[Alpharius]

I've been getting my Spanish back over the past few months. I used to be not quite fluent, but certainly conversational after living and doing research in Central America for awhile during college. My summer project is to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Spanish, and to get ready for that I've been reading the news in Spanish, reviewing vocab with Duolinguo, Memrise, and Babel. However the way I learned the most originally was through music. I'm figuring I'll post some of the songs that helped me learn here on the forum with lyrics in both English and Spanish, and maybe some of you guys who are just starting to learn could also use my method to help yourselves.

I'll try to post a couple songs a week depending on how much time I have. I'll try to keep the songs pretty basic for now and gradually ramp it up in terms of difficulty. If I make any mistakes translating, please feel free to help out.

First song:
La historia de Juan by Juanes
This song has a lot of basic vocabulary and is used in a lot of Spanish classes, so I figured I'd start here. Don't worry if you don't get the different tenses, focus on word recognition (love/amor, sing/cantar, jugar/play, etc...). Tenses come with time, study, and practice.

Esta es la historia de juan, el niño que nadie amó
This is the story of Juan, the boy that nobody loved
que por las calles creció buscando el amor bajo el sol
who grew up on the streets looking for love under the sun
su madre lo abandonó
his mother abandoned him
su padre lo maltrató
his father mistreated him
su casa fue un callejón
his home was an alley
su cama un cartón su amigo dios
his bed cardboard, his friend god
juan preguntó por amor
Juan asked for love
y el mundo se lo negó
and the world denied him
juan preguntó por honor
Juan asked for honor
y el mundo le dió deshonor
the world gave him dishonor
juan preguntó por perdón
Juan asked for forgiveness
y el mundo lo lastimó
and the world gave him hurt/pain
juan preguntó y preguntó y el mundo jamás lo escuchó
Juan asked and asked and the world never heard

El sólo quiso jugar el sólo quiso soñar el sólo quiso amar
He only wanted to play, he only wanted to dream, he only wanted to love
pero el mundo lo olvidó
but the world forgot him
el sólo quiso volar el sólo quiso cantar el sólo quiso amar
he only wanted to fly, he only wanted to sing, he only wanted to love
pero el mundo lo olvidó
but the world forgot him
Tan fuerte fue su dolor que un día se lo llevó
So strong was his pain that one day it took him
tan fuerte fue su dolor que su corazón se apagó
so strong was his pain that his heart went out
tan fuerte fue su temor que un día solo lloró
so strong was his fear that one day he only cried
tan fuerte fue su temor que un día su luz se apagó
so strong was his fear that one day his light went out
El sólo quiso jugar el sólo quiso soñar el sólo quiso amar
He only wanted to play, he only wanted to dream, he only wanted to love
pero el mundo lo olvidó
but the world forgot him

[Bill]

Nice work. I listen to Thalia, many people learned it from her songs.

[Enki]

Great idea for a thread, I myself am a metal music fan, which doesn't help seeing as the Spanish speaking world doesn't seem to be very big on the genre. This leaves me mostly with pretty banal (though enjoyable) rock music, here are some of the ones I like, although a lot of them don't use basic Spanish:

Melendi - Lágrimas desordenadas Lyrics

Jarabe De Palo - La Flaca Nice groovy Jazz & the title translates directly to 'The skinny woman', 'nuff said. Lyrics

Marea - En tu agujero Hard Rock with Great slut shaming, title literally means 'In your hole.' Lyrics

La Vela Puerca - Zafar Lyrics

[Enki]

Mägo de Oz - Hasta Que El Cuerpo Aguante Decent Folk/Power metal. Lyrics

Quote:

Estamos locos de atar, somos trovadores que en tu ciudad
damos pinceladas de color a tu gris realidad
Somos mitad caballeros, mitad bohemios y embusteros
no somos lo que un padre quiere para su hijita bebé (x2)

Rata Blanca - La Leyenda Del Hada Y El Mago More Power from Argentina, has an Iron Maiden feel to it. Lyrics

Enanitos Verdes - Lamento Boliviano More Argentinaz! Lyrics

El Cuarteto de Nos - Asi soy yo Rock/Hip-hop Lyrics

[Alpharius]

Thanks Nelly Furtado! Now that I have your attention, the second lesson.

Song Two: Fotografias by Nelly Furtado y Juanes

I like this song because it's pretty repetitive, has a lot of basic words (tener, ver, cuando, etc...), and has slow and clear pronunciation.

