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Rock en español (rock in Spanish) refers to Spanish-language rock music. It belongs to a broader category, Ibero-American rock, which includes all rock music expressions in Spanish and Portuguese talking countries, both in American and European countries.
Rock en español (rock in Spanish) is also related with latin rock (rock latino), a style of rock music developed in Latin America countries and U.S. Latin American communities, and with other genres like Caribbean ska, reggae and soka.
Successful musicians and groups playing in this genre are often noted for being "cross-over" artists, as this genre inherently bridges both linguistic and cultural categories.
Rock in Spanish begun in 1958. That year Ritchie Valens recorded "La Bamba", spreading rock and roll music sung in Spanish all over Latin America. Also in 1958 Daniel Flores, who has been called the "godfather of Latin Rock",[1] performed his hit song "Tequila", while the Argentinean group Los Cinco Latinos released their first album Maravilloso Maravilloso, with big success in Latin America and also in United States.[2]
Since 1959 several Mexican groups like Los Teen Tops, Los Blue Caps and Los Locos del Ritmo recorded Spanish versions of rock classics from Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and others, gaining huge popularity in all Latin American countries. Some of those classic songs of rock in Spanish are "La Plaga" (cover of "Good Golly Miss Molly") and "Popotitos" (cover of "Bony Moronie"). In 1960 appeared in Argentina Sandro de América, a rock musician with a very sexual style inspired in Elvis, who latter developed a pop style called balada romántica latinoamericana (Latin American romantic ballad).
In the early 60s, in several Latin American countries appeared a kind of commercial rock music called "la nueva ola" (the new wave). In the middle of the 60s in Spain appeared rock bands like Los Bravos, Los Brincos, Bruno Lomas y Los Rockeros, Los Canarios, Los Cheyennes, Fórmula V, Lone Star, Micky y Los Tonys, Los Mustang, Los Pekenikes, Pop Tops, Los Salvajes or Los Sírex.
In the late 60s, Carlos Santana further popularized the Latin rock genre. But Carlos Santana does not consider himself a Rock en español musician, he is a traditional Latin musician that fused rock guitar with their classic songs. His hit song "Oye Como Va" is a perfect example of Santana's fusion, being a song composed by famous Latin jazz and mambo musician Tito Puente.
Also in the late 60s, appeared in Argentina a rock and roll in Spanish movement called "rock nacional" (Argentinean national rock), with a distinct musical style, which became since then one of the most popular styles in that country, along with tango and folk music, and was broadcast also in other Latina America countries. Some of those musicians and bands are Los Gatos (leaded by Litto Nebbia), Arco Iris (leaded by Gustavo Santaolalla), Almendra (leaded by Luis Alberto Spinetta), Vox Dei (which recorded a successful rock version of the Bible), Sui Generis and Seru Giran (both leaded by Charly García). Argentinean national rock is linked with the sexual revolution in that country and the spirit of freedom against military dictatorships.
In the late 80s and 90s, bands like Soda Stereo, G.I.T., Caifanes, Café Tacuba, La Ley, initiate a new stage of Latin rock, by internationalizing the genre. New successful bands and musicians are Jaguares (Mexico), Aterciopelados (Colombia), Bersuit Vergarabat (Argentina), Jorge Drexler (Uruguay), Julieta Venegas (Mexico), Los Tres (Chile), among others.
In the late 90s, MTV created the Latino Award in the MTV Video Music Awards and in 2002 the movement took autonomy by organizing los Premios MTV Latinoamérica.
In 2005 the Uruguayan singer Jorge Drexler won an Oscar for the song "Al otro lado del río", from the soundtrack of The Motorcycle Diaries (film), and in 2006/2007, the Argentinean rock musician Gustavo Santaolalla won two more Oscars for Babel and Brokeback Mountain soundtracks.
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Variations
Argentine rock
In the late 60s, appeared in Argentina a rock and roll in Spanish movement called "rock nacional" (national rock), with a distinct musical style, which became since then one of the most popular styles in that country, along with tango and folk music, and was broadcast also in other Latina America countries. Some of those musicians and bands are Los Gatos (leaded by Litto Nebbia), Arco Iris (leaded by Gustavo Santaolalla), Almendra (leaded by Luis Alberto Spinetta), Vox Dei (which recorded a succesfull rock version of the Bible), Sui Generis and Seru Giran (both leaded by Charly García).
After Falklands War (1982) Argentine rock reborn with bands like Soda Stereo, Los Redonditos de Ricota, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Sumo and others. In the 90s, rock bands experimented fusioning rock music with Latin American folk and african rhythms, with bands like Divididos, Los Piojos, Bersuit Vergarabat, Babasónicos, La Renga, etc.
U.S. Rock en Español (la Movida Moderna)
Around 1983, ZERIMAR became the first band from the USA to perform with all Spanish lyrics). They began in San Francisco and then relocated to Los Angeles. Fronted by 3 talented brothers: Fred, Chris & Marty Ramirez. The band began as Teleport and everything was in English. Convinced by their manager at the time, (L. Kenny Diense) David Forman to just translate the lyrics and sing the songs in Spanish, they would have a shot. They did, signed onto Clásica Moderna (later to be distributed by WEA International) and the music from their one and only record Ritmo Peligroso took off on Spanish language radio stations beginning in 1987. Budweiser used their songs for commercials as well.
Chicano rock
Chicano Rock Music is rock music performed by Mexican American groups or music with themes derived from Chicano culture. Chicano Rock, to a great extent, does not refer to any single style or approach. Some of these groups did not sing in Spanish at all, or use many specifically Latin instruments or sounds, at least on what little we have heard. The main unifying factor, whether or not any explicitly Latin American music is heard, is a strong R&B influence, and a rather independent and rebellious approach to making music that comes from outside the music industry.
Spanish language rock and roll
Spanish language rock and roll borrows heavily from rock and roll music and from traditional and popular music of Spanish-speaking cultures (cumbia, ranchera, rumba, tango, etc) and has evolved from a cult-like music movement to a more well established music genre in 50 years of history. ZERIMAR The original pure Rock en Español (all Spanish lyrics) began in San Francisco then relocating to Los Angeles in 1983. Fronted by 3 talented brothers: Fred, Chris & Marty Ramirez. The band began as Teleport and everything was in English. Convinced by their manager at the time (record executive and Canadian as well) David Forman to just translate the lyrics and sing the songs in Spanish, they would have a shot. They did, signed onto Clásica Moderna (later to be distributed by WEA International) and the music from their one and only record Ritmo Peligroso took off on Spanish language radio stations beginning in 1987. Budweiser used their songs for commercials as well. This was the beginning, La Movida Moderna.
Other variations
- Argentine rock
- Bolivian rock
- Chilean rock
- Costa Rican rock
- Colombian rock
- Cuban rock
- Dominican rock
- Ecuadorian rock
- Equatoguinean rock
- Guatemalan rock
- Honduran rock
- Mexican rock
- Nicaraguan rock
- Panamanian rock
- Paraguayan rock
- Peruvian rock
Puerto Rican rock - Salvadorean rock
- Spanish rock
- Uruguayan rock
- Venezuelan rock
Some important songs
Argentina
- "Muchacha ojos de papel"- Luis Alberto Spinetta
- "Persiana Americana"- Soda Stereo
- "Matador"- Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Chile
Colombia
Mexico
Peru
USA
See also
References
External links
- Rock en Espanol
- Pulso Rock.com - Puerto Rico's Leading Rock en Español website
- Rock en Español - Rockero
- RockEnEspanol.com - Great Source for Rock En Espanol !
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