Translated: La Oreja de Van Gogh

I'm positively obsessed with this song at the moment. You should definitely check out the high-resolution music video for "Dulce Locura" on YouTube (which I can't embed...boo). Oh, and in case you haven't figured it out, the band's name translates to "Van Gogh's Ear."

Dulce Locura ("Sweet Madness")

I sell the inventory of memories of the most beautiful story one can ever hear
I sell the script of the saddest and most beautiful film one can ever see
I sell the chords, the shining melody, the lyrics yet to be composed in life
I sell until the sign announces the moment when life will be lived

I understand that you left, and now I serve my sentence but
don't ask me if I'd want to live

Without your moon, without your sun, without your sweet madness
I become once again small and slight, the night dreams of you and makes a mockery of itself
I want to embrace you and you vanish

I sell a brokedown camera that captured the gaze yet to be recorded
I sell two expired tickets for the second row yet to be torn apart
I sell two seats reserved ages ago and now I fall where in life I sat

I sell until the sign announces the moment when life will be lived
I understand that you left, and now I serve my sentence but
don't ask me if I'd want to live

Without your moon, without your sun, without your sweet madness
I become once again small and slight, the night dreams of you and makes a mockery of itself
I want to embrace you

Without your moon, without your sun, without your sweet madness
Crying like a day of rain my soul takes off and looks for you
on a voyage, a voyage from which it never returns

I'll climb each night to find your moon on my roof
the memory of an embrace that makes me tremble

Without your moon, without your sun, without your sweet madness
I become once again small and slight, the night dreams of you and makes a mockery of itself
I want to embrace you

Without your moon, without your sun, without your sweet madness
Crying like a day of rain my soul takes off and looks for you
on a voyage, a voyage from which it will never return

14

Translated: Bacilos

More than any other time of the year, summer makes me crave Latin music. Something about the sunshine and the warm weather just gladdens my heart and heightens the liveliness of a good beat, making a bittersweet song like "Tabaco y Chanel" a little sweeter, a little less bitter. I hope you enjoy it too!

Tabaco y Chanel ("Tobacco and Chanel")

A scent of tobacco and Chanel
reminds me of the scent of her skin
A mixture of honey and coffee
reminds me of the taste of her kisses
The colour of the end of the night
makes me wonder when it ended
Where are you
This will only live once
When did you stop
Where are you

A scent of tobacco and Chanel
A mixture of honey and coffee
they ask me for her
they ask me for her
They ask me also, the stars
They demand I return for her
Ay, return for her how
Ay, return for her how
Don't forget, don't go
Don't forget, don't go
Don't forget, anything
Don't go, don't forget, don't go
Don't forget, don't go
Don't forget, anything, anything

A rose that didn't blossom
But that time doesn't wither
A flower promised, a love that wasn't
but continues living
And again the colour of the end of the end of the night
makes me wonder when it ended
This will only live once
When did you stop, where are you

A scent of tobacco and Chanel
A mixture of honey and coffee
they ask me for her
they ask me for her
They ask me also, the stars
They demand I return for her
Ay, return for her how
Ay, return for her how

But if they were the same stars that one day
will mark my hands
will remove the flower, this flower of my life
of my life

A scent of tobacco and Chanel
A mixture of honey and coffee
they ask me for her
they ask me for her
They ask me also, the stars
They demand I return for her
Ay, return for her how
Ay, return for her how
Don't forget, don't go
Don't forget, don't go
Don't forget, anything
Don't go, don't forget, don't go
Don't forget, don't go
Don't forget, anything, anything

11

Translated: Bacilos

Thank you for your wonderful messages and wishes last week! I was in a slump personally and needed some time away from everything; this also happened to coincide with a bad case of blogger's burnout. Unplugging from Twitter, Facebook, blogs, email, and MSN for a couple of days was the best idea ever. I feel so much better.

I've got some good posts coming up this week, but in the meantime, how about some wistful Latin pop to go with your morning coffee? I love song lyrics that tell a story, and this song makes me think of a sailor who missed his chance with the love of his life in a port city.

