November 28, 2009
Music: La Lengua Popular by Andrés Calamaro
Andrés Calamaro is a musician from Argentina. I love his music. It’s just impossible not to smile when you listen to some of his crazy songs. It’s impossible to remain angry and not to burst out laughing. You have to admire a man that has songs about football (soccer) and football players in his repertoire of songs. Crazy dude. Crazy.
Most of his songs are full of slang and phrases that I don’t get (me not being an Argentinian), but it doesn’t stop me from enjoying them. I also love some of the covers his done of classic songs from other artists (among them ‘El cantante’ y ‘El día que me quieras’). He is also a man that loves being a musician. You can tell from his songs, his long career (sometimes fighting against the bad press) and from the photos and comments he writes on his blog.
I got to know him from his past collaborations with Enrique Bunbury. The first song I heard was “All U Need Is Pop” and “Nos Volveremos A Ver”, both songs which features backing vocals by Mr. Bunbury. Then I heard him in the Loquillo, Jaime Urrutia, Enrique Bunbury collaboration, “¿Dónde Estás?” But it didn’t stop there. His music is just too great to only have one track. Needless to say, I was hooked on the man, so I went in search of some of his CDs. Naturally, I went to his official homepage, which much to my surprise, is actually pretty good. My experience is that most official websites of rock bands and artists are lacking. They are basically one big promotion of their new material and there’s no connection between the artist and the fans. Andrés Calamaro’s site is different. Sure it has links to his discography and online store, but the content that stands out is his online blog. He is miles away and still he connects with fans through his writing; he shares is thoughts on concerts, touring, current events, he even puts funny pictures of himself in hotel rooms. I wish other artists would connect this way with fans.
That said, the first complete CD I experienced by Mr. Calamaro was La Lengua Popular. I remember listening to samples of the CD through the radio feature on his site. I loved it. So I got it. La Lengua Popular is one of those CDs that you play from start to finish and then hit the replay button to start it again. It’s the kind of CD that you blast on your car stereo and sing along, not caring who watches you rock out. It is just that great. I’ve had it on rotation on my MP3 player ever since I got it and I still have some songs in the mix.
Favorite Tracks
- Los chicos
- La mitad del amor
- 5 minutos más (minibar)
- Carnaval de Brasil
- Comedor piquetero
- Sexy y barrigón
Other Works of Andrés Calamaro
Since that day I’ve also picked up some other works by Calamaro, among them Obras Incompletas. What a collection of crazy, funny and beautiful songs. Two in particular are my favorite and I would like to share them here with you.
“Cuatro jinetes”
This song makes me happy the minute it plays. It sticks in my head and I burst out singing it at random moments throughout the day. I love how it starts slow and then bursts into music and melody. Love it. Love it. Love it. Below is the lyrics to the song (in Spanish) and a Youtube clip so you can hear it.
Con el invierno se terminaron
los renglones de mi cuaderno
y la tinta ya ni pinta
tendría nostalgia de tinta china.
Y escuchar tu risa loca
me parece suficiente inspiración
los zapatos ya no caminan
y ya terminó la próxima canción.
Los 4 jinetes del apoca-monta
no pueden frenar la risa tonta,
es un ataque que terminó en empate
dale balas de plata y que se mate
y escuchar tu reloj… ¡qué risa!
es ir a misa de 6 de la mañana.
Si al final la derrota gana,
me voy al Planeta Corderoy.
Me voy a la esquina a ver si llueve
tomé la alternativa en canal 9.
o se está moviendo el piso,
o es el planeta que se mueve
Si alguien se atreve a venir
o me canso de tanto reír
o tengo el cerebro frito
o repito la misma canción.
Al final todo sigue igual,
al final todo cambia un poco
o tengo el cerebro frito
o tengo el corazón roto
‘Bachicha’
This song makes me laugh EVERYTIME! It’s so…crazy, ridiculous, you name it. Here are the lyrics and a YouTube video:
Brian bachicha, fiel a sí mismo
En situación de desenfreno brasilero,
Está en la cama, acariciando
El mando a distancia de la grundig
E impresos en tres colores, guaraníes
Los carteles anuncian a bachicha,
El superviena, fetén sucesor de brian wilson.
Apa ta pata, the awama quever
Le toca súper clip fernando trueba,
Y en alcatraz los calcetines de la media
No perdonan ni siquiera
El más mínimo derrape en la carretera.
Cuando todos los caminos
Llevan a la cárcel de las monedas
Hay que ser muy ambicioso
Porque no flota una balsa de madera.
Esta es una industria cualquiera
Pero perdón si se cargó al talego pom-pom,
Brian bachicha, superviviente,
Del cabildo de french y beruti
Ni se imagina, pero presiente,
Que se acabó la realidad dabuti.
Habrá que darle gracias al dios inoportuno,
Por si acaso hiciera falta licuadora
Los de a pie, necesitamos al gran patoruzú
Un cacique popular, porque lo demás
Es solamente entretenimiento.
Impresos a tres colores guaraníes
Los carteles anuncian a bachicha.
No escucho una palabra verdadera
Desde el día de la primavera de 1972
En los juegos olímpicos de munich,
Y el gran bachicha mi combatiente
Volvió a la realidad de cara al sol,
Que ilumina el histórico convento
Y perdón si se cargo
Al entrañable talego pom-pom del gran bachicha
Pum, po pum, poropo pum, po pum
Al entrañable talego pom pom, el gran bachicha.
Enjoy!
