From drumming with its roots in Africa, to Spanish-influenced guitar and harp music and the indigenous contribution of maracas, Venezuelan music is largely unknown outside the country. With a blog based on videos of key groups and individuals I hope this music will reach a wider public and get the attention it deserves. Joropo, calypso, tambores, salsa, cumbia, pop, rock, Latin jazz, electronica - even slushy love songs by soap opera stars - Venezuela has it all.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Tres Dueños - Fiera Salvaje
Venezuelan hip-hop trio Tres Dueños keep it light and frothy on "Fiera Salvaje", a track from their 2005 album Grandes Lexicos.
Here's a taste of their lyrical flow:
Mami vamos pa' la playa
Ponte el hilo.
Yo llevo la calle y tengo kilos
Hasta las seis de la mañana
Solos en la orilla
Tomando caipirinha.
Lirica con piña niña
Y mira este tumbao
Que vengo arrecostao
Soy como el cacao
Con mi song… choun
Coca cola y ron
Pa rompe el colchon
Tengo el don
Asi que "Give me, give me"
Me gusta tu bikini mini
Y baila pa tú papi
Que te pone happy
Soy tu triki-traki
Muevete despacio
Morena, sirena
Ahora echate en la arena
Y hazlo asi,
Asi, asi como fiera salvaje
Asi, asi como fiera salvaje
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Hip Hop: 3 Dueños - Cyrano (La Mala Vida)
This is the theme tune of Venezuelan director Alberto Arvelo's movie "Cyrano Fernandez", a contemporary take on the classic tale Cyrano de Bergerac set in the barrios of Caracas.
Edgar Ramirez, who stars in the title role, is perhaps Venezuela's most successful screen export, acting opposite Keira Knightly in "Domino" and Matt Damon in "The Bourne Ultimatum".
Instead of a big nose, this Cyrano has a nasty scar across his face and wields a pistol rather than a duelling sword, but he's as unlucky in love as his French predecessor.
"La Mala Vida" is a banging track by Tres Duenos, the latest collaboration between DJ Trece, Budu and Niggah, formerly operating under the monicker Vagos Y Maleantes.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Hip-Hop: Vagos y Maleantes - Guajira
Salsa meets hip hop in this inspired track by Vagos y Maleantes from the album Papiandeando. DJ Trece, who produced the album, joins rappers Budu and Niga at the end. All three of them acted in the movie Secuestro Express. The video is pure Latin hip hop swagger, with some nice shots of Caracas and a few Benny Hill moments thrown in for a laugh. It's a bit crackly at the start while the radio tunes in but sounds better when the song kicks in. Love this track. The video was directed by Secuestro Express writer and director Johnathon Jakubowicz.