The tagline of my blog promises musings about music and makeup, and while I've talked lots about makeup, I haven't really addressed the issue of music (except as makeup music or the product of pretty boys!). So I thought I'd share a song with a bit of a message, by a singer who is neither male nor long-haired (shocker, I know!). It's still catchy, though. And in Spanish - I haven't really listened to any new English music since Avril Lavigne became popular. I just kind of gave up on it :-p
Anyway, this particular tune is performed by a group called Chambao, whose style is described as "flamenco chill" because a lot of their rhythms and vocal qualities derive from flamenco; this song is also quite Arabic in its influences. The song is called "Papeles mojados," or "Wet Papers." It's about North African immigrants who try to cross from Morocco into Spain, usually at night and in poorly-crafted boats or rafts, and end up sinking. It seems like it happens almost every day, and there's a lot of popular music in the south of Spain that deals with the subject - this is one of the best-known of those songs. The title refers to the papers that are left floating on the water's surface after the papers' owners have drowned. I'll give a (somewhat loosely rendered) translation of the lyrics below the video, so you can follow along if you don't speak Spanish. (If you do, please forgive me for butchering the language.)
(You can also get a better-quality video here, but all the good ones are embedding-disabled!)
"Miles de sombras cada noche trae la marea,/ navegan cargaos de ilusiones que en la orilla se quedan./ Historias del día a día, historias de buena gente./ Se juegan la vida cansaos, con hambre y un frío que pela./ Ahogan sus penas con una candela, ponte tú en su lugar,/ el miedo que en sus ojos reflejan, la mar se echó a llorar."
----> "The tide brings thousands of shadows every night,/ they sail burdened with illusions that stay on the shore./ Everyday stories, stories of good people./ They gamble their lives, tired, hungry, bitterly cold./ They drown their sorrows with a candle, put yourself in their place,/ the fear reflected in their eyes, the sea begins to weep."
"Muchos no llegan, se hunden sus sueños,/ papeles mojados, papeles sin dueño..."
----> "Many never arrive, their dreams sink,/ wet papers, papers with no owner..."
"Fragiles recuerdos a la deriva degarran el alma,/ cala to los huesos, el agua los arrastra sin esperanza./ La impotencia en su garganta con sabor a sal,/ una bocanada de aire le da otra oportunidad./ Tanta noticia me desespera, ponte tú en su lugar,/ el miedo que en sus ojos reflejan, la mar se echó a llorar."
----> "Fragile memories drifiting, tear at the soul,/ soaking all the bones, the water drags them with no hope./ The powerlessness in their throats tastes of salt,/ a gulp of air brings another opportunity./ All this news makes me despair, put yourself in their place,/ the fear reflected in their eyes, the sea begins to weep."
So not exactly the most cheerful song ever, but definitely interesting, thought-provoking, and undeniably lovely. Hope you've enjoyed, and thanks for reading/listening. Let me know what you think. I promise makeup soon!
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