Cada vez que yo me voy
Every time I go away
Y al lado de mi piel tus fotografias
I carry next to my skin, your photographs
Para verlas cada vez
To see them each time
Que tu ausencia me devora entero el corazón
That your absence devours my whole heart
Y yo no tengo remedio más
And I have no cure more
Que amarte...
Than loving you

En la distancia te puedo ver
In the distance I can see you
Cuando tus fotos me siento a ver
When your photos, I sit down to see
en las estrellas tus ojos ver
in the stars your eyes I see
Cuando tus fotos me siento a ver
When your photos, I sit down to see

Cada vez que te busco te vas
Every time I look for you, you leave
Cada vez que te llamo no estas
Every time I call you, you're not there
es por eso que debo decir que tu sol en mis fotos se estas(BIS)
It's for this that I have to admit it you're only in my photos

Cuando hay un abismo desnudo que se pone entre los dos
When there's a naked abyss that opens between the two of us
Yo me valgo del recuerdo la se turno de tu voz
I make use of a memory, a taciturn memory of your voice
Y de nuevo siento enfermo este corazón
And once again I feel heartache
Que no lo quede remedio mas que amarte
That has no other cure but loving you

En la distancia te puedo ver
In the distance I can see you
cuando tus fotos me siento a ver
When your photos I sit down to see
en las estrellas tus ojos ve
in the stars I see your eyes
Cuando tus fotos me siento a ver
When your photos I sit down to see

Cada vez...
Each time


And for bonus points in helping you out, a special treat. Captions of the song in both ingles y espanol. De nada. https://spanish.yabla.com/player_cdn.php...d=en&id=25

[scotian]

Music is one of the best ways to learn a new language and has helped me a lot with French and Spanish. Last year, I was at the Feria de Cali in Colombia and kept hearing a few songs over and over again, I found out that they were local songs and found them on Youtube. I quickly memorized the lyrics (to the chorus at least) and the locals were impressed that I knew the songs, so if you ever end up in Cali, Colombia (which I highly recommend), you'll do well by knowing these three songs:

Oiga, Mira Vea:

Las calenas son como las flores:

Cali pachanguero:

[Alpharius]

Me Gustas Tu by Manu Chao

I should have put this song first because it's crazy simple. Some of the lyrics are in French, not Spanish, these words are gray because you don't need to pay attention to them.

Me gustan los aviones, Me gustas tu.
I like airplanes, I like you
Me gusta viajar, Me gustas tu.
I like like you.
Me gusta la manana, Me gustas tu.
I like the morning, I like you.
Me gusta el viento, Me gustas tu.
I like the wind, I like you.
Me gusta sonar, Me gustas tu.
I like to dream, I like you.
Me gusta la mar, Me gustas tu.
I like the sea, I like you.

Que voy a hacer ? Je ne sais pas.
What am I going to do? I don't know.
Que voy a hacer ? Je ne sais plus.
What am I going to do?
Que voy a hacer ? Je suis perdu.
Who am I going to do? I'm lost.
Que hora son mi corazon ?
What times are my heart

Me gusta la moto, Me gustas tu.
I like motorcycles, I like you.
Me gusta correr, Me gustas tu.
I like to run, I like you.
Me gusta la lluvia, Me gustas tu.
I like the rain, I like you.
Me gusta volver, Me gustas tu.
I like to return, I like you.
Me gusta marijuana, Me gustas tu.
I like marijuana, I like you.
Me gusta colombiana, Me gustas tu.
I like Colombians, I like you.
Me gusta la montaña, Me gustas tu.
I like the mountain, I like you.
Me gusta la noche, Me gustas tu.
I like the night, I like you.

Que voy a hacer ? Je ne sais pas.
What am I going to do?
Que voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus.
What am I going to do?
Que voy a hacer? Je suis perdu.
Who am I going to do?
Que hora son mi corazon ?
What times are my heart

Me gusta la cena, Me gustas tu.
I like dinner, I like you.
Me gusta la vecina, Me gustas tu.
I like the neighbor, I like you.
Me gusta su cocina, Me gustas tu.
I like the kitchen, I like you.
Me gusta camelar, Me gustas tu.
I like to flirt, I like you.
Me gusta la guitarra, Me gustas tu.
I like the guitar, I like you.
Me gusta el reggae, Me gustas tu.
I like reggae, I like you.

Que voy a hacer ? Je ne sais pas.
What am I going to do?
Que voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus.
What am I going to do?
Que voy a hacer? Je suis perdu.
Who am I going to do?
Que hora son mi corazon ?
What times are my heart


Me gusta la canela, Me gustas tu.
I like cinnamon, I like you.
Me gusta el fuego, Me gustas tu.
I like the fire, I like you.
Me gusta menear, Me gustas tu.
I like to swing, I like you.
Me gusta la Coruna, Me gustas tu.
I like Coruna?, I like you.
Me gusta malasagna, Me gustas tu.
I like malasagna? , I like you.
Me gusta la castana, Me gustas tu.
I like the castana? , I like you.
Me gusta Guatemala, Me gustas tu.
I like Guatemala, I like you.

Que voy a hacer ? Je ne sais pas.
What am I going to do?
Que voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus.
What am I going to do?
Que voy a hacer? Je suis perdu.
Who am I going to do?
Que hora son mi corazon ?
What times are my heart

[Alpharius]

Hechicera by Maná - Because you need to learn a)body parts and b)how to describe a woman.
Hechicera means enchantress, not to be confused with bruja/witch. Hechicera is a compliment, bruja will get you slapped (unless you're into that).
The music video:

Hay una mujer hermosa,
La más primorosa,
De ojitos negros,
De piel gitana.

There is a gorgeous woman,
The most exquisite,
Of black eyes,
Of gypsy skin.

Es, es una hechicera
Que domina al hombre
Con sus danzares,
Con las caderas.

