"Until I Met You", 1986

Songwriter: Juan Gabriel
Covers: Maná, Ana Gabriel, Marc Anthony, and more
Styles: Ballad/pop (Juan Gabriel), rock/pop (Maná), pop (Ana Gabriel), salsa (Marc Anthony)
Country: Mexico

Listen:

Listen to this song about suffering in a dysfunctional relationship at YouTube here. Singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel released this ( Read more... )

"(Everybody) Let Me Cry"
Album: Déjenme Llorar, 2012
Style: Alternative rock, melancholy, soft but strong voice, mourning a breakup
Country: Mexico, USA (Arizona)

Listen:

"Déjenme Llorar" the song won "Best Alternative Song" and its album won "Best Alternative Album" in the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards. The song was also nominated for "Song of the ( Read more... )

"You Are"
Album: Cuatro Caminos (Four Paths), 2003
Style: Alternative rock, love song
Country: Mexico

Listen:

This song keep coming up on internet radio for me. I also heard it in a cafe. Hear "Eres" at YouTube. It won a 2004 Latin Grammy for "Best Rock Song" and was nominated for "Song of the Year."

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Translation:

Eres ( Read more... )

"Destiny"
Album: Fíjate Bien (Pay Attention), 2000
Style: Pop/rock
Country: Colombia

Listen:

This album won "Best Rock Solo Vocal Album" and "Best New Artist" at the 2001 Latin Grammy Awards. Listen to the song at YouTube here.

[Full translation moved to songlations.com]

Translation:

Estoy buscando una forma de ver ( Read more... )

"The Bullet"
Album: Entren Los Que Quieran (Enter Whoever Wants To), 2010
Style: Anti-war rock/rap
Country: Puerto Rico

Listen:

At YouTube here. Begins at 0:26. This is a song written about a bullet and its role in conflict. The album won "Album of the Year" in the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards.

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Translation:

( El martillo impacta la aguja. La explosión de la pólvora con fuerza empuja... )

“Around the World”
Album: Entren Los Que Quieran (Enter Whoever Wants To), 2010
Style: Metered alt. pop/rock; pro-happiness, pro-love, anti-dull life
Country: Puerto Rico

Listen:

The music video is cute, with an office guy wooing an office girl by making a landscape wall using post-it notes. See the video at YouTube here. The album won "Album of ( Read more... )

"Latin America"
Album: Entren Los Que Quieran (Enter Whoever Wants To), 2010
Style: Fusion of salsa, cumbia, tango, and spoken word.
Countries: Puerto Rico (Calle 13), Colombia (Totó La Momposina), Peru (Susana Baca), Brazil (Maria Rita)

Listen:

This song is a celebration of the diversity of Latin America; I love it. See the music video at ( Read more... )

"Immortal"
Album: A Las Cinco en el Astoria (Five o’Clock at Astoria), 2008
Style: Pop/rock, upbeat
Country: Spain

Listen:

At YouTube here. The album that this song is from was nominated for a 2009 Latin Grammy in the category of Best Pop Album by a Duo/Group With Vocals.

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Translation:

( Tengo aquí bajo el vestido bien escondiditos tus besos malditos... )

"Death in Hawaii"
Album: Entren Los Que Quieran (Enter Those Who Want To), 2010
Style: Love song, ukelele, exaggerated accomplishments, ode
Country: Puerto Rico

Listen:

The lyrics are a cute love song, but I guess Calle 13 didn’t want to be cute, so they juxtaposed the song with a violent and bizarre music video. The album won "Album of the Year ( Read more... )

"I Forgot Again"
Composer: Juan Gabriel (1974)
Albums: Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán (1990); Maná MTV Unplugged (1999)
Style: Mariachi, ranchera; bolero; rock; lost love song; always guitar
Country: Mexico

Listen:

YouTube has renditions by: Maná (MTV live album, rock), Juan Gabriel (recorded mariachi style), Alejandro Fernández (live traditional ( Read more... )