Viejo ("Old Man")

I can roam the streets all night
only because I know that you're in the city
how do you say it, this song
and yes I saw you and you're not alone
and so it goes
you don't know what I feel...all that I feel

And you, and you...like a November breeze, like the vast sea that carries me
And I know, I know that life doesn't end without you here
but when you're here I live life

I will be returning an old man
Resting from my roaming
I have your lock of hair...between my fingers
but I'm afraid to venture any further
I will be returning an old man
left with no more cards to play
I have to swallow all that I feel, girl
I'm sad but you will never know it

You revive all these old illusions
of living the life that you always dreamed...that you always dreamed
and I don't know what you feel when you are near
When you are near, girl, what I would give
to have more time to play

And you, and you...like a November breeze, like the vast sea that carries me
And I know, I know that life doesn't end without you here
but when you're here I live life

I will be returning an old man
Resting from my roaming
I have your lock of hair...between my fingers
but I'm afraid to venture any further
I will be returning an old man
left with no more cards to play
I have to swallow all that I feel, girl
I'm sad but you will never know it

10

Translated: Reik

I've written about Reik and translated their songs many times already on this blog. (Click here for evidence.) But every time I listen to their music, a different song catches my attention and appeals to whatever mood I'm feeling at the moment.

Blame it on the winter blues, my own virtually non-existent love life, the fact that it's taken me a year and a half to fully move on after my last big break-up, or the fact that a close friend is moving on from a volatile relationship. Whatever it is, this song just spoke to me. Yes, it's Latin pop, but it's curiously unprocessed Latin pop. This raw quality makes the lyrics even sadder--perfect listening for my melancholy moments.

Ahora Sin Ti ("Now Without You")

Today I decided
I'll never think of you again
This feeling you have given me
Is too much for me

I'm here
Recording these moments
Intending to understand why you're not here
And I'm always here
Waiting for that day
Waiting for you to decide to return

It's the taste
It's the taste of your lips
A drug that poisons me and drives me mad
It's the smell
It's the smell of your hair
The aroma of spring which lingers on my skin

I can't forget
The time you loved me
But now that you're not here
I miss you
I love you
You'll never return

I'm here
Sculpting these verses
Discarding the sentiments of my love
And I'm leaving from here
Beginning another life
An emptier life now that you're not in it

It's the taste
It's the taste of your lips
A drug that poisons me and drives me mad
It's the smell
It's the smell of your hair
The aroma of spring which lingers on my skin

Now without you
I have no choice but to let you go

2

Translated: Julieta Venegas/ Eugenia Leon

Out of the 4 films I managed to catch at the Vancouver International Film Festival this year, my favourite was Quemar las Naves, or Burn the Bridges in English. Burn the Bridges tells the story of Helena and Sebastian, siblings stuck in a crumbling colonial mansion caring for their gravely ill and bedridden mother. Their situation is one of precarious harmony until a boy with a rough background transfers to Sebastian's school and Sebastian must deal with his burgeoning homosexuality.

I know this isn't much of a synopsis, but it's hard to sum up the wonderful character-driven drama and smart comedic moments in this film and in the gems of contemporary Mexican cinema in general. For example, how would you describe Y Tu Mama Tambien? A film about two teenage boys on a road trip with an older woman whom they plan to seduce. And Amores Perros? Three love stories which intersect because a car accident in Mexico City touches all of the characters' lives. You see? It's difficult to do without spoiling the movie or turning this blog post into a novella. Just trust me when I say this is an extremely impressive and memorable film.

Equally haunting is the song "Mi Principio" by Eugenia Leon, which echoes the film's title and recurs throughout as a motif for endings and fresh starts. For the movie soundtrack, folksy pop singer Julieta Venegas did a cover of "Mi Principio," adding her own special touch with her smooth vocals and mellow sound. You can listen to Julieta sing and see clips from Quemar Las Naves in the Youtube video below. If this video doesn't pique your curiosity and inspire you to check out more Mexican cinema, I don't know what will.

Want to hear Eugenia belt it out? Check out Senora Leon's version here. Talk about powerhouse vocals!

Anyway, I dedicate this song and my translation of the lyrics to anyone out there seeking to leave bad situations behind and embark on fresh starts.

