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My favorite things Spain, music
I need to do this country in pieces, starting with music:
Classical guitarist: Segovia, starting with his recordings of Bach. It's not just amazing technique, these are some of the best musical interpretations of Bach by anyone playing any instrument. They are what I call lifetime choices for one's collection.
Spanish pianist, playing Spanish music: Alicia de Larrocha is the obvious choice. Her Albeniz and Granados recordings remain unsurpassed.
Composer: Varese sounds much better live than on disc. I've seen Amèriques twice and both were experiences to remember; here is a bit on YouTube. Chailly and Boulez understand the music very well but the sounds and textures and rhythms simply don't all come through if you're not there. (Addendum: Whoops! Varese was born in France.) The number two pick is tough but Rodrigo is underrated by many serious listeners, in part because of his exposure through classical pops. Try his solo guitar pieces and throughout keep him in mind as a precursor of ambient music. Tomás Luis de Victoria is an underrated Spanish Renaissance composer.
Cellist: It's hard not to pick Pablo Casals, who had extraordinary depth in his phrasing. I still feel duty bound to point out that most of his recordings are unlistenable, if only because of the scratching. The Bach is of historic importance but for actual pleasure his Schubert is your best bet. Most of all the recording of the String Quintet.
Album about: Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain. One of my three or four favorite Miles CDs, so an easy pick. Admittedly the move toward an "acoustic-electric" sound does not appeal to all jazz fans, so this album remains underappreciated.
Opera singer: Lots of riches. Placido Domingo is a good pick though you could argue for many other names as well.
Popular music: Help!
Flamenco: I love it in small clubs but not on disc or even in mid-sized university music halls.
The bottom line: There are plenty of peaks but overall I am struck by the unbalanced nature of the distribution.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on February 20, 2008 at 05:00 AM in Music | Permalink
Comments
Placido Domingo was born in Spain, but grew up and studied (i.e.became a tenor) in Mexico. Is he a product of Spain or Mexico?
Or is it one of those cases as with Daniel Barenboim, who is claimed by both his native and his adoptive nations?
Posted by: londenio at Feb 20, 2008 2:21:00 AM
Hello Tyler
We can help you discovering the spanish popular music this evening, after your speech in Fundación Rafael del Pino in Madrid. I'm really looking forward your talk.
My best option: Mecano
Regards
Posted by: Alberto at Feb 20, 2008 2:33:38 AM
Popular Music: C'mon. "The Macarena"!! Any of the 6 versions by Los del Rio, or the version by Los del Mar.
Worst-best song ever. In any country.
Posted by: Backpacking Dad at Feb 20, 2008 2:40:11 AM
Varese was French. If you are not implying he is from Spain I don't quite get why he is mentioned in this post.
Posted by: D. at Feb 20, 2008 2:52:34 AM
Popular :
Luz Casal's 'Piensa en Mi' as #1 (couldn't find a video clip from Almodovar's movie with Marisa Paredes, copyrights...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJSnrrp1smc
Jeanette's 'Porque te vas' as #2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25ckdkg1xCw
Posted by: Stéphane at Feb 20, 2008 3:04:23 AM
No mention for Almodovar as best director or for Pan's Labyrinth as best film?
Posted by: Stuart at Feb 20, 2008 4:13:02 AM
After taking a look at TC's favourites in his web page's music section... well, I think Spain is not exactly the place to be as far as popular music is concerned, there are much nicer things here.
Some people (I'm not really a fan myself) claim this is maybe the closest we ever got to having a standard rock and roll band -- Héroes del Silencio (skip the brit guy talking):
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=cjJOR97nnbs
But, hey, we've got a great rock and roll magazine (http://www.popular1.com/), Marah and Mars Volta will soon be touring around...
Posted by: Olivia at Feb 20, 2008 4:59:06 AM
One of my favorites for popular music is Chambao.
Another interesting musician is Diana Navarro, powerful voice.
For jazz there is a compilation set, Calle 54, named for a famous club in Madrid.
Looking forward to your presentation this evening.
Posted by: Seph at Feb 20, 2008 4:59:28 AM
After taking a look at TC's favourites in his web page's music section... well, I think Spain is not exactly the place to be as far as popular music is concerned, there are much nicer things here.
Some people (I'm not really a fan myself) claim this is maybe the closest we ever got to having a standard rock and roll band -- Héroes del Silencio (skip the brit guy talking):
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=cjJOR97nnbs
But, hey, we've got a great rock and roll magazine (http://www.popular1.com/), Marah and Mars Volta will soon be touring around...
