{"id":144484,"date":"2023-12-15T11:47:33","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T16:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/spanish-songs-lyrics\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T14:59:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T18:59:47","slug":"spanish-songs-lyrics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/spanish-songs-lyrics\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Spanish Songs with Lyrics for Learners"},"content":{"rendered":"

You’ve probably heard a few hit Spanish tunes in your day, or perhaps you’re a full-blown reggaet\u00f3n\u00a0<\/em>addict. And there’s a whole world of seriously cool Spanish singers out there<\/strong> doing their thing, with many of them not only being informative, but also inspiring due to the deeper meanings of their songs.<\/p>\n

But the best thing about listening to these songs is that you get to learn Spanish while you dance and sing along\u2014I can’t think of anything better.<\/p>\n

Read on for 20 poppin’ songs by 20 great Spanish-speaking artists from around the world. For even more tunes, you can also check out our recommendations from the FluentU YouTube channel<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

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1. “Me Gustas T\u00fa”<\/em> by Manu Chao<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics:<\/strong> “Me Gustas T\u00fa<\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Beginner<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me gusta la canela, me gustas t\u00fa <\/em>\u2014 I like cinnamon, I like you
\nMe gusta el fuego, me gustas t\u00fa \u2014 <\/em>I like fire, I like you
\nMe gusta menear, me gustas t\u00fa \u2014 <\/em>I like swaying, I like you.
\nMe gusta la Coru\u00f1a, me gustas t\u00fa \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I like La Coru\u00f1a (a city in Northern Spain), I like you
\nMe gusta Malasa\u00f1a, me gustas t\u00fa \u2014 <\/em>I like Malasa\u00f1a (a neighborhood in Madrid), I like you
\n<\/em>Me gusta la casta\u00f1a, me gustas t\u00fa \u2014 <\/em>I like walnuts, I like you
\nMe gusta Guatemala, me gustas t\u00fa \u2014<\/em> I like Guatemala, I like you<\/p>\n

Manu Chao’s happy-go-lucky song about all the things he likes in life is perfect for beginners. It’s also a really easy one to sing along to.<\/p>\n

The structure of the song is simple, with the verses stating all the things Manu Chao likes.\u00a0The chorus is a mix of French and Spanish (we’ll ignore the French for the purposes of this post, but if you’re learning French too then it’s a double whammy language lesson song).<\/p>\n

This song is a\u00a0good way to drill into your head the grammar of the verb gustar<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>If what you’re talking about is singular, the verb gustar<\/em> is singular (e.g. me gusta<\/strong> el mar<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 I like the sea). If you’re talking about something plural (e.g. aviones<\/em>) then gustar<\/em> is plural (me gustan<\/strong>\u00a0los aviones\u00a0\u2014 <\/em>I like planes).<\/p>\n

2. “Vivir Mi Vida” <\/em>by Marc Anthony<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“<\/em>Vivir mi vida<\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n

Level: <\/strong>Beginner<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Voy a re\u00edr, voy a bailar \u2014 <\/em>I’m going to laugh, I’m going to dance
\nVivir mi vida, lalalal\u00e1 \u2014 <\/em>Live my life, la la la
\nVoy a re\u00edr, voy a gozar \u2014 <\/em>I’m going to laugh, I’m going to enjoy myself
\nVivir mi vida, lalalal\u00e1 <\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Love my life, la la la<\/p>\n

American Marc Anthony is absolutely huge in Latin America, and this song was a massive hit in 2013. It’s another uplifting song perfect for singing along at the top of your voice once you’ve mastered the words.<\/p>\n

The vocabulary in the song is simple but useful. There are already a couple of words that are worth picking out and noting down, such as heridas<\/em> (wounds or injuries) and gotas<\/em>\u00a0(drops, in this case he’s talking about rain).<\/p>\n

The grammar is also fairly straightforward, so this is a good one to practice the present tense.<\/a><\/p>\n