She is, she is an enchantress
Who dominates man
With her dances,
With her hips.

No, no se sabe donde,
De dónde ha salido
Y a dónde ha ido;
Ella es un misterio.

No, no it's not known where,
From where she has come
And where she has gone;
She is a mystery.

Se mueve con cadencia,
Con la inocencia de una princesa
Que nadie toca.

She moves with a beat,
With the innocence of a princess
Who nobody touches.

Ay! Qué bonitos ojos,
Ay! Qué bonita boca,
Es una hechicera,
Una seductora.

Oh! What beautiful eyes,
Oh! What a beautiful mouth,
She is an enchantress,
A seductress.

Ven, déjame estrecharte.
Deja desnudarte bajo la luna,
Poquito a poco.

Come, let me pull you close.
Allow me to undress you below the moon,
Little by little.

Es, es una hechicera
Que domina al hombre
Con sus danzares,
Con las caderas.

She is, she is an enchantress
Who dominates man
With her dances,
With her hips.

Ay! Qué bonitos ojos,
Ay! Qué bonita boca,
Es una hechicera,
Una seductora.

Oh! What beautiful eyes,
Oh! What a beautiful mouth,
She is an enchantress,
A seductress.

Es una hechicera,
Una seductora.

She is an enchantress,
A seductress.

Ay! Qué bonitos ojos,
Ay! Qué bonita boca,
Ay! Soy su prisionero
Y me reviento en deseo.

Oh! What beautiful eyes,
Oh! What a beautiful mouth,
Oh! I am her prisoner
And I burst in desire.

Una seductora,
Es una hechicera,
Una seductora.

A seductress,
She is an enchantress,
A seductress.

Haaa!
Una seductora,
Es una hechicera,
Una seductora.

Aaaah!
A seductress,
She is an enchantress,
A seductress.

Es una hechicera,
Una seductora.
Es una hechicera,
Una seductora.

She is an enchantress,
A seductress.
She is an enchantress,
A seductress.

[JJJames]

Osiris - You ROCK. Please keep adding more! I'm just listening to the first one right now; I'm definitely going to listen and read along to all the ones you've posted so far.

[Don Juan Tenorio]

Keep the good work, Osiris. My two cents, some Spanish red pill songs:

Lorca - Serpiente con tacón (snake in high heels)

Déjame,
prefiero el sexo duro, al desamor de pastel
y a la sonrisa falsa que me sueles vender
delante de la gente en fiestas de ocasión

Vete ya
no soy la marioneta que quieres controlar
y por nada del mundo tu me vas a amargar
ni hacerme primo hermano de la depresión.

Cuéntame
como te va la vida amando por interés
sacando el alma por un traje de Cacharel
como esa fulanita de televisión,

Chupando cámara que excitación,
nena que pena me das

Por mi se te paso el arroz, amor, cariño, corazón,
princesa malcriada te has pasado de lista,
date media vuelta y sal fuera de mi vista,
anda ve con Dios

Por mi se te paso el arroz, amor, serpiente con tacón,
bombón envenenado con escote a la vista
date media vuelta y sal fuera de mi vista,
anda ve con Dios.

Lárgate
prefiero estar a solas que impotente a tus pies,
no pienso arrodillarme a tu avaricia y tu sed,
ni a los cutres desfiles de la frustración.

Vete ya,
ponte la minifalda y ponte a petardear,
que a mas de un gilipollas le podrás demostrar
que tu eres la mas golfa de la promoción

chupando cámara que excitación,
nena que pena me das...

Los Suaves - Dolores se llamaba Lola

Fuiste la niña de azul, en el colegio de monjas
calcetines y coletas, y estabas loca por Paco
exámenes y veranos, vacaciones y de Paco
y el recuerdo de su sombra, y el olor de su tabaco

Eras la chica de Andrés, y has sido la de tantos
eras la niña moderna, que nunca ha roto un plato
no la nena de papa, no trabaja pasa el rato
para en pubs y discotecas, y así vuelan los años
Las vueltas que da la vida, el destino se burla de ti
dónde vas bala perdida, dónde vas triste de ti
dónde vas triste de ti

Se fueron los buenos tiempos, la juventud ya se escapó
papá ha muerto arruinado, el dinero se esfumó
pobre se encuentra en la calle, nunca nada supo hacer
ahora quema su vida, en barra americana de 7 a 3

Dolores se llamaba Lola, hace la calle hasta las seis
pues sin dinero en esta tierra, ay Dolores, ay mujer
fuiste la niña de azul, ahora eres la vieja verde
como se porta la vida, cuánto vale lo que tienes
Las vueltas que da la vida, el destino se burla de ti
dónde vas bala perdida, dónde vas triste de ti
dónde vas triste de ti

Loquillo y los Trogloditas - La mataré

Yo la sentaba en mi regazo,
enloquecía sólo a su contacto.
La he conservado en la memoria.
Tal como estaba.
Siempre a mi lado.
Nunca me juró su amor
lo creía eterno yo.
Y ella me sonreía y
miraba hacia el mar.

