène actually failed to make it through to the final where winners were put together to form a group. But ultimately, she showed the desire to pursue her art by launching a solo career rather than share the stage with a band. Fortunately for Chimène, Valéry Zeitoun, a member of the jury and, at that time, the director of French label AZ, was blown away by her performance. She is now a very well-known artist in France.