6 Catchy Tunes to Learn Spanish
We've all experienced those tunes that just keep going around and around our head, but have you ever thought how that one irritating song could help you learn a language?
I've come up with six well known songs with highly repetitive tunes that will cause those Spanish phrases and words to ‘stick’ in your head. So listen below, discover what the choruses mean and get ‘em stuck in your head for good.
1. Macarena - Los del Rio
Fun Fact: Macarena is responsible for the biggest dance craze. We've all done it!
Chorus lyrics
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa’ darle alegría y cosas buenas
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría Macarena
¡Eh,… Macarena! Aaay!
(repetir una vez)
Translation
Give happiness to your body Macarena
'cause your body is for giving happiness and nice things to
Give happiness to your body Macarena
Heeey,... Macarena! Aaay!
2. La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
Fun Fact: Ritchie Valens was the first Hispanic Rockstar. He had a huge impact on Hispanic audience in the US.
Chorus lyrics
Para bailar La Bamba
Para bailar La Bamba se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita
¡Ay! Arriba y arriba
Y arriba y arriba y arriba iré
Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero, por ti seré
Por ti seré, por ti seré
Bamba, bamba, bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba
Translation
In order to dance La Bamba
In order to dance La Bamba a little bit of grace is needed
A little bit of grace and something else
Ah! Up and up
And up and up and up I'll go
I'm not a sailor
I'm not a sailor but I'll become one for you
I'll become one for you, I'll become one for you
Bamba, bamba, bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba
3. La Isla Bonita - Madonna
Fun Fact: In an interview with The New York Times, Madonna called this song “a tribute to the beauty and mystery of Latin American people”.
La brisa tropical de la isla
toda la naturaleza, salvaje y libre
ahí es donde quiero estar
La isla bonita
Translation
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
4. Hola Mami- AKA Zaya & Tony V. FT Crazy Flow
Fun Fact: The Spanish version of one of the most addictive and easy to remember choruses of summer 2016!
Chorus lyrics
¿Hola mami como estás?
¿De dónde tú eres?
Te quiero conocer,
es que estás muy buena,
dime que vamos hacer,
que se te ve que lo quieres mangar,
y tú me tienes loco.
Translation
Hello mami (baby) how are you?
Where are you from?
I want to meet you
because you’re looking good,
tell me what we’re going to do,
because it seems like you want to get with me,
you’re driving me crazy.
5. Vivir mi vida - Mark Anthony
Fun Fact: Vivir mi vida one best song of the year and best music video at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2014.
Chorus lyrics
Voy a reír, voy a bailar
vivir mi vida, la, la, la, la
Voy a reír, voy a gozar
vivir mi vida, la, la, la, la
Translation
I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance
[I'm gonna] live my life, la, la, la, la
I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy
live my life, la, la, la, la
6. La Gasolina- Daddy Yankee
Fun Fact: This was the first ever worldwide reggaetón hit. It sold over a million copies in the US and it was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Chorus lyrics
A ella le gusta la gasolina (dame más gasolina)
Como le encanta la gasolina (dame más gasolina)
Translation
She likes the gasoline (Give me more gasoline)
How she likes gasoline (Give me more gasoline)
I hope you enjoy listening to the songs, learning some Spanish and having fun!
- Zaskia
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