Mi Principio ("My Beginning")

One day I'm going to go
And I won't ever return
I would prefer the solitude
Than to live without my truth
You'll miss me for sure
Like a city bird
that goes seeking the sea

Because in the end
Even though I was happy here
I must move on, to a place far from here
Don't misunderstand me
It doesn't concern two people
It seems like the end but it's my beginning

One day I'm going to go
And I won't ever return
I would prefer the solitude
Than to live without my truth

Because in the end
Even though I was happy here
I must move on, to a place far from here
Don't misunderstand me
It doesn't concern two people
It seems like the end but it's my beginning
Don't misunderstand me
It doesn't concern two people
It seems like the end but it's my beginning

One day I'm going to go
And I won't ever return
I would prefer the solitude
Than to live without my truth

Without my truth
Without my truth

7

Diego, Me Encanta

Forget the new James Bond movie. I'm more excited about Milk, the Harvey Milk biopic starring Sean Penn which comes out on December 5th. The film recounts the story of the first openly gay man to be elected into office in California during the 1970s. Sadly, he was assassinated the following year. The timing of this film's release is uncanny given the recent results of the Prop 8 vote in California.

Milk's allure for me lies in the fact that this is the first major English-language release that Diego Luna has done in years. According to various sources, Diego plays Sean Penn's lover. (I was pursing my lips with envy as I typed that last sentence). Watch the trailer below; you'll see Diego at 0:58, sporting big hair, aviators, and skintight jeans with his arm wrapped around Sean Penn.

I know it's typical of girls with massive celebrity crushes to gush about how great the objects of their affection are; nevertheless, I honestly admire Diego for the audacity and variety of his project choices. Of his more prominent film roles, he's played:

• A hormonal teenager out to seduce an older woman on a road trip (Y Tu Mama Tambien)
• A lovelorn journalist with few ambitions in life (Solo Dios Sabe)
• A dancing teenage heartthrob in pre-revolutionary Cuba (Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights)
• An airport employee who feeds Tom Hanks (The Terminal)
• A Michael Jackson impersonator (Mister Lonely)
• The guilt-ridden best friend of a suicidal schizophrenic (El Bufalo de la Noche)
• A rookie con artist learning the ropes from a seasoned pro (Criminal)

If Diego isn't enough yummy eye candy for you, Emile Hirsch and James Franco ought to sweeten the deal. Yep, they're in movie too.

12

Latin Pop Culture and Fashion (Pt. 2): More Mainstream Latin Celebrities

In my last post on the topic of Latin pop culture's influence on fashion, I talked about Ugly Betty and mentioned that it was Salma Hayek's influence as a stateside celebrity that made the show possible. I also talked about how the show had made a rising star out of America Ferrera. Indeed, more than ever, entertainers with a Latin background seem to be achieving mainstream success in the English-speaking media. Their growing influence on fashion can be broken down into two effects:

1. Attractive stars with great style are photographed and mimicked. Their clout as style icons can, at times, become a foray into the fashion industry later on.
2. The diversity of these celebrities' looks pushes yet reaffirms the boundaries of what mainstream America thinks of as a stereotypically Latin look.

The Rise of Stylish Latin Stars

Think long and hard about this question: Before the nineties, when was the last time the English-speaking world looked at a Latina woman as a style icon? Eva Peron? Nowadays, however, any follower of tabloid magazines can name a slew of Latina celebrities whom they consider fashionable: Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Gisele Bundchen, and so on. These chicas strut their stuff, becoming household names in the process.

Original images from Style.com

Some of them have translated their style clout into gigs as designers and spokesmodels. Jennifer Lopez parlayed her fame and uniquely streetwise look into clothing lines. Penelope Cruz and her sister, Monica, now design a clothing line exclusively for Mango. At the height of the Desperate Housewives hype, Eva Longoria's outfits on and off the air were scrutinized endlessly, and she landed major endorsement deals with companies like L'Oreal and Bebe. The clothing lines, collaborations with major chains, endorsements--the success of these endeavours proves that there's a consumer group that identifies with these ladies. This consumer base may be Latin or non-Latin, but it certainly identifies with the personal style, charm, success, beauty, and aspirational lifestyle that these ladies embody.

Interestingly, the chicos haven't had as much success establishing themselves as style stars in the English-speaking world with the notable exception of Diego Luna. After the unprecedented success of Y Tu Mama Tambien, Diego scored English-language roles in a number of films released in North America, most notably Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. His slim build, boyishly handsome good looks, and puppy dog eyes made him an ideal blank canvas for designer suits and higher-end streetwear. The high points of his evolution as a style icon include a 12-page fashion spread modelling suits in a July 2004 issue of GQ, and a stint as a spokesmodel for Ermengildo Zegna in 2005.

