Another Amazing Colombian Artist #4 - FONSECA

Fonseca is one of my favorite artists, no wonder, because he is influenced heavily by another of my favorite artists of all time, Carlos Vives. A Gemini from Bogota, his music captures alot of the coastal Vallenato songs but mixes them in with catchy-rock beats.

One of my favorite songs in the world is already posted on this blog, it is so romantic, but I will post instead a song from his new album, Gratitud, out this year. His music is simply amazing.

"Enrédame" is another classic romantic song, and how can you not fall in love with lyrics like these:

Con mis ojos cerrados te doy un beso
Ay a veces no se si yo te merezco
Pero me encanta enredarme
Todas las noches contigo
Y si estoy loco vas a vivir
en un manicomio conmigo

Fonseca - "Enrédame"

(An English translation couldn't do it justice. Just one of those things that sound better in Spanish.. Okay, I will tell you this: there is a line that goes something like "Deliver me your nightmares, and I will give you my dreams..." Aww.)

My Text Message

I was woken up by a text message from the Obama campaign. "Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee," the message said.


Joe Biden has represented the state of Delaware in the United States Senate since 1972, when he was elected at the age of twenty-nine. Senator Biden is recognized as a leader in foreign policy, as well as one of the nation's most influential voices on terrorism, drug policy, and crime. Nationally, Senator Biden has earned a reputation for working on a bipartisan basis with Republican colleagues and bringing real results that matter to Americans.

What Biden brings to an Obama presidency:


Larry King comments:

Another Amazing Colombian Artist #5 - GRUPO NICHE

A list of Colombian artists is never complete without a little salsa. Grupo Niche is a very famous Colombian salsa group formed Bogota, but they are now based in Cali. Cali is considered the "Capital of Salsa", if only for the Colombian style, salsa caleña. In all my years practicing salsa, their song Cali Pachanguero is one of the most classic and famous salsa songs.

Here is a video tribute to Grupo Niche and salsa in Cali. Hope you enjoy the moves...

Grupo Niche - "Cali Pachanguero"

Another Amazing Colombian Artist #6 - ATERCIOPELADOS

A-ter-ci-o-pe-la-dos. That sure is a mouthful. This Bogota band was one of the first well known rock bands in Colombia. Their music really is haunting. Andrea Echeverri, the lead singer and accoustic guitarist, now has her own album out. It is beautiful. If you want to hear her individual album, go here.

This band has a lot of depth and is sometimes a little strange (especially their old stuff in the 90s), but they are entirely Colombian. This particular song, El Estuche, is my favorite. Listen to the lyrics, it is something Antonio likes to lecture as well:

Mira la escencia, no las apariencias
El cuerpo es sólo un estuche y los ojos la ventana,
De nuestra alma... aprisionada

(Look at the essence, not the appearances. The body is only a case and the eyes the window... of our imprisoned soul).

Lo que hay adentro es lo que vale

(What is inside is what matters).

Aterciopelados - "El Estuche"

Some of their old stuff (very rock-y):

Aterciopelados - "Baracunata"

Another Amazing Colombian Artist #7 - FANNY LU

When I first heard Fanny Lu (Fanny Lucia Martinez), I liked her right away. Turns out she studied at one of the most prestigious universities in Colombia, la Universidad de Los Andes, as did most of my Colombian friends. Actually, I almost went to Los Andes for a Masters in Political Science & Economics but instead I chose to get an MBA in IESE.

"No Te Pido Flores" is one of her most well known songs, it has a tropical feel to it, and in fact I think it sums up exactly how I feel about love:

no te pido que traigas flores
tampoco que me des bombones
yo solo quiero una caricia
que me digas que tu me quieres
no te pido que te confieses
ni que prometas ni que rezes
yo solo quiero que me digas
que no hay mujer que mas admiras

(I'm not asking for flowers or chocolates, all I'm asking is for your affection and that you love me. I don't want you to give me promises, I only want you to say that I'm the woman you admire most.)

Fanny Lu - "No Te Pido Flores"

Another Amazing Colombian Artist #8 - CARLOS VIVES

Carlos Vives is truly a monumental singer in Colombia. Born August 7 (a fellow Leo) in Santa Marta, he was the first mainstream singer to incorporate the Colombian folk sounds of Vallenato (which I love) into rock music. If you are used to listening to Western music, his sounds may come as a shock to you. But I guarantee that you won't go into any Colombian bar or club without hearing some Carlos Vives. Before he was a singer, Carlos was a major soap actor on many Latin telenovelas. He's one of my all time favorite singers.

Como Tu is a song about a guy who deeply loves and admires a woman... but she doesn't know it.

"Como tú, la primavera
Como tú, la vez primera
No haya nadie que me quiera
Como tú, mi vida entera"

I think the mood of this song captures the true spirit of the Colombia I've experienced - the freedom, the passion & the dancing - just living life and enjoying it.

Carlos Vives - "Como Tu"

Another Amazing Colombian Artist #9 - MAIA

Maia, from Barranquilla, is considered the most talented female artist to come out of Colombia since Shakira (though I think she is much better) and was even invited to perform at the White House for Colombian Independence day in 2005.

This pop song is very beautiful and incorporates the lightest Carribean and salsa influences to make it fresh & uniquely Colombian. It was also the theme-song of El Cachaco y la Costeña, a Colombian written and produced Telenovela that was really much better than all the usual telenovelas manufactured in quantity in Mexico and Brasil.

Niña Bonita is about a girl who wants to be more than just a pretty face in a guy's life.

Maia - "Niña Bonita"

Another Amazing Colombian Artist #10 - SAN ALEJO

So I've decided to pay a tribute to one of my favorite places in the world, birthplace to many of my favorite singers in the world. It's a countdown of the top 10 greatest singers & songwriters - Colombian style.

San Alejo is a Colombian Funk/Rock band whose members hail from Manizales, Colombia. They formed serendipidously when one of the members was invited to perform at a festival in Bogota. Realizing their chemistry together, they initially form a band named El Reblujo, but it wasn't until they encountered producer Jose Lopera and changed their name to San Alejo that they were recognized commercially.

Me Gusta is a very sexy song with a certain passionate urgency about it.

Ansío el momento de tenerte encima
quisiera estar adentro de tu cuerpo caníbal

(I long for the moment to have you under me, I want to do the nasty with you...)

San Alejo - "Me Gusta"