Me emborrachaba entre sus brazos
ella nunca bebía, ni la vi llorando,
yo hubiera muerto por su risa.
Hubiera sido su feliz esclavo.
Qué dolor sucio y traidor
me envenena el corazón.
Sé que ella nunca enloqueció.
Jamás perdió el control.

Quiero verla bailar entre los muertos,
la cintura morena que me volvió loco,
llevo un velo de sangre en la mirada,
y un deseo en el alma,
que jamás la encuentre.
Sólo quiero que una vez
algo la haga conmover.
Que no la encuentre jamás
o sé que la mataré.

Por favor sólo quiero matarla.
A punta de navaja
Besándola una vez más.

Fito y Fitipaldis - Soldadito Marinero

Él camina despacito que las prisas no son buenas
En su brazo dobladita, con cuidado la chaqueta
Luego pasa por la calle dónde los chavales juegan
Él también quiso ser niño pero le pilló la guerra.

Soldadito marinero conociste a una sirena
de esas que dicen te quiero si ven la cartera llena
Escogiste a la más guapa y a la menos buena
Sin saber como ha venido te ha cogido la tormenta

Él quería cruzar los mares y olvidar a su sirena
la verdad, no fue difícil cuando conoció a Mariela
que tenía los ojos verdes y un negocio entre las piernas
hay que ver que puntería, no te arrimas a una buena.

Soldadito marinero conociste a una sirena
de esas que dicen te quiero si ven la cartera llena.
Escogiste la más guapa y a la menos buena
Sin saber como ha venido te ha cogido la tormenta

Después de un invierno malo, una mala primavera
dime por que estas buscando una lágrima en la arena

Melendi - Piratas del Bar Caribe

Los sentimientos son como puñales
Te hecho de menos y no entiendo porque
Quizá el mañana cure las heridas
Que me hizo el ayer.

Pasan los años
Reviso los daños
Y en mi cabeza algo no marcha bien
No me hace caso
Ya no te quiero querer.

Y lloro delante de un vaso vacío en un bar
Soy un pirata en un bar caribe
De una carretera general
Pocos son los sueños que me quedan vivos
Muchos los anzuelos que dejé mordidos
Y ahora roen en los huesos de este calavera
Todos los ratones de este cuatro letras
Lleno de princesas ligeras de ropa
De sangre caliente y con el alma rota
Que de tantas ostias que les dio la vida
Llevan por bandera un tanga y una liga.

Veo un luminoso por la carretera
Son cuatro letras creo que pone club
Tira pa´lante
Que hoy estoy mas tierno que el winnie the pooh
Vamos pa´ dentro fija un objetivo
Cambia el chip primo no has venido a ligar
Hoy soy pirata en busca y captura en el caribe bar.

Y lloro delante de un vaso vacío en un bar
Soy un pirata en un bar caribe
De una carretera general
Pocos son los sueños que me quedan vivos
Muchos los anzuelos que dejé mordidos
Y ahora roen en los huesos de este calavera
Todos los ratones de este cuatro letras
Lleno de princesas ligeras de ropa
De sangre caliente y con el alma rota
Que de tantas ostias que les dio la vida
Llevan por bandera un tanga y una liga.

Pocos son los sueños que me quedan vivos
Muchos los anzuelos que dejé mordidos
Y ahora roen en los huesos de este calavera
Todos los ratones de este cuatro letras
Lleno de princesas ligeras de ropa
De sangre caliente y con el alma rota
Que de tantas ostias que les dio la vida
Llevan por bandera un tanga y una liga.

Sí yo soy un bucanero
Sin parche ni pata palo
Para que coño los quiero
Si yo no soy de los malos
Yo soy un pirata bueno
Que ha encayao entre tus piernas
Rebotao del mar revuelto
De tu levantar de cejas
De cuando frunces el ceño
No hay mensaje en mi botella.

Sí yo soy un bucanero
Sin parche ni pata palo
Para que coño los quiero
Si yo no soy de los malos
Yo soy un pirata bueno
Que ha encayao entre tus piernas
Rebotao del mar revuelto
De tu levantar de cejas
De cuando frunces el ceño
No hay mensaje en mi botella.

[Don Juan Tenorio]

Julio Iglesias - Lo mejor de tu vida The best (time) of your life

Fuiste mía,
You was mine,

sólo mía,
only mine

mía, mía,
mine, mine,

cuando tu piel era fresca
when your skin was fresh

como la hierba mojada.
like the wet grass

Fuiste mía,
You was mine,

sólo mía,
only mine

mía, mía,
mine, mine,

cuando tu boca y tus ojos
when your mouth and your eyes

de juventud rebosaban.
overflew their youth

Fuiste mía,
You was mine,

sólo mía,
only mine

mía, mía,
mine, mine,

cuando tus labios de niña
when your little girl's lips

mis labios los estrenaban.
were kissed for the first time by mine

Fuiste mía,
You was mine,

sólo mía,
only mine

mía, mía,
mine, mine,

cuando tu vientre era aún
when your womb was yet

una colina cerrada.
a closed hill

Lo mejor de tu vida
The best (time) of your life

me lo he llevado yo,
I've taken away with me

lo mejor de tu vida
The best (time) of your life

lo he disfrutado yo.
have been enjoyed by me

Tu experiencia primera,
Your first experience,

el despertar de tu carne,
the awakening of your flesh,

tu inocencia salvaje,
your wild innocence

me la he bebido yo,
have been drunk by me,

me la he bebido yo.
have been drunk by me,

Fuiste mía,
sólo mía,
mía, mía,
cuando tu cuerpo era espiga
de palma recien-plantada.

