MUSIC

I love music, you love music. If you don't love music, what do you live for?

I think a lot about the soundtrack to my life. I feel like everything I'm doing, there is a song playing in the background, literally or figuratively, that sort of narrates it all... it's like a free concert in there at all times, and I have the VIP pass... which explains why I have been known, from time to time, to bust out in a sudden dance party in the middle of the street. I don't need outside music to dance-- it's inside my head. I wonder a lot, what would the sound track be if they were to make a movie about my life?.. and then I make long, long, endless lists inside my head...

(It's a very schizophrenic soundtrack, and I'm not so sure anyone would actually buy it, but it starts off sort of slow and jammy with a Dispatch/Ani DiFranco collaboration, and Tracy Chapman is there [like a dream] and I think India.Arie is in there somewhere too... then it goes all nuts and Jurassic 5, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Outkast all step in to take care of things... which logically progresses to Weezer, fading into Ween, then Iron and Wine... in the distance, the Buena Vista Social Club is playing... in the foreground, it's a messy dance off between Michael Jackson and Madonna... the Beatles start to fade in and next thing you know, Amy Winehouse is there. naturally, MGMT comes next, followed by a confusing mish mash of The Clash, Johnny Cash, the Killers, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Portishead... Britney Spears?? where did she come from?! and then it's just Lauryn Hill, a capella, joined eventually by a solo Joe Strummer [without his Mescaleros], and then a single guitar... drums... BASS... salsa beats, tango... acoustic... electric... rock n roll, swing... reggae reggae reggae [this is, of course, my life, afterall]... the Chili Peppers are never far away, Sublime wants in on the fun, and all the while, Yo La Tengo has been playing 'Autumn Sweater' over and over... then 2Pac! then Cake!... then a moment of silence... and then it goes on and on and on...)

Is the soundtrack to my life bilingual? trilingual? more?

Well, now that my life is in Spanish, I'm becoming more and more into música en español. I've always been into a few bands here and there, but lately I find myself listening to more in Spanish than in English. It's good practice, but also, I've just been discovering a lot of bands I like. Thought I'd share them with you... no pressure, but if you want to practice your Spanish, maybe you could brush up with some of these band recommendations.

Disclaimer: This is a non-comprehensive list and a very spur-of-the-moment blog post. Feel free to add/ suggest stuff, congratulate me for my great choices, or berate me for my terrible taste.

Some favorites/ classics from various countries:
Manu Chao-- If for some reason you've been under a rock for the last 10 years and haven't heard his stuff, GO GET IT NOW. He's originally from France, but sings in Spanish, English, and French.
Orishas-- Cuban hip hop, not to be missed.
Maná-- One of the greatest bands OF ALL TIME. From Mexico. I particularly recommend their unplugged album.
Buena Vista Social Club-- A bunch of old Cuban men making music??? Yes, please! Pretty much amazing.
Jarabe de Palo-- I am in LOVE. Sometimes I spend hours listening to the same 5 Jarabe de Palo songs on repeat. From Spain.

Some Argentine rock you should know about that I've been rocking out to lately:
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Bersuit Vergarabat
Soda Stereo
No Te Va a Gustar
Los Piojos
Divididos
Charly García
Babasónicos
(...ugh I am looking for more good local bands, so Argentine readers, please burn me some CDs so I can recommend, yes?? Gracias.)

Anyway, enjoy.

Reggae, mon

I love my roommates. I really lucked out. Julie, Andrea and I have this hilarious habit of sitting around the kitchen together drinking wine and watching MUCH Music, which is basically the MTV equivalent in Buenos Aires (only MUCH shows actual music videos). It's pretty addicting/ entertaining.

On Friday, during a Fidel Nadal video, an alert scrolled across the screen that he'd be in town this weekend. So I googled it and found out that he was playing on Sunday (last night!) and even better, at a club in my neighborhood! I didn't even know I had a music venue in my neighborhood, but apparently this place, La Trastienda, gets pretty big name bands. For example, George Clinton will be there next month, as will the Argentine classic band Divididos. Looks like I'll be spending some serious time there..

Anyway, me and my lady roommates went to the show together, plus my friend Megan too, and had a blast! Fidel is amazing in concert. It was a fun vibe, very mellow and full of hippies, and I had a blast just dancing and enjoying the tunes. Oh, and of course I did some pretty amazing dreadlock and mullet watching. Oh, man. The winner was definitely this guy:



Yeah, you're so jealous of his press-on dreaded rat tail. (Press-on because I am convinced that it is somehow fake and he attached it to his head, because I mean, come on, it's different color than his hair!!!)

Anyway, here's a 'lil video I took. You can briefly see all of us-- first Megan, then Julie (drinking), then Andrea and then me with a big goofy smile on my face.



And here's one that's a bit better and has a nice big chunk of the song "International Love." I briefly show my mug in this one, too. Please excuse the world's worst videography.