Why It Matters: ¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?

After this module, you’ll be ready for some small-talk in Spanish: the first part of the module covers weather, so you can complain about the rain and cheer on the sun (or vice-versa). We’ll also prepare for all sorts of weather by learning clothing vocabulary.

Here are some songs to try on before you step out into the module— can you see what these titles have in common?

Rosalía — Aute cuture
Rosalía Vila Tobella, known mononymously as Rosalía, is a Spanish singer, songwriter and record producer. Initially known for her modern interpretations of flamenco music, Rosalía crossed language boundaries after receiving praise from international influencers and after several collaborations with artists such as J Balvin, Pharrell Williams, and James Blake. “Aute Cuture” was released as a single on 30 May 2019. (English translation of Aute cuture)

You can view the transcript for “Aute Cuture” here (opens in new window).

Juanes — La camisa negra
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez (born August 9, 1972), known professionally as Juanes, is a Colombian musician. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards. According to his record label, Juanes has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. The lyrics explain that the bitter singer is wearing La Camisa Negra, the black shirt, as a way of mourning a failed love affair or even his own death, presumably singing to the object of his love. The sad lyrics are dissonant with the cheerful melody. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Camisa_Negra)

You can view the transcript for “La Camisa Negra” here (opens in new window).

Monsieur Periné — La tienda de sombreros
Monsieur Periné is a Bogotá-based musical ensemble from Colombia with an Afro-Colombian sound that mixes Latin and European flavors. Their style mixes elements of cumbia, tango, danzón, bolero and pop music, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. At the Latin Grammy Awards, the ensemble was named best new artist of 2015. (English translation of La Tienda de Sombreros)

You can view the transcript for “La Tienda de Sombreros” here (opens in new window).

Kevin Johansen — S. O. S. tan fashion
Kevin Johansen (born 21 June 1964 in Fairbanks, Alaska) is a songwriter who mixes several rhythms and languages in his musical work. He naturally switches from English to Spanish or from Cumbia to Rock. He is seen as an artist who is not afraid to experiment, since he has not settled with one specific genre he usually calls his work “de genre-ate”.

You can view the transcript for “S. O. S. Tan Fashion” here (opens in new window).

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