Hello, Hivers and music lovers!
Happy Tuesday! This is my first #ttt post of the new year and I am inspired by a song that I hadn't heard in years but that played on my son's playlist in the weeks we spent together over the Holidays.
It was an unexpected find that I loved. It's a bolero, one not as well known as others.
The bolero for those unfamiliar is a musical genre that emerged in Cuba in the late 19th century. Looking for a bit of history for this #ttt, I found that the genre was declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2023. (source)
Some of the best-known boleros have been versioned over and over again. Some time ago, I made a #ttt about the most versioned one. It is about Bésame Mucho.
For this Tuesday, in addition to the song I heard from my son's playlist, I chose a couple of other songs and this is probably just the beginning of some Bolero Tuesdays this year.
But before I get into the tunes, let me give you a little background for those of you who aren't familiar with #threetunetuesday. In the words of @ablaze, who started the initiative.
The jist is as follows
Every Tuesday I'm going to share 3 songs which I like to listen to and I invite your feedback in the comments below. Better still, why not have a blast of your own Three Tune Tuesday and mention me in the post and I'll come and find the post and upvote it. If you could also use #ttt or #threetunetuesday tags that would be great. It'll be a sweet way for us all to discover new music. You'll also be in with a chance of winning the prize - more on that later.
You can find out more at ablaze's post with his recommendations for this week the #137.
And without further ado, let's go with the tunes.
Tune 1 - Vicentico Valdés - Los Aretes de la Luna
This is the song that inspired this #ttt and that I have been listening to over and over again in the last few weeks.
Los Aretes de la Luna is by the Cuban composer José Dolores Quiñones but became known as performed by Cuban singer Vicentico Valdés when he was part of the Cuban orchestra La Sonora Matancera.
I love the lyrics of this bolero and it was a pleasant and unexpected surprise to find it in my son's playlist.
Tune 2 - Omara Portuondo and Natalia Lafourcade - Tú Me Acostumbraste
The second song is one of those boleros that never go out of style, Tú Me Acostumbraste. It was composed in the 50's by Cuban composer Frank Domínguez. It has many versions, and I have chosen the one by Omara Portuondo, she is one of the greats of the bolero, and those who have ever heard Buena Vista Social Club may be familiar with her voice. In the song, she is accompanied by Natalia Lafourcade, and those who have followed my #ttt know that I love the Mexican singer. The version of this bolero, besides being beautiful, is a tribute by Natalia to the great Omara Portuondo.
Tune 3 - Olga Guillot - Soy Lo Prohibido
I remember growing up listening to this song, one of my aunts loves it. And although she doesn't listen to it as much as she used to when I was a little girl I remember that whenever I stayed at her house she would always listen to Olga Guillot, a Cuban singer who was known as the queen of the bolero.
Soy Lo Prohibido is a song by Mexican composer Roberto Cantoral and has been covered many times but for me, none is as good as Olga Guillot's version.
Have you ever listened to any bolero before? Which one is your favorite? Tell me in the comments.
Thank you very much for reading!
Enjoy the music, and enjoy life!
And there is no intention of any copyright infringement.
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