While my MP3 Gently Plays

This is one of my favourite sections on my blog, the one where I get to play DJ every now and then and share my favourite melodies with you, dear readers and fellow bloggers. Not that I need much encouragement to upload the music I like listening to on my mp3 player.

To kick tonight's post off, we have one half of one of the most famous musical partnerships in the history of Spanish pop. Both on and off stage. On this occasion, though, Ana Belén's left her regular partner, Victor Manuel back home and has teamed up instead with the poet-cum-singer or singer-cum-poet (whichever way it goes, he's simply a great lyricist) Joaquín Sabina to regale us one of those songs that lingers on in the mind long after it's finished. A la Sombra de un León is about a (mad)man who falls for a statue, the famous Roman goddess Cibeles (the "Lion" in the song title refers to one of the felines that accompanies Ceres), and to which he proposes one night after running away from the asylum where he is interned. Touching story, isn't it?



From Spanish Ana to her Brazilian namesake. Ana Carolina is also part of a famous duo, in this case with her on/off stage partner Seu Jorge. Not only is she a superb songwriter, but also a terrific guitarist. Garganta is full of passion and desire from the opening lines: Minha garganta estranha/Quando não te vejo/Me vem um desejo/Doido de gritar. What's with the video, though? I love it, but can't make sense of it. Still, great tune.



I always make sure that I have one of the "oldies" on my mp3 player. It helps me overcome a steep hill, for instance, if I'm out jogging. Blondie's Heart Of Glass fulfills this function perfectly.



I like my music groovy and funky but I also love heavy melodies. Whether it's The Zep, Nirvana or Iron Maiden, hard rock has a place secured on my little gadget. That's why I always welcome Deep Purple's Highway Star when it comes on. This is one track that will send your pulse racing.



Ever since I came across his music on Radio Paradise I've become a fan of K-os' creative output. His is the brand of hip hop that I love: non-confrontational, without the macho stand and focused on the melody and lyrics.B boy Stance is no exception.



© 2011

Next Post: “Birthday Q&A and Other Pearls of Wisdom”, to be published on Sunday 13th November at 10am (GMT)

Road Songs (Dolce)

Kids. Cars. Kids and cars. Kids in cars. For some, a lethal combination. Screaming, rows, tantrums. For others, total nonchalance.

Children can be a distracting force of incalculable consequences when you're sitting behind the wheel of a car and trying to concentrate on the road ahead of you. Minor quibbles, insignificant squabbles and petty quarrels can drive the most open-minded parents in the world up the wall very quickly.

That's why I say: thank God for music in the car whilst driving!

My children love a mix of songs both for their age and for older audiences. And as the proud father of two bilingual youngsters their tastes go from US hip hop to Ibero-American pop and rock. That does not mean that they do not have the occasional fight in the back of our Nissan Micra but prevention is better than cure as the old adage goes and we all have turns choosing our favourite melodies to accompany us in our frequent jaunts in this lovely country.

So, hooray for music, hooray for driving, hooray for children and hooray for children in cars whilst driving and listening to music!

Copyright 2008