The next several series of This Week's Picks are inspired by an often overlooked important aspect of music: the visual. Music is almost always accompanied by costumes, dress, dance, makeup, and/or theatre. The visual can be as simple as a pair of shades on a blues singer or as elaborate as the grand performances of Japanese kabuki theatre.
Last week, we featured theatrical music. This week, our picks will focus on dance from around the world. Please enjoy!
Spanish Flamenco
I cannot help but start with one of my favorite dances. This is not only my some of my favorite music to listen to, but my favorite to watch in action. Flamenco is thought of as three separate parts- the song, the dance and the guitar. When they come together, you experience raw emotion in both the visual and aural senses. Originating in Southern Spain, it has become a cultural symbol of the entire country. The dance is known for it's emotional intensity, power of expression and proud stature.
Lezginka from the Caucasus
Having seen the Azerbaijani version of this dance last year, I have been enthralled ever since. This video is of the men's dance which is far more energetic and, frankly, more entertaining than the female counterpoint. The men spin, twirl and jump in athletic displays that are fun to watch. The women dance gracefully in elaborate costumes, appearing to float across the floor.
South African Gum Boot Dance
This dance is different in that the musical accompaniment comes from the dance itself. It is a dance performed by dancers wearing gum boots who rhythmically stomp, clap, and slap. The dance was created by gold mine workers in South Africa who were banned from speaking to each other. The dance was not only a means of communication, but a way to keep their spirits alive during the terrible years of the apartheid. It has since evolved into an art form.
Please keep in mind that there are many, many dances and I can only feature a choice few in my series. If I've missed something that you enjoy, please leave a comment below with links to any videos you can find for everyone to enjoy!
Showing posts with label Spain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spain. Show all posts
Monday, 20 December 2010
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
This Week's Picks (#7) ¡Viva España!
As the World Cup comes to it's end, we can finally return to our regular program. However, we haven't quite escaped the world of football as this edition of This Week's Picks is inspired by Sunday's game. Spain played such a close game, that even though it did not make it into our World Cup Losers series, it deserves it's own tribute. Here's to Spain, the 2010 World Cup Champions!
"Primavera" by José Mercé
I am a die hard flamenco fan, and love the excuse to feature some of my favorites. This track is from José Mercé's 2003 release, Del Amanecer.... While José may have a terrible hair cut, his distinct cantaor voice compensates. It is easy to imagine how he has become one of the greatest voices in flamenco. For a flamenco track, the guitar is pretty tame, but to listen to Mercé is to bask in his outstanding, strong voice, not to focus on the guitar.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Ole" by Jarabe De Palo
Jarabe De Palo is a rock group that has found considerable fame in Spanish speaking countries. This track is from their 2007 release Adelantando. This is a great song and much to my delight you can hear some flamenco influences, which lift the song from being average to great. The flamenco influences may be slight in this track, but it is easier to hear them in some of their other tracks ("Ying Yang" for example). While I only just stumbled across this group while searching for Spanish music, I am definitively hooked.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Por la Mar Chica del Puerto" by Mayte Martín
I've chosen another flamenco singer for our last track, but Mayte Martín is a different vain of singer than Mercé. However, she does seem to have the exact same unfortunate hair cut. Martín's voice has more sweetness than Mercé and is less rough. She models her image closer to that of cantaors like Mercé than the typical cantaora, but she does not have the course voice of the cantaors. Her voice has become the model for the newer generation of cantaoras. This track is from her recent 2010 release, Al Cantar a Manuel.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Primavera" by José Mercé
I am a die hard flamenco fan, and love the excuse to feature some of my favorites. This track is from José Mercé's 2003 release, Del Amanecer.... While José may have a terrible hair cut, his distinct cantaor voice compensates. It is easy to imagine how he has become one of the greatest voices in flamenco. For a flamenco track, the guitar is pretty tame, but to listen to Mercé is to bask in his outstanding, strong voice, not to focus on the guitar.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Ole" by Jarabe De Palo
Jarabe De Palo is a rock group that has found considerable fame in Spanish speaking countries. This track is from their 2007 release Adelantando. This is a great song and much to my delight you can hear some flamenco influences, which lift the song from being average to great. The flamenco influences may be slight in this track, but it is easier to hear them in some of their other tracks ("Ying Yang" for example). While I only just stumbled across this group while searching for Spanish music, I am definitively hooked.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Por la Mar Chica del Puerto" by Mayte Martín
I've chosen another flamenco singer for our last track, but Mayte Martín is a different vain of singer than Mercé. However, she does seem to have the exact same unfortunate hair cut. Martín's voice has more sweetness than Mercé and is less rough. She models her image closer to that of cantaors like Mercé than the typical cantaora, but she does not have the course voice of the cantaors. Her voice has become the model for the newer generation of cantaoras. This track is from her recent 2010 release, Al Cantar a Manuel.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Wednesday's Reader Picks
This week reader joann3737 shares the artist Buika.
"Sombras" by Buika (featuring Chucho Valdés on piano)
This track is from Spanish singer, Buika's newest album El Último Trago. This album features the pianist Chucho Valdés and is a tribute to one of Buika's earliest influences, Chavela Vargas. Vargas was a ranchera singer. Ranchera is a traditional Mexican genre made popular during the revolution and generally focuses on topics of love or patriotism. This track, titled "Sombras" (translation: shadows), features the raw and passionate voice of Buika. Her lyrics are heartfelt, and typical of the ranchera style, about love and the pain of being away from a lover. Valdés' playing perfectly fuses with Buika's voice and lifts the tone enough to keep the track from being too depressing.
(Reviewed by joann3737)
Do you have a favorite track you'd like to share? Click here for details on how to submit your track for our next edition of "Wednesday's Reader Picks".
"Sombras" by Buika (featuring Chucho Valdés on piano)
This track is from Spanish singer, Buika's newest album El Último Trago. This album features the pianist Chucho Valdés and is a tribute to one of Buika's earliest influences, Chavela Vargas. Vargas was a ranchera singer. Ranchera is a traditional Mexican genre made popular during the revolution and generally focuses on topics of love or patriotism. This track, titled "Sombras" (translation: shadows), features the raw and passionate voice of Buika. Her lyrics are heartfelt, and typical of the ranchera style, about love and the pain of being away from a lover. Valdés' playing perfectly fuses with Buika's voice and lifts the tone enough to keep the track from being too depressing.
(Reviewed by joann3737)
Do you have a favorite track you'd like to share? Click here for details on how to submit your track for our next edition of "Wednesday's Reader Picks".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)