Thu - October 18, 2007

Bibí Andersen


(A new D's Music entry!)

You've gotta give it to those Spaniards for their progressive attitude and wide acceptance of homosexuals within their society. A nation defined by a conservative and controversial history, Spain was the first in the world to legalize gay marriages nation wide in 2005. While the United States was being forged by those escaping persecution, the Spanish Inquisition was forcing the religious conversion or outright exile of those who were different. Fast forward five hundred + years later and the Spanish have somehow ended up with a better idea of human equality than we have.

Most of my time spent surfing through YouTube is rather unproductive and very reminiscent to the ridiculous videos in Geico commercials. People who are as easily amused as I am shouldn't be allowed to use such things, as brain power hasn't exactly been my strong suit as a result of a few cloudy years in my early twenties. Needless to say, I was very much surprised when I came across the following video: Sálvame (Save me) by Nancys Rubias (Blond Nancys).



The cheap and overt effects combined with the 80's electronic beat kept my attention just long enough to realize that the lead singer of the song was indeed a transvestite. I'm not sure why it was so intriguing, as Rupaul has been rocking it in drag since the early 90's, but I decided to research the band further. It just so happens that the lead singer is perhaps the most famous transvestite in history. Born Miguel Fernández in 1954, he began his career as a male model, and a hot one at that. A fetish for women's clothing combined with his homosexuality, Miguel Fernández became Bibí Andersen in the mid 1970's. His/now her wide success in print modeling as an openly gay transvestite opened doorways into separate careers in movies and singing. Her first film, Cambio de sexo (Sex Change) in 1977, is what caught the eye of famous Spanish director/producer Pedro Almodóvar who casted her in his widely acclaimed 1985 short film titled Tráiler para amantes de lo prohibido (Trailer for lovers of the prohibited) as well as several of his other movies. Her 12th and most recent movie role was in the film Rojo sangre in 2004.

All of this rambling and random information put aside, the Nancys Rubias 2007 version of the song Sálvame is actually a reproduction of her 1981 hit single from her second album. Here's a clip of a televised performance from a documentary on her success.



http://www.myspace.com/bibiandersen

Posted at 07:11 AM     |

Tue - July 17, 2007

Calle 13 – Puerto Rico


¡Bienvenidos de nuevo!

Good afternoon class. Welcome back to the Spanish segment of rogerzmusic. This week’s artist and album come to us from El conquistador, Puerto Rico. The group is comprised of two half brothers, René Joglar and Eduardo Martínez, who grew up visiting each other on 13th Street (Calle 13) in their hometown. They are one of the latest of many artists classified under the genera Reggaetón. Born in the early 90’s in Puerto Rico, Reggaetón is a Spanish form of hip-hop with Caribbean beats. Shortly after its inception, artists like DJ Playero and Daddy Yankee brought Reggaetón to homes and nightclubs around the world. True to its roots, the lyrics are usually misogynistic, perverse, and filled with profane language. To my surprise, I had 15-year-old freshman in class this year that could sing songs like Gasolina from memory without having a single idea of what the lyrics meant.

While Calle 13 does tend to conform to the normal vulgarities of the genera, there are a few gems of this album worth listening to. Songs like ¡Atrévete, te, te! and Se vale both made it to the top 10 charts for their infectious rhythms and honest lyrics. My personal favorite, La jirafa, is coincidentally the least offensive. Titled, “The giraffe”, this song is about love, serenity, and food. Hope you enjoy it!

Calle 13 – Puerto Rico
La jirafa
http://www.myspace.com/calle13officialsite
http://www.lacalle13.com/



If you’d like to check out more, the group did a duo with Nelly Furtado earlier this year titled No hay igual (There is no equal). René turns up the heat with lyrics that seem to objectify Nelly more than compliment her, but she holds her own.



Grammar Point: We all know that in English verbs change (but not always) depending on who is doing the action. For example, the verb to be is conjugated as I am, you are, he/she is. Meanwhile other verbs don’t change at all; I went, you went, he/she went. In Spanish, the verb haber (to be/to have - depending on context) is the only verb that is not always conjugated to reflect the subject. While verbs like ser (to be) are always conjugated to match the subject that is being (soy – I am, eres – you are), haber is usually conjugated in third person singular. The irregular present tense form of the verb is hay which can mean both “there is” and “there are”. The two past tense forms, hubo and había, can mean both “there was” or “there were”.

Till next time!
Señor DeVane

Expresión del día:
¡No seas chamaco! no say-ahs cha-mock-oh (Don’t be a brat!) – I say this one in class on a regular basis. However it only has meaning in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Posted at 05:52 PM     |

Wed - June 27, 2007

Introducing D's Music Category!


Just a brief intro here. My partner, who I've affectionally referenced here as D (standing for DeVane), has been delving into the world of Spanish-language music over the last couple months. He's discovered all kinds of interesting things, and much of which I find quite intriguing. So I decided to give him his only Spanish music corner of this blog... Believe me, it'll be worth it:

¡Bienvenidos todos!

Welcome to the Latin segment of rogerzmusic brought to you by none other than Señor DeVane, Spanish teacher extraordinaire. In my efforts to look cool and culturally savvy in front of my students, I began researching and collecting a variety of songs and videos from all over Latin America and Spain. While it started with a few random clicks and glances through articles, Perez Hilton as well as a few other websites and bloggers paved the way for what now is a YouTube and iTunes crazed frenzy. Some call it an addiction, I call it unwinding after 7 hours of “attempting” to educate and occasionally baby-sit 125 teenagers. Who are you to judge me?!?!?!

Lets get started with the album of the week.

Belanova – Dulce Beat – Mexico

A great Pop/Electronic/Dance album for gettin’ ready for the club, a Sunday jog, or simply as background music while playing a game of Skip-Bo with the neighbors. I would classify the lead singer, Denisse Guerrero, as a Mexican Kylie Minogue if you will. My favorite song on the album is Me pregunto (I wonder). Coinsidentally Kylie’s kid sister, Dannii Minogue, had a hit a few years before called “I Began to Wonder” that’s not too dissimilar lyrically (only in English of coarse). Did Guerrero copy it? I don’t know. Do I care? Girl, do what you gotta do to pay the bills. You will still be on my top 10 playlist. (The same does not go for you J-Lo. There is a line, and girl, you crossed it. I am OVER you).



Grammar Point: The verb preguntar means “to ask” or “to question”. When conjugated in the present tense first person yo form it becomes pregunto (I ask/I question). However, when the indirect object pronoun me is placed before this conjugation (me pregunto) it changes meaning to “I ask myself/I question myself” or more commonly translated “I wonder”.

Well kiddies, that’s all for this week. Check back in this time next week for more fun Spanish music and meaningless ranting.

Señor DeVane

Expresión del día:
Cuando estás cansado/a o frustrado/a y alguien te pide “¿Qué tal? o ¿Qué pasa?” dile “la misma mierda”

Posted at 08:01 PM     |

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