Did you know?

Rock in Spanish began in the late 50's when Ritchie Valens recorded his famous hit "La Bamba"La Bamba Song
Who was Ritchie Valens? For those that do not know, Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist. His career only lasted about eight months. 

"Valens is considered the pioneer of the Spanish-Speaking rock and roll movement."Wikipedia

By Age 16, Valens was already in a band, the Silhouettes, this is how he got recognized by Bob Keane who was the head of the Del-Fi record label. With his help, Valens would have a career breakthrough. his first official single out was "Come on Let's Go" song, he then went on to record songs like "La Bamba" and "Donna" who was his high school girlfriend at that time. Now who doesn't love a man who dedicates a song to you? I know I would! Donna is one of my favorite songs. his lyrics are pretty simple and simply expresses his love for her. Donna song

February 2, 1959 is considered "The Day The Music Died," when Ritchie Valens was on tour went on a small plane that only traveled five miles after it took off before crashing into a cornfield. All passengers in the plane were killed. He was only 17 when he died. Valens is Important to my blog because he started  Spanish Rock, and it evolved to what it is today. He made Spanish language rock popular throughout Latin America. The same year Daniel Flores who was often called the "Godfather of Latin Rock" performed his hit song "Tequila", introducing this music to the United States.
Tequila song
source Wiki

 

Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana is one of the worlds most known singer and guitarist. He has collaborated with numerous artists such as Shakira in her hit song "Illegal", Grupo Mana "Corazon Espinado," along with so many other artists. wikipedia link

Carlos Santana became famous in the late 60's with his band Santana which pioneered a fusion of rock and Latin American Music. He learned to play the guitar at age eight. He was influenced to learn guitar by a band called B.B. King. Woodstock was by far the moment in where Santana was truly recognized and gained an international audience. The most interesting thing about Woodstock was that Santana was high in LSD which is a drug that alters your thinking process, alters sense of time and spiritual experience wiki. Yet Santana pour his heart out in Woodstock and delivered a once in a lifetime epic performance that helped start his career.wiki Santana used to play in bars and clubs of California. Santana was one of the first Mexicans who played Latin Rock around the world. wiki Santana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. In August 2003, Santana was named fifteenth on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest of All time" wikiSantana

"Although Carlos Santana does not consider himself a Rock en Espanol musician he is a traditional Latin musician that has fused rock guitar with classic Latin American songs, such as his hit song "Oye Como Ba" this is an example of Santana's fusion."wiki

Some of Santana's famous songs and Collaboration are but not limited to "Oye Como va" "Illegal" (Shakira Ft. Carlos Santana) "Smooth" (Santana Ft. Rob Thomas from match box twenty) "Maria Maria" (Santana Ft. Wyclef Jean and G &B Product)

Oye Como Va

Illegal (Shakira Ft. Carlos Santana)

Smooth

Maria Maria

Nueva Ola

This is a term that was applied to a group of musicians mainly in South America who played and introduced rock and roll and other American and European music of the 50's and 60's to their countries.

Rather than producing their own material, Nueva ola bands recorded versions of songs that were already popular in the United States or Europe. Nueva ola marked the beginning of youth culture and pop music in South America.  Nueva cancion music is occurring at the same time as Nueva cancion music, which is a music style that together with Nueva ola became the precursors to the Rock en Espanol scene.
wiki

Argentine Rock

For nearly half a century Argentine rock has been a major popular genre. This evolution began in the middle of the 60's when musicians began composing songs and lyrics that related to musical themes. Argentine rock today is considered the most prolific and successful form of Rock en Español and one of the most important non-English language forms of rock music in the world.

