Here's something you might be interested in.
Sometimes it is necessary to take a break and indulge in something cheap and easy.
Granada is just that. This Mexican song written about the Spanish city of Granada has been recorded by just about everybody from Johnny Mathis to Mario Lanza.
The song speaks of falling in love with the city of Granada and the romance of Granada's glorious past and a thousand guitars playing a soft Carbinera on the Andalusian Plain.
The music is absolutely perfect even though the composer, Augustin Lara, was Mexican. Who cares? Bizet was French.
Flamenco maniacs may not like this but it seems Spain's most idiomatic music has been written by Mexico and France.
With Bizet I am, of course, referring to Carmen.
Granada effortlessly sweeps along with a melody that charms and makes us imagine all that is essentially Spain.
What's amazing is the variety of arrangements this song has undergone.
There are traditional arrangements, big band arrangements, rat pack arrangements, easy listening, Filipino parody, classical guitar, and perhaps the best of all, 60's pop with Jay and the Americans.
Youtube it and you'll spend all night listening to Corelli, Sinatra, some guy from Sweden's Got Talent, and whatever a Helmut Lotti is.
I've included Franco Corelli because it's Franco Corelli and he nails one of the greatest high C's you'll ever hear. It's also cheese ball, Italian television at its finest. I've added a literal translation of the Spanish below.
I had to put Jay and the Americans in. Sometimes I forget that Jay Black was a fantastic singer.
Granada, I'm falling under your spell, And if you could speak, what a fascinating tale you would tell. Of an age the world has long forgotten, Of an age that weaves a silent magic in Granada today. The dawn in the sky greets the day with a sigh for Granada. For she can remember the splendor that once was Granada. It still can be found in the hills all around as I wander along, Entranced by the beauty before me, Entranced by a land full of flowers and song. When day is done and the sun touch the sea in Granada, I envy the blush of the snow-clad Tierra Novada, Soon it will welcome the stars While a thousand guitars play a soft Carbinera. Then moonlit Granada will live again, The glory of yesterday, romantic and gay. (musical interlude) And soon it will welcome the stars While a thousand guitars play a soft Carbinera. Then moonlit Granada will live again, The glory of yesterday, romantic, gay Granada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9hZtFQch0o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMOjgYk1WwY
Sometimes it is necessary to take a break and indulge in something cheap and easy.
Granada is just that. This Mexican song written about the Spanish city of Granada has been recorded by just about everybody from Johnny Mathis to Mario Lanza.
The song speaks of falling in love with the city of Granada and the romance of Granada's glorious past and a thousand guitars playing a soft Carbinera on the Andalusian Plain.
The music is absolutely perfect even though the composer, Augustin Lara, was Mexican. Who cares? Bizet was French.
Flamenco maniacs may not like this but it seems Spain's most idiomatic music has been written by Mexico and France.
With Bizet I am, of course, referring to Carmen.
Granada effortlessly sweeps along with a melody that charms and makes us imagine all that is essentially Spain.
What's amazing is the variety of arrangements this song has undergone.
There are traditional arrangements, big band arrangements, rat pack arrangements, easy listening, Filipino parody, classical guitar, and perhaps the best of all, 60's pop with Jay and the Americans.
Youtube it and you'll spend all night listening to Corelli, Sinatra, some guy from Sweden's Got Talent, and whatever a Helmut Lotti is.
I've included Franco Corelli because it's Franco Corelli and he nails one of the greatest high C's you'll ever hear. It's also cheese ball, Italian television at its finest. I've added a literal translation of the Spanish below.
I had to put Jay and the Americans in. Sometimes I forget that Jay Black was a fantastic singer.
Granada, I'm falling under your spell, And if you could speak, what a fascinating tale you would tell. Of an age the world has long forgotten, Of an age that weaves a silent magic in Granada today. The dawn in the sky greets the day with a sigh for Granada. For she can remember the splendor that once was Granada. It still can be found in the hills all around as I wander along, Entranced by the beauty before me, Entranced by a land full of flowers and song. When day is done and the sun touch the sea in Granada, I envy the blush of the snow-clad Tierra Novada, Soon it will welcome the stars While a thousand guitars play a soft Carbinera. Then moonlit Granada will live again, The glory of yesterday, romantic and gay. (musical interlude) And soon it will welcome the stars While a thousand guitars play a soft Carbinera. Then moonlit Granada will live again, The glory of yesterday, romantic, gay Granada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9hZtFQch0o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMOjgYk1WwY