Posted by: Olivia at Feb 20, 2008 5:01:16 AM
Not sure if he is still popular in Spain, but Joaquin Sabina would come to mind.
Posted by: Martin Ranger at Feb 20, 2008 5:03:38 AM
Not sure if he is still popular in Spain, but Joaquin Sabina would come to mind.
Posted by: Martin Ranger at Feb 20, 2008 5:04:38 AM
My top choices in the "popular" category without being overly bubble-gum-pop - Ojos De Brujo which put a modern twist on flamenco AND Jarabe de Paolo a really fun band.
Posted by: nikki at Feb 20, 2008 5:48:22 AM
So, would I be correct in hoping that this is part of a longer 'About Spain' series? I am traveling there next month, and would love to see some suggestions on things to eat, places to visit, and so on and so forth. Quite the timely post, thanks!
Posted by: Glenn at Feb 20, 2008 6:25:20 AM
This is really interesting and very amazing! http://www.spymac.com/details/?2343566
Posted by: Jones at Feb 20, 2008 7:13:25 AM
The best popular music is La Oreja de Van Gogh.
Posted by: Thrive at Feb 20, 2008 8:23:31 AM
Tyler, how come you didn't do a similar post on England as part of your recent trip? As a loyal MR reader I know you did London recently but England would've been good, no?
Posted by: Nick at Feb 20, 2008 9:06:17 AM
Mecano is a good choice, and I'd add Miguel Bosé and Jarabe de Palo. For the more nostalgic crowd, Joan Manuel Serrat is a classic.
Posted by: Victor M. Muniz-Fraticelli at Feb 20, 2008 9:08:36 AM
La Oreja de Van Gogh is a bit too soft for me, but works for certain moods. Check out "Rosas" and "Puedes Contar Conmigo"
My vote in the pop world would be La 5a Estacion (La Quinta Estacion),currently based in Mexico but the band originated in Madrid.
Posted by: Ross Williams at Feb 20, 2008 9:35:32 AM
For popular music, my favorites are Melendi, Estopa and Joaquin Sabina; also try La Oreja de Van Gogh, La Cabra Mecanica and for "oldies" (80's) popular music try Mecano or Los Hombres G.
Posted by: Diego at Feb 20, 2008 11:00:04 AM
My choices.
- Andrés Calamaro (Argentinian but alfmost half-Spanish, my favorite songwriter)
- Amaral, the BEST Spanish pop band now.
- La Oreja de Van Gogh (I personally don´t like them much but they are very popular).
- The Sunday Drivers (They sing in English, but they're from Toledo).
- La Quinta Estación (based in Mexico, but from Madrid)
And for those who want to hear something flamenco-style:
- Ketama, a new-flamenco group.
- Estopa, they mix Rumba with Pop.
- Melendi, same thing as Estopa.
- Chambao, mixing flamenco with...well, everything.
Posted by: geodotto at Feb 20, 2008 11:01:42 AM
I took a Spanish film class in college, and six years later, "Porque te vas" is still stuck in my head.
Posted by: Ruth at Feb 20, 2008 12:00:21 PM
Manu Chao is Spanish blood but French -- and awesome. I bet both countries claim him.
Posted by: David Zetland at Feb 20, 2008 12:54:27 PM
Spanish popular music can be summed up in two words: Las Ketchup.
Okay, probably not fair. Their generic Europop is the worst of the worst. Their less-generic stuff isn't bad. The Pinker Tones, out of Barcelona, are good if that's your thing.
But some of the flamenco-infused stuff is quite good. q.v. Ketama, which geodotto mentioned.
Posted by: Famous J at Feb 20, 2008 12:57:15 PM
Popular music:
Rosario Flores (Pop-Flamenco)
El Canto del Loco (Punk-ska)
Hombres G (80s pop)
Amaral (ballad rock)
Bebe (funky, smooth pop-rock)
Spain is a music country and it has great pop music that never reaches the States, but is huge throughout Latin America.
Posted by: Murraymises at Feb 20, 2008 1:03:33 PM
Julio Iglesias
La Quinta estacion
El sueño de Morfeo
Mecano
Camilo Sesto
Monica Naranjo
La Oreja de Vangoh
El Ultimo De La Fila
Posted by: karl at Feb 20, 2008 1:35:27 PM