One of their distinct trait is their uncompromising stance to sing rock only in Spanish. As we all know rock music is made in many languages around the world and in many cases it shares the lyrics with English, but not the Argentine rock. Argentine Rock was one of the first non-English forms of rock that becomes successful outside its own nation. Even up to today, it is very rare for an Argentine rock band to sing in a language other than Spanish as it happens in many other nations and languages.wiki

By 1965 rock music was widely developing in Argentina. One specific band that would have a breakthrough of original material in Spanish-language rock would be a band called "Los Gatos." the band released a single in 1967 called "La Balsa" video which was considered a vaguely reminiscent of "The Doors" and sold 200,000 copies. During this breakthrough an explosion of bands emerged including Luis Alberto Spinetta's Almendra who where the most influential band in the late 60's and Manal, the first successful blues-oriented group in Spanish. wiki

The success of Argentine Rock would laid the groundwork for Mexican Rock in Spanish to expand overseas. In Peru, the Argentine invasion was a catalyst that brought the country's own movement more to mainstream. In Chile, there weren't a lot of bands that existed, the flood of rock that would start coming from the eastern part would inspire the local scene. Argentine rock continues to influence all across Latin America to this day. From Colombia to Uruguay the effects of Argentine Rock where very profound. wiki

Chicano Rock

 

 

First of all for those who do not know what the term "Chicano" is here you go: A Chicano is a term used to refer to Mexicans who grew up in the U.S. wiki

So then, what is Chicano rock? is just rock music performed by Mexican American groups. Chicano Rock however does not refer to any single style or approach, some of these groups do not even sing in Spanish, or use many Latin instruments or sounds. wiki

There are currently two types of Chicano Rock. One is basically a devotion to the original rhythms and country roots of Rock and roll. Many follow the footsteps of Ritchie Valens, amongst others. The second type is the adaptation of Latin American sounds and influences, like the type of music that Santana plays, with their fusions of R&B, Jazz, and Caribbean sounds.
wiki

Do you guys know the song "Tequila!?" well it was a hit song in the late 50's and was written and sung by the saxophone player Danny flores and later performed by The Champs. Flores, was known as the "Godfather of Latino Rock."Song

There's a famous movie and my childhood favorite movie called "Splash" with Tom Hanks about a girl who is a mermaid. which little girl would not love this movie? But the point I'm trying to make is that the opening credits of the movie at the beginning, features a Chicano Rock song performed by Sam the Sham and the Pharaoh's called "Wooly Bully" which was an instant hit across the United States and even featured in this movie. Sam the Sham was a Mexican American or as I earlier explained a Chicano. "Wooly Bully" sold about 3 millions copies and reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts at a time when American Pop music was dominating. Wooly Bully
Splash Opening Credit

wiki

 

Now for my favorite part...

So we have already learned about the beginning of Rock in Spanish, the most important artists who helped shape what Rock in Spanish is today. Now let's get to the good part. Part of the reason that I created this blog and researched this genre was because I like a band and a very famous Colombian musician. The band is called Mana or Grupo Mana, and that Columbian singer is non the less than Juanes.


I first came across Grupo Mana a few semesters ago, when I had to do a project for one of my classes. My group picked Grupo Mana, I was soon captivated by their rhythm, their lyrics, and their style. My boyfriend heard me listening to Mana, and told me he liked them, that I should listen to their song "Vivir sin Aire," and so I did only to realize that I knew that song but had no idea it was Mana who sang it. So I became interested in Mana, fell in love with many of their music and became my new band added to my playlist.

Juanes, I fell in love with Juanes at the age of sixteen, when a friend of mines asked me to listen to a song called "A dios le pido," Another song that hit home for me. I fell in love with the guitar, the Latin rhythm, the lyrics, I mean everything. I suddenly became a fan of Juanes, and needed to hear what else he had out there. Juanes for me has been my guide in my journey in life. His music touches my heart and makes me loose my string of thought. Many of his lyrics are love lyrics and they just hit home. I was a young soul looking for love and his music just touched me.