Diego Luna looking suave in Zegna

Racial Politics and Latin Celebrities

The diversity of these celebrities' looks pushes yet reaffirms the boundaries of what mainstream America thinks of as a stereotypically Latin look. When most North Americans think of a typically "Latin-looking" person, the image that comes to mind is dark eyes, dark hair, and dark skin. Yet the wholesome all-American looks of Alexis Bledel (Mexican/Argentinean), blond supermodel Gisele, and Gael Garcia Bernal's fair skin and green eyes challenge this stereotype. Latin celebrities who veer from the stereotype have broadened popular conception so that it reflects the diversity of the modern-day Spanish-speaking world.

Alexis Bledel (photo courtesy of Purse Blog)

At the same time, it is interesting to see that appearance-based typecasting in Hollywood still stands. Latin actors who look relatively Caucasian and can speak with no audible accent can land more mainstream parts than the dark-haired, dark-eyed actors who speak with an accent; the latter are almost always typecast. For example, Alexis Bledel rose to fame as the all-American Rory Gilmore. She is so famous for this WASP-ish persona that people are often surprised to find out she's half-Mexican, half-Argentinean, and fluent in Spanish. Contrast Alexis Bledel's career trajectory with that of Salma Hayek's or Penelope Cruz's; both of these ladies almost exclusively play Latina women.

2

Translated: Reik

I've listened to this song so many times I've lost count, but it was only recently that the Spanish words clicked in my head and I suddenly understood the lovelorn lyrics that Reik was singing. What I heard made the incurable romantic in me grin like an idiot, so I thought I'd share these sweet and sappy words with you. Cue the collective "Aww" moment.

Que Vida La Mia ("What A Life, This Life of Mine")

I wake up in the morning, to see you pass by,
and I'll have you in my mind for the rest of the day
what a life, this life of mine
I still don't know your name and now you're in control of me
and I spend all day imagining your smile...
what a life, this life of mine
I don't know what to do to be the air around you
and caress your skin...
I only want to talk, I only want to get to know you
give me a bit of your time to convince you
I only want to be your friend, and I'm dying to go out with you
give me a signal, just give me a glance
if you're at my side, nothing else matters
now I want to be in your arms, and I'm dying to
taste your lips, so red, full of you...
just say yes to me...

I stay awake at nights thinking of you
and if I sleep I dream only of having your caresses
what a life, this life of mine...
I have all this love and it's only for you
and I'm only satisfied seeing you another day
what a life, this life of mine...
I don't know what to do to be the air around you
and caress your skin...

I only want to talk, I only want to get to know you
give me a bit of your time to convince you
I only want to be your friend, and I'm dying to go out with you
give me a signal, just give me a glance
if you're at my side, nothing else matters
now I want to be in your arms, and I'm dying to
taste your lips, so red, full of you...
just say yes to me...

0

Latin Pop Culture and Fashion (Pt. 1): Ugly Betty

Image from poptower.com

A while ago, one of my readers, Serg Riva, left me a comment saying that he'd like to know what I thought of Latin pop culture's influence on fashion. I posted an interim response saying I'd have to think about the topic a bit more. My thoughts leaped in all directions and are probably too verbose to be contained in a single post, so I'm splitting them up into a series of posts. This first post focuses on Ugly Betty and its influence on fashion.

What most of us know as Ugly Betty began as a popular Colombian telenovela called Yo Soy Betty La Fea. While the American version puts its unattractive heroine to work at a fashion magazine, the original series made a fashion design firm Betty's workplace. Both locations provide fodder for fashion-oriented storylines, as well as emphasize how the heroine's looks make her a fish out of water in an industry where looks are all-important. Although the telenovela achieved great success throughout Latin America and spawned spin-offs in multiple languages and countries, it took the influence of Salma Hayek to bring the show stateside. The rest, as they say, is history.

Ugly Betty's influence on fashion is not based on its accurate portrayal of the fashion industry; that notion is laughable. Instead, its influence lies in its mainstream appeal and its ability to concurrently serve a dose of fashion fun and Latin pop culture to mainstream America. The show's antics may be crazy, but it does draw on aspects of the industry that it portrays. Ugly Betty provides models such as Rebecca Romijn and Naomi Campbell with starring and cameo roles, respectively. A plotline involving a company softball game against Elle magazine grounds the show in reality by referencing a real-life fashion magazine. Designers such as Kenneth Cole and Vera Wang make brief appearances, while Marc Jacobs's current muse Victoria Beckham has an amusing role as fictional creative director Wilhelmina Slater's friend. The fact that a Latina actress and producer was responsible for bringing this show to mainstream North America, and for providing models and designers with another platform for reaching middle America, is a significant indication of how Latin pop culture has influenced the fashion industry.

