Who are your favourite Spanish-speaking artists?
I quite like Rosalía, especially her newer music. I have heard people say she is guilty of cultural appropriation, but I’m unclear on the whole story there, and my Spanish is not good enough to understand all her lyrics (i.e. if the reactionary lyrics are obvious but I’m missing their meaning).
Ana Tijoux is good, too. Revolutionary-adjacent music, so far as I can work out. She is French-Chilean. Her parents had to flee Pinochet.
Any revolutionary artists I should try? Hip hop or rap especially. Immortal Technique is great but there’s generally too much English in his songs to use them to improve my Spanish.
Rosalia is so good, she has a song with James Blake called “Barefoot in the park” 😍. The Maria’s are pretty sick too!
I’d not heard ‘Barefoot in the park’. I like it, though. Thanks.
I’m currently trying out a few songs by The Marías and I’m enjoying them so far, thanks.
If you like flamenco genre, check her old songs too :)
What’s flamenco?
Flamenco is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain.
Hehe, I love that there’s a thing called “flamenco mode”. I’ll give it an explore :), thanks.
Not Marxist but listen to: Jose Jose
He’s just perfection for Spanish ballads.
I’ll add them to my list, thanks.
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Nice one! Thanks.
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She’s so good, got to see her live too a few times.
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Natalia Lafourcade
Wow, I didn’t know her and I really like her songs. “Tu sí que sabes quererme” is very good.
She melts my heart and soul. “Para que sufrir” my god that song takes me places
Soda stereo, Cafe Tacuba, Lido Pimiento, Natalia LaFourcada
Natalia melts my heart
Great recommendations, thank you. I’m especially enjoying Lido Pimiento.
No probs, yeah she rules.
There’s a band called Ska-P (they play, as the name suggests, ska) that makes leftist music. I don’t really know if they’re actual leftists or just Western LeftistsTM, as I haven’t listened much of their music, but they’re the only ones I could really think of 😅
I’ll give them a listen. Thank you.
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Nice! Thanks!
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Their lead singer died I didn’t know this?! My favorite song by them is: “en tan solo un instante”
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I have a lot of music recommendations. What kind of music do you like?
Thank you.
Hip Hop and rap mainly. Preferably radical / pro-communist / pro-revolution.
In English, I’d happily listen to a few artists on repeat: Tupac, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Akala, Stormzy, Wu-Tang Clan, Bambu.
Some pop music is good, too. Probably not boybands, though. I quite like Tove Lo if you know of a Spanish-singing equivalent?
I’d also listen to Shakira, Christina Aguilera, or Karol G, but they’re lyrics aren’t exactly political. Maybe there’s some political reguetón?
Okay, here are some of my recommendations of artists and songs, I hope you like them!
Los Chikos del Maiz (LCDM): This group is characterized by acid lyrics, in which sarcasm is intertwined with literary, cinematographic, political and popular culture references. Its members, Toni Mejias and Nega, have declared themselves Marxists and anti-fascists, both through their songs and in different interviews. Personal recommendation: La Estanquera de Saigon (Lyrics)
Mala Praxis: It was a hip hop group from Zaragoza that did political rap, like LCDM. Personal recommendation: Esclavos (Lyrics)
Erick Hervé: He is a very underrated Valencian rapper and considered one of the best lyricists of his city. He does not rap politically, but in many of his songs he adopts an anti-racist and anti-fascist stance. Personal recommendation: Reggie (Lyrics)
Bejo: He’s one of the most extravagant, complex and original Canarian artists in Spanish rap (in fact, his logo is literally a drawing of a penis). Although he doesn’t rap politically, he usually makes references to communist figures and criticizes capitalism, consumerism, and also criticizes pretentious artists. Personal recommendation: La Pipa del Aguacate (Lyrics) and La Florinata (Lyrics)
Toteking: It’s considered by many the best rapper in Spain. He has been rapping for a long time and has very complex verses and makes very interesting references. He is openly anti-capitalist and has very harsh criticisms against consumerism and the more “mainstream” rappers. Personal recommendation: Sota, Caballo y Yo. (Lyrics)
Las Ninyas del Corro: It’s a group of Spanish female rappers, strongly influenced by the American rap of the 90s. The group is composed by Felina Vallejo and Laura Bonsai. Both are from working class backgrounds, they’re feminist, and have publicly supported anti-fascist artists. Personal recommendation: L.N.D.C. (Lyrics)
Gata Cattana: She was a rapper who mixed poetry with rap and flamenco. She was a feminist, Marxist, and anti-globalist and her themes delved into dialectical materialism, existentialism and the Spanish political scene. She died at an early age due to severe anaphylactic shock. She died just after finishing “Banzai”, his most outstanding postumous work. She has inspired other artists such as Las Ninyas del Corro. Personal recommendation: The entire Banzai album
Pablo Hasel: He is a Marxist-Leninist rapper who is currently imprisoned for rapping against the Spanish monarchy, NATO, and for supporting the IRA and GRAPO. Personally I have to say that I am not a big fan of his rap, but his political rap is one of the most transgressive in Spain and his imprisonment was very controversial. I’m pretty sure that many of you here will like his old songs. Personal recommendation: Malcolm X
Los Chikos del Maiz (LCDM): This group is characterized by acid lyrics, in which sarcasm is intertwined with literary, cinematographic, political and popular culture references. Its members, Toni Mejias and Nega, have declared themselves Marxists and anti-fascists, both through their songs and in different interviews. Personal recommendation: La Estanquera de Saigon (Lyrics)
I spotted the Berri Txarrak t-shirt in that video! Can I do a follow up request for recommendations for Basque songs/artists if you have any?
