Music Around the World: Argentina

Next World Tour stop, Argentina! South America's third most populous country is known for a lot of things: architecture, mountain and beach scenery, food and wine, and (most importantly to this blog) their music scene. Here's our traditional introductory info dump:

-Capital City: Buenos Aires

-Official Languages: Spanish (recognized languages include Guaraní, Qechua, Wichí, and Welsh)

-Government: Federal presidential constitutional republic, currently under the leadership of President Alberto Fernández and Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

-Colonized by Spain in the 1500s, declared their independence in 1816, ratified their constitution in 1853

-Land Area: 1,073,500 square miles (8th largest nation in the world)

-Population: 44,938,712 estimated as of 2019 (31st most populous nation in the world)

-Religion: 79.6% Christian (62.9% Roman Catholic, 15.3% Protestant, 1.4% other Christian denominations), 19.2% no religious affiliation, 1.2% other religious affiliation (as of 2019)

-Drive on the right side of the road

Argentine music tends to include a blend of traditional, classic, and pop. The tango originated in Buenos Aires in the late 1800s, folk music was incredibly popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and Rock Nacional ("national rock") began its upward climb in the country in the late '60s. I didn't have much of an idea of what to expect as I began my research for this post, as is often the case, but I discovered a lot of really great music from Argentine musicians that I'm super excited to go ahead and share with you.

Culpable by Alejandro Toledo (written by A. Soler)

I did take a small fail on this first song with finding out information about this artist. I think there are two Argentine artists named Alejandro Toledo, and the more well-known one does not appear to be the one who sings this song. However, this single released in 2019 was one of my favorites of the week. It's very chill, the guitar is really beautiful, and highly encourage you to check it out. Translated from Spanish, the title means Guilty, and a translation of the lyrics is below.

It wasn’t easy to let you go, love/Excuse me if I didn’t make you happy/Sometimes, I felt like I was a burden to you/I was the culprit because I wasn’t there/It wasn’t easy to let you go, love/But only know that I’ll come back for you

Puente by Gustavo Cerati (written by G. Cerati)

The late Gustavo Cerati was regarded as one of the most important and influential musicians of the Ibero-Rock genre. An Argentine singer/songwriter/composer/producer, he enjoyed a successful career both as the lead vocalist for the band Soda Stereo as well as a soloist. In the early 2010s, he suffered a stroke which led to a three year coma, and he passed away in September 2014 from cardiac arrest at the age of 55. Cerati released 7 albums with Soda Stereo as well as 6 solo albums and won 6 Latin Grammy Awards throughout his career. The song Puente (which translates to Bridge from Spanish) was featured on his 1999 solo album Bocanada (Puff in English) and is a good alt rock song to check out. A translation of the lyrics from their original Spanish is below.

Today I looked for you in the rhyme that sleeps/With all the words, yes, something I kept silent/It’s because I understood everything except the distance/I messed up atoms of yours to make you appear/One more day, one more day/Up the sun, down the reflection/See how my soul explodes, you’re already here/And the step we took is cause and effect/Cross love, I’ll cross my fingers/And thanks for coming, thanks for coming/Adorable bridge/It has been created between the two

La Rázon Que Te Demora by La Renga (written by G. Nápoli)

La Renga is an Argentine hard rock band that was established in 1988. With their current lineup of Gustavo "Chizzo" Nápoli (lead vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar), Gabriel "Tete" Iglesias (bass guitar), Jorge "Tanque" Iglesias (drums, percussion), and Manuel "Manu" Varela (saxophone, harmonica, rhythm guitar, lead/backing vocals), they have achieved national recognition within Argentina as well as in Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Spain, Mexico, the US, and other countries throughout Latin America. Since 1988, they have released 9 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 2 EPs. La Rázon Que Te Demora ( The Reason That Takes You in English) is featured on their 2004 album Detonador de Sueños (Dream Trigger in English) and was very fun to listen to. A translation of the lyrics from their original Spanish is below.