Vera Wang makes a cameo on the show.

The growing popularity of Ugly Betty has also made a style star out of America Ferrera. Ferrera embodies a full-bodied attractiveness and vivaciousness not usually seen in mainstream media, but she has proven time and again that she has the style chops to outshine skinnier starlets on the red carpet. I can definitely see Ferrera giving young Latina girls with body image issues a major self-esteem boost by proving that you don't have to be Caucasian and thin to succeed in the entertainment industry. It's no coincidence that her breakthrough role was in the indie film Real Women Have Curves.

America Ferrera in Marie Claire

Further reading:
Yo Soy Betty La Fea on Wikipedia
Ugly Betty on Wikipedia

NEXT UP: Mainstream Latin celebrities making their mark in fashion

2

Lisa's Most Coveted List

5 things I'm loving or lusting after right now.

1. "Jebus" and "boo urns." I may be an English lit major, but where would my everyday vocabulary be without these two expressive gems spawned by The Simpsons? They're on urbandictionary.com right now; someday, though, I'm sure they'll join "d'oh" in the OED and become official words/expressions in the English language.

2. Alice + Olivia two toned belted sweater coat, $440. I've obsessed over sweater coats time and time again, but I do believe this one by Alice + Olivia takes the cake. Too bad about the price tag. Not only is it too expensive for me, I can't justify spending so much on an item that I know will pill with regular wear.



3. James Franco. Tortured artist? Please--I'll take a cute guy with a sense of humour over a sensitive suffering soul any day. I know James Franco from the Spiderman movies and his critically acclaimed portrayal of James Dean, yet it took the pothead antics of Pineapple Express to put him solidly in my good books.



4. "Wow" by Orlando Conga. I first heard this merengue track at one of the Sunday afternoon salsa socials and the darn song got stuck in my head. Warning: may cause uncontrollable swaying of hips and tapping of feet.

5. Fairy Tales Are True feather skimmer, $38. Jebus, these shoes make me want to say "boo urns"--in a good way.

4

Translated: Reik

I was saving this post for a bleak winter day, but the rain in the music video reminds me of what Vancouver looks like right now. Yes, my last week of summer sunshine has been rained out. And I have a sore throat and cough that won't quit.

Invierno ("Winter")

It rains outside, it rains still more
The city is deserted
Meanwhile you and I take refuge in eternity
I don't feel cold near you
Inside of me shines the sun

The sky falls and I don't care
We have our world
The sky is always blue when we're together
Nothing else matters
That here it'll forever be
Winter

So much noise, so much loneliness
People who run without stopping
Behind the door this universe of infinite peace
I need the calm that you give me

The sky falls and I don't care
We have our world
The sky is always blue when we're together
Nothing else matters

except what you give me

Clouds, wind, fear, rain
Gray nights without a moon
Another winter of darkness
You kiss me, you cure me
Your warmth and your tenderness
don't let it enter

Winter, winter, winter

The sky falls and I don't care
We have our world
The sky is always blue when we're together
Nothing else matters
That here it'll forever be
Winter

The sky falls and I don't care
The day is always blue
The sky falls and I don't care
We have our world

1

Lisa's Most Coveted List

You know the drill! 5 things I'm loving or lusting after right now.

1. Reik's Secuencia album. Reik's sentimental pop rock en espanol makes me absurdly happy when I'm at work.

2. 'Scent of summer' tunic, $45.99. Purple? Check. Pleated chiffon? Check. Demure floral details? Check. I can't stop envisioning this top with my dark denim circle skirt.



3. Frying pan-da, $34.99. Grilled cheese sandwiches taste a wee bit better when your adorable frying pan is smiling back at you. Along with the Hello Kitty toaster, the panda frying pan might actually turn me into a breakfast person.



4. Gold and blue multi-flower hoops, $25.89. Oversized gold hoops are usually associated with a ghetto fabulous vibe, but these earrings transcend any association with hip-hop music video style. Sweet blossoms and gem and enamel details make these the accessory of choice for swishy summer skirts.