Fuiste mía,
sólo mía,
mía, mía,
cuando cerrabas los ojos
apenas yo me acercaba.

Fuiste mía,
You was mine,

sólo mía,
only mine

mía, mía,
mine, mine,

cuando temblaban tus manos
when your hands shivered

tan sólo si las rozaba.
when i touched them softly

Fuiste mía,
You was mine,

sólo mía,
only mine

mía, mía,
mine, mine,

cuando tu ayer no existía
when your yesterday didn't exist

pensabas sólo en mañana.
you thought just about tomorrow

Lo mejor de tu vida...
The best (time) of your life...

[Alpharius]

Disclaimer: While I learned a lot of Spanish from music, I was learning and talking about things I was listening to. When I was studying and doing research in Central America I was spending a large amount of time with former guerrillas (some still wanted), campesinos, organizers, and clergy. Luckily, the vocabulary I picked up through music helped me talk to and understand the people I was living and working with, in addition to the people I met as I traveled. This music helped me understand the culture and history of the places I was in far better than most gringos.

It helped me get involved in the communities.

It helped me get past cultural barriers and have meaningful conversations with people I met while traveling.

It helped me not get ripped off by cab drivers? Want to not get scammed like the other gringos? Ask your driver about local politics. Never met a taxi driver in Central America that doesn't like to talk about the news.

Obviously this is the type of music I listened to a lot before I switched to Spanish pop. These lyrics get political. I don't want this to become a political thread, but be aware that issues of poverty, immigration, the wars, current drug problems, and development/underdevelopment are much bigger issues in Latin America than the US/Europe and an understanding of them will help you in your travels. Don't get offended, use the knowledge you're gaining.

However, if there's a type of music you'd like me to post, feel free to give me a request.

[Alpharius]

Las casas de cartón - Los Guaragao

This song was banned throughout the region during a lot of the civil wars. It still may not be too popular depending on where you are and who you're with. Listen to with discretion. People got killed for listening to/playing rebel music during the height of the conflicts that embraced the region. This song is a classic with campesinos, for who the conditions haven't changed since the song was written.

Que triste se oye la lluvia
en los techos de cartón.
Que triste vive mi gente
en las casas de cartón.

How sad it is to hear the rain
on the cardboard roofs.
How my people live sadly
in the cardboard houses.

Viene bajando el obrero
casi arrastrando sus pasos
por el peso del sufrir.
Mira que mucho ha sufrido
mira que pesa el sufrir

The worker decends
almost dragging his steps
from the weight of suffering.
See how much he has been suffering.
See the weight of suffering.

Arriba deja la mujer preñada
abajo está la ciudad
y se pierde en su maraña
Hoy es lo mismo que ayer,
es un mundo sin mañana.

Above he leaves the pregnant woman,
below is the city,
and he becomes lost in the maze.
Today is the same as yesterday,
it's a world without a tomorrow.

Que triste se oye la lluvia
en los techos de cartón.
Que triste vive mi gente
en las casas de cartón.

Above he leaves the pregnant woman,
below is the city,
and he becomes lost in the maze.
Today is the same as yesterday,
it's a world without a tomorrow.

Niños color de mi tierra
con sus mismas cicatrices
millonarios de lombrices
y por eso...
que triste viven los niños
en las casas de cartón.

Children the color of my earth
with his own scars
millionaires of worms
and so ...
How the children live sadly
in the cardboard houses.

Que alegres viven los perros,
casa del explotador.

How happily the dogs live
in the exploiter's house.

Usted no lo va a creer
pero hay escuelas de perros
y les dan educación
pa' que no muerdan los diarios,
pero el patrón
hace años muchos años
que está mordiendo al obrero.

You are not going to believe
but there are dog schools
that give them education.
so they don't to bite the newspapers,
but the boss!
for years, many years
has been biting the worker.

Que triste se oye la lluvia
en los techos de cartón
que lejos pasa la esperanza
en las casas de cartón...

How sad to hear the rain
on the roofs of cardboard.
How far away hope passes
from the cardboard houses...

(In case anyone is wondering, I lived in places like this when I was there the first time studying. Songs like this helped me understand where I was and what life was like for the people that were kind enough to share everything with me.)

[Alpharius]

Si el norte fue el sur

Again, not trying to make a political statement with this video. It's a song I recommend to help learn where people may be coming from and understand their point of view. It's super controversial, but as men of education and greater understanding we can appreciate a multitude of viewpoints even though we may disagree with them. If you want to debate anything you find in this video or the lyrics, take it to another thread please.

El norte sus McDonald's, basketball y rock n' roll,
Sus topless, sus Madonas y el abdomen de Stallone
Intelectuales del bronceado, eruditos de supermercado
Tienen todo pero nada lo han pagado.