There is a destiny that has no proof/So this story/I may die with a truth/Forgotten in your memory/It will be a path that has no trace/The luck that has befallen the star/That it has to guide you

Lamento Boliviano by Los Enanitos Verdes (written by N. Faingold, R. Gómez)

Argentine rock trio Los Enanitos Verdes (Little Green Dwarves in English) was originally formed in 1979, broke up ten years later, and then reformed again in 1992. With a current lineup of Marciano Cantero (bass guitar, keyboard, vocals), Felipe Staiti (guitar), and Daniel Piccolo (drums), Lamento Boliviano (translated to Bolivian Lament in English) is featured on their 1994 album Bing Bang. They have a different rock sound than La Renga, but I enjoyed this song just as much. A translation of the lyrics from their original Spanish is below.

They want to shake me, they incite me to scream/I’m like a rock, words don’t touch me/Inside, there is a volcano which will soon erupt/I want to be calm/It is my situation, a desolation/I’m like a lament, a Bolivian lament/That one day began and it will not end/And nobody hurts

24 Préludes, Op. 28: No. 13 in F-Sharp Major by Martha Argerich (written by F. Chopin)

Argentine-Swiss classical pianist Martha Argerich recently celebrated her 80th birthday. Considered to be one of the greatest concert pianists of all time, she began playing at the age of 3 and had her debut concert at age 8, where she performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor and Beethoven's First Piano Concerto in C. She has rarely chosen to perform solo since the 1980s, preferring instead to participate in collaborations. She has received 3 Grammy Awards throughout her career: Best Instrumental Solosit Performance with Orchestra in 2000 and 2006 as well as Best Chamber Music Performance in 2005. This performance of Chopin's 24 Préludes was recorded in 2002 and really showcases both Chopin's masterful composition as well as Argerich's masterful playing.

Argentine National Anthem by New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (written by V. López y Planes, B. Parera)

Argentina's national anthem was written in 1813 by Argentine politician Vicente López y Planes and Spanish musician Blas Parera. Fun Fact: in Argentina, May 11th is known as Anthem Day to honor the day the song was adopted as the official song of the nation. An English translation of the Spanish lyrics is below.

Mortals, hear the sacred cry/Freedom, freedom, freedom/Hear the noise of broken chains/See noble equality enthroned/Their most worthy throne have now opened/The United Provinces of the South/And the free people of the world reply/To the great Argentine people, hail/And the free ones of the world reply/To the great Argentine people, hail/May the laurels be eternal/That we were able to achieve/Let us live crowned in glory/Or let us swear to die with glory/Or let us swear to die with glory

A by Puente Celeste (composer unknown)

Argentine supergroup Puente Celeste can claim a lot of different genres: jazz, tango, Latin American folk, and Klemzer. Formed in 1997, they currently boast a lineup of Edgardo Cardozo (guitar, vocals), Luciano Dyzenchauz (double bass), Marcelo Mogilevsky (wind instruments, vocals), Lucas Nikotián (accordion, piano), and Santiago Vazquez (percussion, vocals). They've released 5 studio albums throughout the years, and A is featured on their 2005 album Mañana Domingo. This instrumental may have been my favorite piece all week, and I highly encourage a listen.

Andate by Todos Tus Muertos (written by E. Nadal, H. Potenzoni, H. Gutiérrez, H. Villlafañe)

Todos Tus Muertos (All Your Dead in English) is an Argentine rasta-punk band that was formed in 1985. With a current lineup of Fidel Nadal (vocally), Felix Gutiérrez (bass, vocals), Palo Molina (percussion, vocals), Germán Álvarez (keys), Ricki Sanguinetti (guitar), and Damián Domínguez (drums), the group has released 7 studio albums and 2 live albums over the years. Andate (Go Away in English) is featured on their 1994 album Dale Aborigen. This was a very different sound from what I'd come to expect after listening to La Renga and Los Enanitos Verdes, but it's still very high energy and fun and worth checking out. An English translation of the Spanish lyrics is below.

That’s why I tell you I better forget you/That’s why I tell you without misunderstanding/If you don’t like what I say/Go away, go away/If you don’t like what I do/Go away, go away

Argentina was a lot of fun to research, and I hope you found some new interesting music tot listen to. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!