Sure! I have a few that you might be interested in @Munrock@lemmygrad.ml.
Berri Txarrak: (In my opinion, the best musical group in the Basque Country.) They have impressive songs and have had success even outside of Spain (it has merit considering that they sing in a niche language such as Euskera). There are many songs that I recommend from this group! Personal recommendation: Infrasoinuak, Oreka, Etsia, and Poligrafo Bakarra
Lendakaris Muertos: One of the most controversial Basque punk bands from the Basque Country. The band’s name is inspired by the American hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys. Their songs are full of black humor, wild criticisms of the Spanish police, threats to right-wing politicians and much more. They define themselves as socialists and sing in Spanish. Personal recommendation: Héroes de la Clase Obrera and Modo Dios
Su Ta Gar: A Basque Heavy Metal/Trash Metal band. They’re socialists and have been criticized for supporting ETA. They have some incredible songs, and they are one of the most hardcore bands in the Basque Country. Personal recommendation: Jaiotze Basatia and Jo Ta Ke
Kortatu: They were part of the so-called Basque radical rock and were pioneers in introducing ska in Spain. They were supporters of the izquierda abertzale (a socialist movement in the Basque Country). Personal recommendation: Sarri, Sarri (Lyrics are in the video description)
Vendetta: It was a ska group from Navarre. They sang in Spanish too. They experimented with reggae and punk in their last musical stage and had success even outside of the Basque Country. Personal recommendation: Bother the Police and Pao Pao Pao
Oskorri: It’s a traditional Basque folk group that began fusing jazz with traditional Basque instruments, until they found their own style. Basque children love to dance to their songs tho. Personal recommendation: Furra Furra
Joselu Anayak: They are singers of traditional Basque music, they are mainly heard when there are parties and festivals in the Basque Country. People sing and dance to it when they are very drunk lol. Personal recommendation: Ai Txabela!
En Tol Sarmiento (E.T.S.): Is a Spanish ska band formed in 2005. They are characterized by joyful rhythms and lyrics, and powerful live performances. Their music is usually played at parties. Personal recommendation: Aukera Berriak
Gatibu: One of the most famous and beloved Basque pop-rock groups in the Basque Country. They are from Bilbao, and they sing in Biscayan (a dialect of Basque). Personal recommendation: Aske Maitte
Huntza: It is a Basque rock band. It is a group that mixes current musical trends with the traditional instruments typical of the Basque Country. It is very popular among young people. Personal recommendation: Aldapan Gora
Thanks!
Thanks for making such a detailed list!
You’re welcome! If you need more recommendations, I’ll post more. I didn’t want to put too many in case the list was too long :')
Just in case you didn’t know: if you want to post a really long list, you can put it in a spoiler (as long as it doesn’t exceed the comment length)
Wow! Thanks for putting this together. Exactly what I was looking for.
-molotov: they sing in spanish and they add a sprinkle of english because one of them is from america (dame todo el power)
Thanks. I’ll give these a go!
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I’m very happy with older music. Often, I prefer it. Thanks for the recommendations!
Edit: ¡que bella la canción ‘te recuerda Amanda’!
I love music from Mägo de Oz, “Hoy toca ser feliz” & “Fiesta pagina” are awesome songs
Nice! Reminds me a bit of Dom la Nena/Birds on a Wire with the instruments.
