“Wow, you speak Spanish! I’ve always wanted to learn it.”
If only I had a penny for every time someone has said this to me . . .
In an effort to help my readers with whom the first sentence resonates, I have compiled a list of songs that will teach you some Spanish. These songs are also meant to empower you, as midterm season has started, and new sources of motivation are always welcome.
The list is in ascending order of difficulty, so bear this is mind when choosing which song to listen to.
1. “El Rey” by Vicente Fernández
Vicente Fernández is the king of rancheras, which is the Latin American equivalent to country music. A retired Mexican singer and producer, Fernández is a cultural icon; he even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Con dinero y sin dinero,
hago siempre lo que quiero”
“With money and without money
I always do what I want”
“No tengo trono ni reina
ni nadie que me comprenda
pero sigo siendo el Rey”.
“I don’t have a throne nor a queen
nor anybody that understand me
but I’m still the king”
“No hay que llegar primero,
pero hay que saber llegar”
“You don’t have to arrive first
But you have no know how to make an entrance”
2. “A Mi Manera” by Siempre Así
“A Mi Manera” is the Spanish version of the song “My Way,” which was popularized by Frank Sinatra. I would recommend listening to the version by Siempre Así, a pop rock group from Seville, Spain.
Siempre Así is often played in weddings across Spain and Latin America because of their soothing melodies and lyrics.
“Viví la inmensidad y no encontré jamás fronteras”
“I lived the inmensity, and never met frontiers”
“Tal vez lloré, tal vez reí,
tal vez gané o tal vez perdí,
Y ahora sé que fui feliz,
que si lloré, también amé
y todo fue, puedo decir,
a mi manera”
“Perhaps I cried, perhaps I laughed
Perhaps I won or perhaps I lost
Now I know that I was happy
That if I cried, I also loved
And everything was done I can say,
It was done my way”
3. “La Vida Es Un Carnaval” by Celia Cruz
When I started babysitting, I would sing this song to crying babies. I am not sure if they understood what I was saying, but the message definitely got through; the babies would stop crying.
Celia Cruz is considered to be the most popular Latin artist of the 20th century. Like Vicente Fernández, she also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es un carnaval
Que es más bello vivir cantando”
“Ay, there’s no need to cry, (no need to cry)
because life is a carnival,
It’s more beautiful to live singing.”
“Todo aquel
Que piense que la vida siempre es cruel
Tiene que saber que no es así
Que tan solo hay momentos malos
Y todo pasa”
“Anyone
That thinks life is always cruel,
Needs to know that’s not the case,
That there are just bad times,
and they will pass.”
4. “Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony
Known by many for marrying Jennifer Lopez, and then divorcing her, Marc Anthony is also the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. He was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, and has a career as an actor, record producer, and television producer.
“Y para qué llorar, pa’ qué
“Si duele una pena, se olvida
Y para qué sufrir, pa’ qué
Si así es la vida, hay que vivirla, la la lé”
“And why cry, for what?
If it hurts bad, forget it
And why suffer, for what?
If life is like this, you must live it”
5. “La Guitarra” by Los Autenticos Decadentes
Los Autenticos Decadentes is a band from Argentina that mixes ska, punk, and Latin rhythms. The band was formed in 1989, and the are still going strong.
“Yo no quería una vida normal
No me gustaban los horarios de oficina
Mi espíritu rebelde se reía
Del dinero, del lujo y el confort
Y tuve una revelación
Ya sé que quiero en esta vida
Voy a seguir mi vocación
Será la música mi techo y mi comida”
“I didn’t want a normal life
I didn’t like the office hours
my unruly spirit was making fun
of money, luxury and comfort.
And I had a revelation
now I know what I want in this life
I will follow my vocation
music will be my home (lit. roof) and my food”
I hope you enjoyed these songs, and please let us know in the comments which song was your favorite!