mariposa said:Which one do you prefer?
mariposa said:I know what you mean about PR merengueros lo que me molesta es que le digan a Olga Ta?on la reina del merengue, when we all know that that title belongs to Millie
trina said:I must say that it also irritates me, the PR bandwagon-jumpers coming out and winning the awards...none even compare...Elvis Crespo totally sings through his nose, and his songs all sound alike.
trina said:Sounds like we have the exact same taste, Lesley, if I may add Los Toros Band to both the merengue and bachata sides. And lately, I have a "thing" for Frank Reyes, I can't get enough of him!
I don't "prefer" either/or, it all depends on the group and the song. Angel has been getting me to listen to some old Conjunto Quisqueya as well, and I must say, I like it!
I must say that it also irritates me, the PR bandwagon-jumpers coming out and winning the awards...none even compare...Elvis Crespo totally sings through his nose, and his songs all sound alike.
Jon S. said:Remember when all those Puerto Rican artists stopped coming out with tons of albums a few years back? That was because all their musicians and composers (arreglistas) were Dominican. They all got fed up with the Puerto Ricans taking away all the nominations and awards instead of Dominican artists.............if they did it again, Puerto Ricans would stop getting the accolades, because of their music which is composed and arranged by Dominican musicians
Hi, I like them both and I have to agree with Lesley D, the older bands are much much better. I hate the really fast Merengues, or the really stupid ones like "La vaca"!mariposa said:Which one do you prefer?
deelt said:I like music with lyrics! I like music with a message! This inspires me and makes me dance. So if a merenge, bachata or even a salsa (e.g. La Rebelion by Raulin is my favorite! or Celia's grooves), speaks to me then I'm all over it.
The "Y Maria...Se fue!", "Un merengue sin letras" or ghettonized merengue can go take a hike in my book.
I've been too much of a nerd to learn all the artists. I just dance my booty off. It helps to release stress.
trina said:Is it just me, or do you guys agree that Spanish songwriters are more powerful at portraying their feelings, thoughts, and emotions? Marco Antonio Solis, JLG, Marc Antony, Enrique Iglesias, Frank Reyes...the list goes on...just seem to be able to say something in Spanish that is unmatched by their English counterparts...they just seem so much more romantic and powerful. They can write lyrics that, to me, can't be portrayed the same way in English...maybe the fact that I love the way they compose the music helps. Listening to Marco Antonio Solis...omg what that man does to me...
Lesley D said:Well I tend to agree with you but I don't listen to English music so I can't make a fair assessment. The older English music from the seventies I think is deeper but the contemporary music probably is not as sentimental. In terms of Spanish I think the music is poetry first (you may have said this) and then it's a song.
As a hobby I document lyrics and I can attest after putting the lyrics on paper and then reading what the words say- "s? es profundo". But I would say it's more the Spanish language that allows for sentimental depth. There are some lyrics, Raulin Rodr?guez for example he writes his own songs and if you really listen to what he's saying it's really sentimental and "la m?sica va directo al coraz?n sin escala". So I understand your point but I think the Spanish language in itself has a lot to do with it. I will give you an example of how the two languages differ in beauty:
"Nobody wants to dance with me".
Trans #1- Nadie quiere bailar conmigo.
Trans #2- Nadie me quiere bailar.
Which do think is better and has more impact? Since it's my example I would say # 2. The second translation to me is the big difference between Spanish and English. Whereas in English you can only say it the way I did in my example. This dynamic is what makes song lyrics so powerful in my opinion.
trina said:Is it just me, or do you guys agree that Spanish songwriters are more powerful at portraying their feelings, thoughts, and emotions? Marco Antonio Solis, JLG, Marc Antony, Enrique Iglesias, Frank Reyes...the list goes on...just seem to be able to say something in Spanish that is unmatched by their English counterparts...they just seem so much more romantic and powerful. They can write lyrics that, to me, can't be portrayed the same way in English...maybe the fact that I love the way they compose the music helps. Listening to Marco Antonio Solis...omg what that man does to me...
Here's a little sampling of one of my favorite songs, it's translated in English, but doesn't quite say the same thing (or it does, just doesn't sound quite so "moving"):
Te extra?o mas que nunca
(I miss you more than ever)
y no se que hacer
(and I don't know what to do)
despierto y te recuerdo al amanecer
(I wake up and remember you at the dawn)
me espera otro dia por vivir sin ti
(another day awaits me without you)
el espejo no miente, me veo tan diferente
(the mirror does not lie, I see myself so different
me haces falta tu.
(I miss you)
La gente pasa y pasa siempre tan igual
(the people that pass never change)
el ritmo de la vida me parece mal
(the rhythm of my life seems wrong)
era diferente cuando estabas tu
(it was different when you were here)
si que era diferente cuando estabas tu.
(yes... it was different when you were here)
No hay nada mas dificil que vivir sin ti
(There is nothing harder than to live without you)
sufriendo en la espera de verte llegar
(suffering in the hope that you will return)
el frio de mi cuerpo pregunta por ti
(the cold of my body asks for you)
y no se donde estas...
(and I don't know where you are)
si no te hubieras ido seria tan feliz.
(had you not left, I'd be so happy)
No hay nada mas dificil que vivir sin ti.
sufriendo en la espera de verte llegar
el frio de mi cuerpo pregunta por ti
y no se donde estas...
si no te hubieras ido seria tan feliz.
La gente pasa y pasa siempre tan igual
el ritmo de la vida me parece mal
era diferente cuando estabas tu
si que era diferente cuando estabas tu.