The north with their McDonald's, basketball and Rock'N Roll
Their topless bars, Madonnas, and abs of Stallone
Tanned intellectuals, supermarket scholars
They have everything but haven't paid for anything.

Con 18 eres un nio para un trago en algn bar
Pero ya eres todo un hombre pa' la guerra y pa' matar
Viva Vietnam y que viva Forest Gump
Viva Wall Street y que viva Donald Trump
Viva el Seven Eleven.

With 18 you too young to have a drink in the bar
But you're man enough for war and to kill
Long live Vietnam and Forest Gump
Long live Wall Street and Donald Trump
Long live Seven Eleven

Polvean su nariz y usan jeringa en sus bolsillos
Viajan con marihuana para entender la situacin
De este juez del planeta que lanza una invitacin
Cortselo a tu marido y ganars reputacin.

They powder their nose and use a syringe in their pockets
They travel with marijuana to understand the situation
Of this judge of the planet that throws an invitation
Court your spouse and you will win a reputation

Las barras y las estrellas se aduean de mi bandera
Y nuestra libertad no es otra cosa que una ramera
Y si la deuda externa nos rob la primavera
Al diablo la geografa se acabaron las fronteras....

The stripes and stars take control of my flag
And our liberty nothing but a whore
And if the external debt steals our spring
To hell with geography, borders are finished.

Si el norte fuera el sur seran los Sioux los marginados
Ser moreno y chaparrito sera el look ms cotizado
Marcos sera el Rambo mexicano
Y Cindy Crawford la Mench de mis paisanos
Reagan sera Somoza

If the north was the south would the Sioux be outcasts
Being dark and indigenous would be the popular look
Would Marcos be the Mexican Rambo
And Cindy Crawford the Menchu of my countrymen
Reagan may be Somoza

Fidel sera un atleta corriendo bolsas por Wall Street
Y el Ch hara hamburguesas al estilo Double Meat
Los yankees de mojados a Tijuana
Y las balsas de Miami a la Habana, si el norte fuera el sur.

Fidel would be an athlete running the stock market in Wall Street
And Che making Double Hamburgers
The yankees wetbacks to Tijuana
And the rafts going from Miami to Havana, if the north was the south.

Seramos igual o tal vez un poco peor
Con las Malvinas por Groenlandia
Y en Guatemala un Disneylandia
Y un Simn Bolivar rompindo su secreto
Ah les va el 187, fuera a los yankees por decreto.

We would be the same or maybe a little worse
With the Falkland Islands by Greenland
And Disneyland in Guatemala
And Simon Bolivar letting out his secret
Ah the 187 fare, outside the yankees by decree(little help with this line?)

Las barras y las estrellas se aduean de mi bandera
Y nuestra libertad no es otra cosa que una ramera
Y si la deuda externa nos rob la primavera
Al diablo la geografia se acabaron las fronteras

The stars and stripes take control of my flag,
And our liberty nothing but a whore,
And if the external debt steals our spring,
To hell with geography, borders are finished.

Si el norte fuera el sur, sera la misma porquera
Yo cantara un Rap y esta cancin no existira.

If the north was the south, it would be the same crap
I'd be singing rap and this song wouldn't even exist

[Jaydublin]

[Don Juan Tenorio]

Osiris, check out, you're missing the eñes and tildes:

Con 18 eres un niño para un trago en algún bar

There are some more, cool songs and good work though.

Ricardo Arjona rules, I always recommend it to my foreign friends, easy to understand, not too fast and meaningful lyrics:

[Alpharius]

Just how the hell do you type those things anyway? I've been copying and pasting mine for ever.

[Vitriol]

Can someone explain infinitives in Spanish? I'm used to them in Latin so I know it's similar but I'm trying to not get them confused.

So in Latin it's: habeo - I have, habere - to have

But when I hear people around me speak Spanish they will say something like "quiere (noun)" so it's becoming a second person verb instead of infinitive. Do you want (noun)? instead of "to want" the noun. I would think it should be "quieres".

[Enki]

A classic:

Malagueña Salerosa

Que bonitos ojos tienes
Debajo de esas dos cejas,
Debajo de esas dos cejas,
Que bonitos tienes.

What pretty eyes you have
Under those two eyebrows
Under those two eyebrows
What pretty eyes you have

Ellos me quieren mirar
Pero si tu no los dejas
Pero si tu no los dejas
Ni siquiera parpadear.

They want to look at me
If you would but let them
If you would but let them
Even blink

Malagueña ¡ay! salerosa
Besar tus labios quisiera
Besar tus labios quisiera
Malagueña salerosa
Y decirte niña hermosa

Sassy Malagueña
I would like to kiss your lips
I would like you kiss your lips
Sassy Malagueña
And tell you... beautiful girl

Que eres lin........da y hechicera,
Que eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa.