Grupo Mana

Grupo Mana is a Mexican rock band that originated in Guadalajara, Jalisco. The original members consisted of four friends that got together to play hit songs from the Beatles and Rolling Stones. They later decided to create a group that first went by the name Sombrero Verde (Green hat) in the mid 70's but later disbanded in 1983. During their time as "Sombrero Verde," they published two albums one with rock rhythm but it wasn't a big hit and didn't reach the success they wished. wiki
source source 2 In 1986 the band was formed again, with three originals from "Sombrero Verde" which was Jose, Ulises, and Juan. they then took on a new member, a drummer called Alex Gonzalez and finally renamed their band "Mana." They debuted their album "Falta Amor," and had their first single become a hit a year later called "Rayando el Sol." SongThis was the beginning to what would be a very successful music career for Mana. They promoted their album all across Latin America.

In 1991, Mana decided to add two new members to the group Ivan on Keyboards and Cesar on guitar. By this time Ulises no longer performed with the group but became their manager. On October 1992, the band released "Donde Jugaran Los Ninos? an album which had several hits including my favorite song called "Vivir Sin Aire," Awesome Song! This song is more of a slow rock song. Here are the lyrics:

"Vivir Sin Aire"

¡Cómo quisiera poder vivir sin aire!
¡Cómo quisiera poder vivir sin agua!
Me encantaría quererte un poco menos.
Cómo quisiera poder vivir sin ti.

Pero no puedo, siento que muero,
me estoy ahogando sin tu amor.

¡Cómo quisiera poder vivir sin aire!
¡Cómo quisiera calmar mi aflicción!
¡Cómo quisiera poder vivir sin agua!
Me encantaría robar tu corazón.

¿Cómo pudiera un pez nadar sin agua?
¿Cómo pudiera un ave volar sin alas?
¿Cómo pudiera la flor crecer sin tierra?
Cómo quisiera poder vivir sin ti. Oh No

Pero no puedo, siento que muero,
me estoy ahogando sin tu amor.

¡Cómo quisiera poder vivir sin aire!
¡Cómo quisiera calmar mi aflicción!
¡Cómo quisiera poder vivir sin agua!
Me encantaría robar tu corazón.

¡Cómo quisiera lanzarte al olvido!
¡Cómo quisiera guardarte en un cajón!
¡Cómo quisiera borrarte de un soplido!
Me encantaría matar esta canción.

Translation as follows:

Title: Live without Air

How I wish I could live without air
How I wish I could live without water
I would love to love you a little less
How I wish I could live without you.

But I can't, I feel like I'm dying,
I am drowning without your love.

How I wish I could live without air
How I wish I can calm my sorrow
How I wish I could live without water
I would love to steal your heart.

How can a fish live without water?
How can a bird fly without wings?
How can a flower grow without soil?
How I wish I can live without you. Oh No

But I can't, I feel like I'm dying
I'm drowning without your love.

How I wish I could live without air
How I wish I can calm my sorrow
How I wish I could live without water
I would love to steal your heart.

How I wish I can throw you to oblivion
How I wish I can put you away in a box
How I wish I can erase you with a blow
I wish I can kill this song.
Translated By Me :)

Now you tell me what you think of this song? Strong right? Is the perfect breakup song.
When you are going through a sad time, and you wish you can just forget someone, this song is perfect. This song has helped me get over past relationships, because the words are very deep and very true. For me, When I first heard this song, I felt like Mana was talking to me directly, it was as if they knew I was in pain. The song, of course, made me cry even more, but eventually made sense to me, and made me feel happier in a sense. It's a poem to me, speaking of love, and how we wish to forget someone, yet somehow we can't. Even when we want to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This record "Donde Jugaran Los Ninos"? sold over 3 million copies worldwide and became the best selling Spanish-language rock album of all time. With their sudden success the band went in an international tour with 268 concerts in 17 countries. In 1995, The group released an Album Titled "Cuando los Angeles Lloran." (When Angel's Cry) in which the group was experimenting with funk and soul genre's. their fans had mixed feelings with this release, and their first single "Dejame Entrar" failed to reach the top ten on the Mexican Singles Chart, but later on their fans soon became attached to this album and it sold 500,000 copies in the United States alone only within five months after their release. link 1 Link 2