5. Colin Firth. BBC miniseries fans swear that Firth is the definitive Darcy. For me, his appeal lies in his ability to convey straitlaced British breeding while cutting loose in hilarious ways. My love for him was renewed while watching him rock out in a black tee and leather pants in What a Girl Wants (hey, it was on TV and there was nothing else on!). And who can forget the sissy fight sequences in Bridget Jones? I can't wait to see him belt out ABBA songs in Mamma Mia!

Update: I've just discovered that track 6 in the embedded playlist above skips. If you want to listen to "Invierno" (and trust me, it's worth a listen!), watch the video below.

8

Translated: Belanova

A while ago, The Clothes Horse did a wonderful blog post where she pondered what the colour pink represents to herself as well as society at large. I left a less-than-articulate comment in response, but her blog post did remind me of something else entirely: the equally wonderful song "Rosa Pastel" by Belanova.

This song is on regular rotation at work as I fix index entries and edit release notes. The simple melody drew me in initially, but after a couple of listens I could discern the lyrics a bit better and was drawn to the melancholy yet sugar-sweet vocals of Denisse Guerrero. In fact, after watching the music video, I think I might have a bit of a girl crush on Guerrero. As the super-stylish and charismatic lead singer for an all-guy group, she's a bit like the Mexican synth-pop version of Gwen Stefani.

The video:

Rosa Pastel ("Pastel Pink")

If I would like to be this woman
the mother of your children
and walk together toward the altar
direct towards death
and at the end not speak
we destroyed the two
and to that end
you and I now don't exist

No, I don't want to be this woman
she was at the abyss
and you
you're not what you promised
you'd be my superhero, and
everything ends, there's nothing left,
we'll be two strangers, I
will forget you, you'll forget me
Good riddance

And where I left, this button
that leads to happiness
honeymoon, pastel pink
cliches and stupid things
and at the end not speak
we destroyed the two
and to that end
you and I now don't exist

No, I don't want to be this woman
she was at the abyss
and you
you're not what you promised
you'd be my superhero, and
everything ends, there's nothing left,
we'll be two strangers, I
will forget you, you'll forget me
Good riddance

Update: I've discovered where Guerrero's impeccable sense of style comes from. Before she joined Belanova, she honed her artistic eye as a fashion design student, according to Wikipedia.

0

NaCo Cool

Yesterday a reader, Serg Riva, left a comment encouraging me to write more about Latin pop culture and how I think it relates to fashion. To tell the truth, I'd never really thought about the two in relation to each other. Sure, I admired and envied the ease with which my Mexican ex-boyfriend's sisters could look feminine and sexy with minimal effort. On my trips to Mexico City, I surreptitiously checked out the graphic tees and laid-back cool of my ex and his friends. I've written about what I think epitomizes Latin girl chic during the summertime. On the whole though, I don't think I've let these two sides of my blog overlap much. Fashion is fashion, and my fervent interest in Latin pop culture falls into the "anything else that catches her fancy" category.

Serg's comments spurred some thoughts which are still percolating in my head, waiting for a more articulate moment in the sun. In the meantime, my more immediate thoughts jumped to NaCo brand T-shirts.

NaCo started off as the brainchild of two Latin art students in design school in Pasadena, California. The name of the company is a play on the Mexican slang word "naco," which is closest to something like "hick" or "white trash" in English. NaCo's founders wanted to re-appropriate the term "naco" and turn it into something positive: in their view, a naco is someone who is unabashedly himself and self-accepting, no matter how tasteless or low-class others think he is. The result? A collection of subversive, tongue-in-cheek graphic tees and a following among Latin entertainers such as Molotov, Cafe Tacuba, Juanes, Diego Luna, and Gael Garcia Bernal.

(Random shoes hanging off electric wires; how much more naco can you get?)

("Guey" is another bit of Mexican slang and sounds exactly like "way." Every time I've asked a Mexican guy what it means, he's had trouble giving me an exact definition. I consider it something close to "dude" in surfer-speak because it gets appended to the end of sentences randomly, almost reflexively.)

A quick look at the NaCo website instantly threw me into full-on Mexico nostalgia. Even NaCo's Spanish-language URL (http://www.chidochido.com/) made me laugh: "Chido" is Mexican slang and means "awesome." When you see something really cool, you say "Que chido" or "Esta bien chido."

(Translation: "Being naco is awesome." Indeed.)