That you're pretty and bewitching
That you're pretty and bewitching
Like the candor of a rose

Si por pobre me desprecias
Yo te concedo razón
Yo te concedo razón
Si por pobre me desprecias

If you scorn me for being poor
I concede to you the fact
I concede to you the fact
If you scorn me for being poor

Yo no te ofrezco riquezas
Te ofrezco mi corazón
Te ofrezco mi corazón
A cambio de mi pobreza

I don't offer you riches
I offer you my heart
I offer you my heart
In exchange for my poverty

Malagueña salerosa
Besar tus labios quisiera
Besar tus labios quisiera.
Malagueña salerosa
Y decirte niña hermosa.

Sassy Malagueña
I would like to kiss your lips
I would like you kiss your lips
And tell you... beautiful girl

Que eres lin........da y hechicera,
Que eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa.
Y decirte niña hermosa.

That you're pretty and bewitching
That you're pretty and bewitching
Like the candor of a rose

[Don Juan Tenorio]

(07-16-2014 09:55 PM)Osiris Wrote:  

Just how the hell do you type those things anyway? I've been copying and pasting mine for ever.

Do not forget to use the opening question mark at the begining of an interrogative sentence, it is compulsory in Spanish. E.g. ¿Cómo te llamas?

(07-17-2014 01:45 AM)Enki Wrote:  

A classic:

Malagueña Salerosa

Que bonitos ojos tienes
Debajo de esas dos cejas,
Debajo de esas dos cejas,
Que bonitos tienes.

What pretty eyes you have
Under those two eyebrows
Under those two eyebrows
What pretty eyes you have

Ellos me quieren mirar
Pero si tu no los dejas
Pero si tu no los dejas
Ni siquiera parpadear.

They want to look at me
If you would but let them
If you would but let them
Even blink

Malagueña ¡ay! salerosa
Besar tus labios quisiera
Besar tus labios quisiera
Malagueña salerosa
Y decirte niña hermosa

Sassy Malagueña
I would like to kiss your lips
I would like you kiss your lips
Sassy Malagueña
And tell you... beautiful girl

Que eres lin........da y hechicera,
Que eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa.

That you're pretty and bewitching
That you're pretty and bewitching
Like the candor of a rose

Si por pobre me desprecias
Yo te concedo razón
Yo te concedo razón
Si por pobre me desprecias

If you scorn me for being poor
I concede to you the fact
I concede to you the fact
If you scorn me for being poor

Yo no te ofrezco riquezas
Te ofrezco mi corazón
Te ofrezco mi corazón
A cambio de mi pobreza

I don't offer you riches
I offer you my heart
I offer you my heart
In exchange for my poverty

Malagueña salerosa
Besar tus labios quisiera
Besar tus labios quisiera.
Malagueña salerosa
Y decirte niña hermosa.

Sassy Malagueña
I would like to kiss your lips
I would like you kiss your lips
And tell you... beautiful girl

Que eres lin........da y hechicera,
Que eres linda y hechicera
Como el candor de una rosa.
Y decirte niña hermosa.

That you're pretty and bewitching
That you're pretty and bewitching
Like the candor of a rose

That version is dreadful and makes baby jesus cry. They have raped a classic piece of art

[el conquistador]

(07-16-2014 10:15 PM)Vitriol Wrote:  

Can someone explain infinitives in Spanish? I'm used to them in Latin so I know it's similar but I'm trying to not get them confused.

So in Latin it's: habeo - I have, habere - to have

But when I hear people around me speak Spanish they will say something like "quiere (noun)" so it's becoming a second person verb instead of infinitive. Do you want (noun)? instead of "to want" the noun. I would think it should be "quieres".

Not sure exactly what you mean here.
You want: quieres

If you've heard 'quiere' for second person informal (tu) its because in all of Latin America (minus Mexico) and Andalucia in Spain they don't pronounce the 's'. They tend to either aspirate the s or drop it completely.

So quieres-sounds like-quiere

[Don Juan Tenorio]

(07-16-2014 10:15 PM)Vitriol Wrote:  

Can someone explain infinitives in Spanish? I'm used to them in Latin so I know it's similar but I'm trying to not get them confused.

So in Latin it's: habeo - I have, habere - to have

But when I hear people around me speak Spanish they will say something like "quiere (noun)" so it's becoming a second person verb instead of infinitive. Do you want (noun)? instead of "to want" the noun. I would think it should be "quieres".

(07-17-2014 05:05 AM)el conquistador Wrote:  

(07-16-2014 10:15 PM)Vitriol Wrote:  

Can someone explain infinitives in Spanish? I'm used to them in Latin so I know it's similar but I'm trying to not get them confused.

So in Latin it's: habeo - I have, habere - to have

But when I hear people around me speak Spanish they will say something like "quiere (noun)" so it's becoming a second person verb instead of infinitive. Do you want (noun)? instead of "to want" the noun. I would think it should be "quieres".

Not sure exactly what you mean here.
You want: quieres

If you've heard 'quiere' for second person informal (tu) its because in all of Latin America (minus Mexico) and Andalucia in Spain they don't pronounce the 's'. They tend to either aspirate the s or drop it completely.

So quieres-sounds like-quiere

He may as well refer to the formal way of adressing someone: usted.

