The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #146504   Message #3392069
Posted By: GUEST,Stim
19-Aug-12 - 12:26 AM
Thread Name: How to learn a song in another language?
Subject: RE: How to learn a song in another language?
It's been a while, but some of the numbers I remember hearing a lot were the Tito Puente tunes Oye Como and Va,Ran Kan Kan, (whlch people tended to do together), Black Magic Woman(and a lot of the more familar Santana stuff, because it was very popular at the time) Mambo No.5(long before the Lou Bega version), a more serious song called Traigo La Salsa (you may recognize when you hear it).
They would know Guantanamera and love it. None of that "that's a 60's pop song and I only do traditional" music" stuff goes on. Celia Cruz did it with an up tempo, more danceable feel, and that is very well known too.

I love this kind of music (and a lot of other music from cultures not my own) and am always aware of, and frustrated by the language/cultural barrier. I am never going to understand this stuff like someone who has grown up speaking the language, and who has shared the cultural experiences that are reflected in the lyrics.