Some really chido links:

• NaCo (in English)
• NaCo (in Spanish)
• NaCo on Wikipedia

4

Translated: Reik

My latest Latin pop obsession is Reik, a guitar-driven Mexican pop group from Baja California. I love their soulful vocals, simple melodies, and the sound of their strumming. I could go on ad nauseum about their music and I'm having trouble deciding which song I should translate. At first I was really attracted to "Invierno," but "Invierno" means "winter," and a cursory skim-through of the Spanish lyrics indicated it wasn't the best song for summer since it's about a happy couple taking refuge from winter inside their inviting home. So instead I decided to translate one of their smash hits, "Levemente." Enjoy!

If you want to listen to the song, click here.

Levemente ("Slowly")

I intend to resolve the mystery of your goodbye
You have no alibi, you have no word, you have no heart
A fog of sadness clouds my vision
I have passed on the threshold of pain
Your absence is the longest winter I've lived
The lament and the memories have not left

Slowly each time that the wind blows I breathe you
Under the mantle of night I hallucinate you

I miss your faded fragrance
Since then time has dried it up, no no no
My heart is not a flower; it radiates pain
Your silence was the saddest conversation I've had
I don't know how much time has elapsed since then, no no no

Slowly each time that the wind blows I breathe you
Under the mantle of night I hallucinate you

Slowly each time that the wind blows I breathe you
Under the mantle of night I hallucinate you

2

Translated: Juanes

I usually translate the really sad Spanish love songs, but this one is so upbeat and I've been listening to it on repeat for the past hour or so. It's so perfect for all the springtime lovers out there.

Click here to listen to the song.

Lo Que Me Gusta A Mi ("What I Like")

When I'm thinking of you
love is what strongly exudes from me
for this I always live so happily
since you're what I most want for me.

When I depart for Medellin,
in every mountain I draw traces of you,
and if I go to Bogot there also
the beautiful savannah makes me think of you,
and I have travelled the entire world and

I tell you that never have I seen something more beautiful than your gaze.
I tell you that I have seen the moon at night talk to the sea,
but never have I seen something more beautiful than your gaze.
And it's your eyes, your smile, and your mouth
and your pretty little face that I like in the end.
And I'm getting to be someone who's always a crazy man
when I look bit by bit at the way in which I like you.

Yesterday it was really really but really hot
and I felt cold because I didn't have all your love.
Today on the other hand it's cold and I feel warm
because you're once again with me, my great love,
and I have travelled the entire world and

I tell you that never have I seen something more beautiful than your gaze.
I tell you that I have seen the moon at night talk to the sea,
but never have I seen something more beautiful than your gaze.
And it's your eyes, your smile, and your mouth
and your pretty little face that I like in the end.
And I'm getting to be someone who's always a crazy man
when I look bit by bit at the way in which I like you.

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Translated: Ricky Martin

How do you move on when you keep thinking of the past?

Click here to listen to the song.

Con Tu Nombre ("With Your Name")

I leave the window open for if a song comes
and a net of butterflies hanging from the balcony,
for if the wind leaves behind some story there entangled
from forgotten notes, from characteristics of your absence.

Before, before I dream of someone new,
I have to forget your lips,
before I have to uproot from my memory
every verse that started...with your name.

Some letters burn and an errant melody,
a handful of words cut off halfway.
When time leaves behind this deserted road
without arriving anywhere and I strip away your traces...

Before, before I dream of someone new,
I have to forget your kisses,
before I have to uproot from my memory
every verse that started...with your name.

This is the last time that I sing
your name, your name...
This is the last time...

Before, before I dream of someone new,
I have to forget your lips.
Before, before I close my eyes,
I have to forget your skin,

before I have to uproot from my memory
every verse that started...with your name.

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Translated: Juanes

Many of us have had relationships that sour because they change from something that was wonderful to something that reduces us to tears. Sometimes we have to watch friends go through this heartbreaking process as well, as I have had too much occasion to do these past few weeks. At some point, we have to say that the situation is unacceptable and move on.

I think that my favourite song of the moment, "Clase de Amor" by Juanes, says it all. The speaker in the song has had his heart broken by a certain woman one too many times and refuses to accept the type of love she offers him. It's certainly an anthem for those of us who can't tolerate a broken relationship any longer and want to set themselves free! This is my rough translation of Juanes's lyrics, and I'm dedicating it to anyone who's hung up and feels frustrated by a less-than-ideal love life. You can listen to the song here.