Infinitivo= querer
Querer no es suficiente / To want something is not enough

Present (1st person singular) = Yo quiero / I want
Quiero bailar contigo / I want to dance with you
Present (2nd person singular) = Tú quieres / You want
¿Quieres patatas fritas con la hamburguesa? / Do you want french fries with the hamburguer?
Present (3rd person singular) = Él/Ella quiere / He wants
Vitaly quiere untar Nutella en el culo de esa chica / Vitaly wants to rub Nutella on that girl's ass
Present (1st person plural) = Nosotros queremos / We want
Queremos ser ricos = We want to be rich
Present (2nd person singular) = Vosotros queréis / You want
Vosotros queréis aprender español = You want to learn Spanish
Present (3rd person singular) = Ellos quieren / They want
Después del muro ellas quieren un proveedor beta = After the wall, they want a beta provider

Present (2nd person singular, formal) = Usted quiere / You want
El arquitecto digo: "Es imposible construir la casa como usted quiere" / The architect said: "It's impossible to build the house the way you want, sir"

Present (2nd person plural, formal) = Ustedes quieren / You want
El político dijo: "Señoras y señores, prometo introducir la rebaja de impuestos que ustedes queiren". / The politician said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I promise to introduce the tax-cut that you want."

The usted/ustedes form is not so common in Spain, I only used it in a formal context, like talking with customers, old people, a lawyer, etc. Never use it with girls. However it's much more common in Latin America, for example in Colombia they use it even with brothers, sisters, friends... but it differs from country to country, maybe some other member can help you with that. Edit: Im just curious if someone knows how it is in Equatorial Guinea as I heard their Spanish has a big influence of Portuguese.

There is also another archaic form that dissappeared from European and the Philippines a century and a half ago "vos", but is still in use in some spots of Latin America like Argentina and Central America.

[Vitriol]

(07-17-2014 05:05 AM)el conquistador Wrote:  

If you've heard 'quiere' for second person informal (tu) its because in all of Latin America (minus Mexico) and Andalucia in Spain they don't pronounce the 's'. They tend to either aspirate the s or drop it completely.

So quieres-sounds like-quiere

I think that is probably the issue. Is it proper to pronounce the "s" or not? My instincts tell me it's pescado instead of pe-cado. What's the point if you're not going to say it?

[Vitriol]

(07-17-2014 06:05 AM)Don Juan Tenorio Wrote:  

He may as well refer to the formal way of adressing someone: usted.

Infinitivo= querer
Querer no es suficiente / To want something is not enough

Present (1st person singular) = Yo quiero / I want
Quiero bailar contigo / I want to dance with you
Present (2nd person singular) = Tú quieres / You want
¿Quieres patatas fritas con la hamburguesa? / Do you want french fries with the hamburguer?
Present (3rd person singular) = Él/Ella quiere / He wants
Vitaly quiere untar Nutella en el culo de esa chica / Vitaly wants to rub Nutella on that girl's ass
Present (1st person plural) = Nosotros queremos / We want
Queremos ser ricos = We want to be rich
Present (2nd person singular) = Vosotros queréis / You want
Vosotros queréis aprender español = You want to learn Spanish
Present (3rd person singular) = Ellos quieren / They want
Después del muro ellas quieren un proveedor beta = After the wall, they want a beta provider

Present (2nd person singular, formal) = Usted quiere / You want
El arquitecto digo: "Es imposible construir la casa como usted quiere" / The architect said: "It's impossible to build the house the way you want, sir"

Present (2nd person plural, formal) = Ustedes quieren / You want
El político dijo: "Señoras y señores, prometo introducir la rebaja de impuestos que ustedes queiren". / The politician said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I promise to introduce the tax-cut that you want."

The usted/ustedes form is not so common in Spain, I only used it in a formal context, like talking with customers, old people, a lawyer, etc. Never use it with girls. However it's much more common in Latin America, for example in Colombia they use it even with brothers, sisters, friends... but it differs from country to country, maybe some other member can help you with that. Edit: Im just curious if someone knows how it is in Equatorial Guinea as I heard their Spanish has a big influence of Portuguese.

There is also another archaic form that dissappeared from European and the Philippines a century and a half ago "vos", but is still in use in some spots of Latin America like Argentina and Central America.

When I was learning Latin it was broken down in a similar form to what you did in this post. Do you have any books to recommend that do something similar because that kind of "academic" breakdown was basically my way of learning romance languages.

[Don Juan Tenorio]

(07-17-2014 10:45 PM)Vitriol Wrote:  

(07-17-2014 05:05 AM)el conquistador Wrote:  

If you've heard 'quiere' for second person informal (tu) its because in all of Latin America (minus Mexico) and Andalucia in Spain they don't pronounce the 's'. They tend to either aspirate the s or drop it completely.

So quieres-sounds like-quiere

I think that is probably the issue. Is it proper to pronounce the "s" or not? My instincts tell me it's pescado instead of pe-cado. What's the point if you're not going to say it?

pescado = fish
pecado = sin


It doesn't even sound similar, when you don't pronounce the "s" in pescado you make the "e" a long vowel and that's it.

Unfortunately I don't know any books to learn Spanish but there is a myriad of sites and forums where they can recomend you the kind of books you're looking for. Buena suerte.