Mermelada Bunch - Comando Borracho

Another riotous drinking anthem from Maracaibo's tropical pop-rockers Mermelada Bunch, "Comando Borracho" is taken from the band's 2002 album "Pum Pum".

Mermelada means jam or marmalade in Spanish and it's an apt name for a band known for their melting-pot mix of different musical influences and styles.

Singers Pipo Ramirez and Leo Colina lead the vocal assault, with Agustin Espina and Armando Hernandez on keyboards and backing vocals, Luis "Toto" Fernandez on guitar, Edmundo "Kiky" Rincon on bass, David Schelsinger on drums, and Juan Paul Hernandez on percussion.

Together they have carved out a niche as one of Venezuela's most exciting stadium bands, with a rapidly growing fan base in Mexico.

The video was shot in Maracaibo by directors Omar Silva and Juan Toledobajo for Bolivar Producciones.

The song finishes with a message that Venezuelan drinkers are well-acquainted with - and happy to express effusively to any new acquaintances after a few jars - namely the old Venezuelan maxim: "borracho no come dulce".

This translates as "drunks don't eat sweet things" and is based on "scientific" evidence that the liver can't cope with two things at the same time.

Put simply, the argument goes, your poor overworked liver can process the aguardiente fire water or the sticky arequipe toffee, but not both.

That's why real borrachos always opt for the chili dips over the cheesecake when they're drinking.

You heard it here.

Comando Borracho

Comando borracho toma los lunes
Comando borracho toma los martes
Comando borracho toma de dia
Comando borracho

Comando borracho te invita a las fiestas
Comando borracho acaba con las fiestas
Comando borracho vomita la mesa
Comando borracho

Comando borracho se lleva los vasos
Comando borracho se duerme en el carro
Comando borracho busca pelea
Comando borracho

Comando borracho baila a la gorda
Comando borracho baila a la fea
Comando borracho la besa a la fuerza
Comando borracho

Quien dijo que el borracho no es hippy?
El comando borracho es asi
Quien dijo que el borracho no era feliz?
El comando borracho es asi (x2)

Co co comando bo bo borracho
Co co comando bo bo borracho
Co co comando bo bo borracho
Co co comando bo bo borracho

Comando borracho le grita a la novia
Comando borracho le grita a la esposa
Comando borracho le grita a la suegra
Comando borracho

Comando borracho no dice mentira
Comando borracho se orina en la cama
Comando borracho besa al amigo
Comando borracho

Comando borracho te pide dinero
Comando borracho se rie de todo
Comando borracho da serenata
Comando borracho

Comando borracho se cree ultraman
Comando borracho se cree superman
Comando borracho se cree batman
Comando borracho

Quien dijo que el borracho no es hippy?
El comando borracho es asi
Quien dijo que el borracho no era feliz?
El comando borracho es asi (x2)

El alcohol me tiene muy bien
El alcohol me tiene feliz
El mundo parece distinto
Sin mi botella de anis

Oscar D'Leon - Lloraras

Salsa star Oscar D'Leon is a true rags-to-riches story. He came from the poor Caracas barrio of Antimano and worked as a driver of a por puesto minibus before carving out a career as one of the greatest "soneros" of all time - up there with Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades and his role model, Beny More.

He's still making hit records. His most recent album "Fuzionando", featuring collaborations with Puerto Rican reggaeton pioneer Tego Calderon and Calle 13, won the 2007 Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Tropical Album.

In this video clip from a concert in Cali, Colombia, Oscar joins a full orchestra of top musicians from Puerto Rico and Venezuela to sing his signature tune "Lloraras". As you might gather from the title, there's quite a lot of crying involved.

Shame about Oscar's dodgy pyjamas, pero cartelua la musica!

Check out the lyrics in English:

I know that you don't want me to love you, you're always avoiding me somehow.
If I look for you over here, you pop up over there.
The only thing I want now is that you won't torture me anymore.

You will be sorry about your bad behavior, and my suffering will cost you dear.
You will cry and cry and no one will console you, and then you'll realize that it hurts when you're cheated on.

Later on you'll come asking for forgiveness, but my heart won't remember you any more.
You will cry and cry with no-one to console you, and then you'll realize that it hurts when you're cheated on.

You will cry, like I suffered, listen, you will cry, and no-one will understand you. Every bad thing you did to me, listen you will pay for it.

You will cry.

You made me suffer, now I'm the one who's laughing, now I will live my life as I wish.

I'm moving on.

You will cry.

Musica Llanera - Caballo Viejo

UPDATE - 19/02/2014: Venezuela Bids Adios to a Much Loved Folk Legend

Probably one of Simon Diaz' most famous songs, Caballo Viejo (Old Horse), was allegedly written by the singer to a young beauty queen. He might be an old horse, goes the song, but he still fancies his chances. It has the typical Llanos accompaniment of maracas, harp and cuatro (small, four stringed guitar). The video couldn't be slushier, but if you're into soft-focus and longing looks across a plate of steaming arepas, this one is for you. The Gipsy Kings called this song "Bamboleo" and had a huge hit with it. But Simon Diaz wrote it.

Caballo Viejo
Translated by Russell Maddicks

When love arrives like this, in this way
you don't even realise
The genipap tree comes to life again
The guamacho tree flowers
and the rope snaps

The horse is put out to pasture
because he is old and tired
but they don't realize
that a heart that is tied
when the reins are released
becomes a runaway horse

And if the old horse meets
a chestnut filly
his heart is pulverized
He ignores the bridle
and he ignores the bit
and false reins don't stop him

When love arrives like this, in this way
you are not to blame
love has no schedule
or a date on the calendar
when desires are joined

The horse is put out to pasture
and his days are numbered
he crosses the plains
with a hurried step
to meet his filly
who has poisoned him

The colt has time for time
but because he's too old
the old horse cannot
lose the flower he's given
because when this life is over
there are no more chances

Report: Simon Diaz to be honoured at Latin Grammy Awards

Click here for a video of "Angustia" by Simon Diaz remixed by Babylon Motorhome