Clase de Amor ("Sort of Love")

Now you know nobody loves you like I do
That nobody has given you his heart like I did mine
Now I can't tolerate this much longer
I believe that I'll be better off alone, better than with bad company
This was not what you and I agreed to do yesterday

I know that after the torment comes the calm
But I don't see calmness in you, nor how to have it with all this drama
It's impossible for me to keep quiet now
It's impossible if you ignore me, and then you cry because I distance myself
This was not what you and I agreed to do yesterday

If this is the sort of love that you offer me
You're mistaken, I can't accept it
If this is how you love me better then I distance myself
Find me if you want to when you're cured
See how you broke down the motor and I exploit my heart
I see that you have no more remedies to offer me.

If someday you cure yourself, if someday I forgive
It's possible that we can go back and mend everything
For now no, for now no, for now no, for now no...
I'm sorry
This was not what you and I agreed to do yesterday

If this is the sort of love that you offer me
You're mistaken, I can't accept it
If this is how you love me better then I distance myself
Find me if you want to when you're cured
See how you broke down the motor and I exploit my heart
I see that you have no more remedies to offer me.

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Translated: Alejandro Sanz

I've been feeling kind of blue lately...yes, even more blue than all those cocktail dresses I was coveting about a week ago. One of the things I always do when I feel like this is listen to sappy Spanish love songs, and nobody does a sappy love ballad like Alejandro Sanz. I like his lyrics because they're more demanding than the standard pop fare, which also makes the love songs richer and more satisfying to listen to when you're going through a hang-up.

My Spanish is very rough at best so the translation below may be a little off. If you want to watch the video, click here.

I'm dedicating this post to myself, my friends, and anyone else going through a hang-up at the moment.

Amiga Mia

Friend of mine, I know, you live only for him,
he knows it too, but he doesn't see you
like I do. I beg you to listen to what my mouth says
what I have confessed between drinks:
it is with your skin he dreams at night,
he goes mad with each button that
you undo thinking of his hands.
He hasn't seen you tremble, waiting
for a word, gesture, or embrace.
He doesn't see you like I do breathing
with eyes wide open.
Listen to me as I say this.
Oh friend of mine, I know it and so does he.

Friend of mine, I don't know what to say
or do to see you happy.
I hope I'd be able to give you soul or freedom,
that which is lacking;
to fill your pockets with wars won,
with dreams and renewed illusions.
I want to give you a poem;
You think I"m giving you the news.

Friend of mine, I hope one day you'll listen to my song,
soon; you understand that what I never wanted
was to tell your story
because I'd become sentimental.
But, forgive me, friend of mine,
it's not intelligence, neither is it wisdom,
this is my way to say things.
This is not just my work, this is my language.

Friend of mine, princess of an infinite fairytale...
Friend of mine, I only pretend that you count on me.
Friend of mine, one of these days
I'll learn to speak
without having to be so indirect,
to say that all of this story matters to me,
because you're my friend.

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Eye Candy: Diego Luna's Zegna Ads

In case you haven't figured it out from my profile, I love Diego Luna. He's gorgeous, talented, intelligent, charming, and a good dresser to boot. His ventures range from Mexican indie films and stage plays to ads, restaurants (he has a coffee bar and sushi restaurant in Mexico City), a production company with longtime friend Gael Garcia Bernal, and a foray into directing with the debut of his critically acclaimed documentary about a champion Mexican boxer. Although he's probably most famous to North Americans as one of the teens in Y Tu Mama Tambien, or as Patrick Swayze's successor in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, I've found that most people I talk to don't know who he is until they get to know me and are inundated by my obsession. As dorky as this sounds, the fact that few people I know can recognize his name makes him seem all the cooler as a celebrity crush.

His status as a style icon made him a natural choice for Zegna's sportswear campaign a while ago. Whenever I see candid photos of him or shots from a film festival red carpet, I'm struck by how he manages to epitomize tailored elegance and the sort of groomed Latin masculinity I see in clubs that Mexicans frequent--you know, the type of dark-haired, dark-eyed guy who puts a bit of gel in his hair, leaves the top buttons of his dress shirt unbuttoned, wears a bit of cologne, and has a pack of cigarettes and a lighter hidden in an inside coat pocket.

If any of my friends are reading this, I know, I know...for me his appeal boils down to two things: puppy-dog eyes and that cute Mexican accent.

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