Growing up, I remember my dad having an Iron Man USB with a bunch of music on it. He would plug it into our car and jam out to his favorite genre of music: Spanish rock. On cleaning days, my mom would turn on MTV Latino, and we’d copy Amaia Montero’s dance moves in the “Dulce Locura” music video by La Oreja de Van Gogh.
As I got older, I grew rebellious and decided I hated all the music of my childhood. I’d get annoyed when my parents would put it on in the car, and I’d sit at parties in protest. I’d moved onto what I thought were brighter horizons.Â
It took a while, but as my taste started expanding, and my confidence in my identity grew, I started reintroducing Los Enanitos Verdes into my life, which has now snowballed into me having an entire playlist on Spotify called “Parents on aux” as a thank you to what they showed me.
Spanish rock has the sound of the raw early-2000s rock that people love so much, with an interesting flair. For Spanish speakers, the lyricism travels miles, and for non-speakers, the overall sound tells a story on its own.Â
There’s a song for every emotion, so I thought, “What better way to introduce you to Spanish rock than traveling through a relationship timeline with the genre?”Â
I know these songs have gotten me through this very timeline…
1. When Suffering through a Situationship
It always starts with a terrible situationship, doesn’t it? The emotional back-and-forth, the infidelity, the passion and the hatred that we all feel in these god awful periods of our lives are perfectly represented in “Mariposa Traicionera” by Maná. Translating to “Treacherous Butterfly,” this song describes a woman as a treacherous butterfly that is always carried away by the wind. It is about a man who is prisoner to a woman who never really dedicates all her love to him, which is something that I think all of us feel while suffering through a situationship.
2. When Yearning
Whether with the situationship, or once you’re finally free from those clutches, comes the moment when we finally start yearning for someone. This is arguably the most anguishing and enjoyable part of beginning a relationship. I think that “Eres” by Café Tacuba artfully captures the intense feelings behind wanting someone badly.
Translating to “You Are,” the song describes telling someone that they are “the one” to you and all the things you feel for them.Â
3. When in Love
The love part should be the best part, right? Well, the song, “Algo Más” by La Quinta Estacion translates to “Something More,” describes a relationship that is so beautiful, it is something more than love. The song talks about the familiarity of loving someone and how powerful that feeling can be.
4. When Long Distance
I’m aware of how odd it is to have this in its own category, but the reality is that we’re college students, and this is sadly bound to happen one way or another. I’ve lived through it, and I want to musically prepare you to live through it, too. By far, the best long-distance tune is “Moscas en la Casa” by Shakira. I know you might be thinking, “Shakira? Spanish rock? Get over yourself?” In case you didn’t know, I’m here to tell you that Shakira was a rock artist basically until “Hips Don’t Lie,” and I’m willing to argue that her rock era was by far her best.Â
Anyway, translated to “Flies in the House,” this song presents the sadness and emptiness of the days without someone you love; the way life feels like trash on the floor with flies accumulating inside an empty house.Â
5. When Heartbroken
If you’re lucky, unlike me, your relationship will never get to the heartbroken part. Alas, here I am, ready to give you the musical tools to combat that if it ever happens. The song “Mi Primer Dia Sin Ti” by Los Enanitos Verdes, translating to “My First Day Without You,” depicts the first day without someone. The loneliness behind the first day after leaving someone who was integral in your life is perfectly represented by this song.
6. When Empowered
Obviously, every relationship must end with empowerment. There’s always that moment when you think, “I never really needed them anyway!”
“Me Voy” by Julieta Venegas, translating to “I Leave,” describes leaving someone because you deserve better. Employing sarcasm, Venegas says, “What a shame, but goodbye. I say goodbye to you, and I leave.”A powerful message – I come out of listening to that song feeling pretty strong and capable of doing anything.
Even though I rejected it for some time, I genuinely don’t know where I’d be without Spanish rock. It connects me to my parents and helps me through all parts of my life. Hopefully, after this, you’ll give it a listen, too!