Also, as we can see with the chorus we’ve just translated, Anthony uses the “ir<\/em> + a<\/em> + infinitive” structure several times in the chorus (Voy a bailar<\/em>, for example).<\/p>\n

If you ever get stuck trying to think of how to form this tense, next time you can just think of Mark Anthony and his plans for laughing, dancing and generally having a good time and living life. For more on this future form as well as other ways to talk about the future, see this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. “Bailando” <\/em>by Enrique Iglesias<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“Bailando<\/em><\/a>“<\/p>\n

Level: <\/strong>Beginner<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yo quiero estar contigo\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/em>I want to be with you
\nVivir contigo, bailar contigo \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Live with you, dance with you
\nTener contigo una noche loca (una noche loca) \u2014\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Have a crazy night with you (a crazy night)
\nAy, besar tu boca (y besar tu boca)\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/em>Oh, kiss your mouth (kiss your mouth)<\/p>\n

Oh, Enrique. You hoped he was going to come up, didn’t you?<\/p>\n

If you didn’t and you’re upset about the lack of female artists on this list, we’ll kindly direct you to our post on learning Spanish with Shakira.<\/a> Yes, the Colombian goddess gets her own post all to herself.<\/p>\n

Remember that\u00a0this song is different from\u00a0“Bailamos”<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>even though they’re both about dancing. This one is far less smoochy and more upbeat, and the video involves a lot of people bailando<\/em> (dancing) in the streets. Although it all maybe got a bit much for Enrique as he seems to have taken refuge in a tunnel.<\/p>\n

Useful vocabulary is, as we would expect from Enrique, all related to the coraz\u00f3n <\/em>(heart). He talks about his heart beating slowly (me palpita lento).<\/em> Palpitar\u00a0<\/em>is the verb “to beat” (as in heartbeat, not beating someone at Scrabble). He also croons about bodies going up (subiendo<\/em>) and down (bajando<\/em>), but we know he’s still talking about the dancing as he keeps repeating the word\u00a0bailando,\u00a0<\/em>just in case anyone misinterprets him.<\/p>\n

Again, the song is mostly in the present tense, so it’s nice and simple.<\/p>\n

Here’s a video lesson on the song:<\/p>\n

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4. “La Tortura<\/em>” by Shakira + Alejandro Sanz<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“La Tortura”<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate\/advanced<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

No pido que todos los d\u00edas sean de sol \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I don’t ask that every day be sunny
\nNo pido que todos los viernes sean de fiesta \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I don’t ask that every Friday be a party
\nTampoco te pido que vuelvas rogando perd\u00f3n \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Nor do I ask that you come back begging for forgiveness
\nSi lloras con los ojos secos y hablando de ella \u2014\u00a0<\/em>If you cry with dry eyes and talking about her<\/p>\n

The song’s lyrics are a goldmine for picking up everyday expressions and poetic vibes, making it a fun way to boost your vocabulary and get a feel for the culture.<\/p>\n

5. “Where She Goes” by Bad Bunny<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“Where She Goes”<\/a><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Beginner\/intermediate<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

No me gusta perder \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I don’t like to lose
\nDime qu\u00e9 vamo’ a hacer \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Tell me what we’re going to do
\nMe paso mirando el cel \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I pass time looking at my cell phone
\nWow, no puede ser \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Wow, it can’t be<\/p>\n

The lyrics are filled with contemporary colloquialisms and urban language, so you’ll be up to date on how young, cool Spanish speakers actually use the language.<\/p>\n

While listening, see what insights into Puerto Rican and Latin American culture you can garner. Are there words you haven’t heard before? How about “wow”? Did you know Spanish speakers used that English term?<\/p>\n

Here’s our YouTube lesson on the song:<\/p>\n

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6. \u201cShakira: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53\u201d by Bizarrap & Shakira<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53”<\/a><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate\/advanced<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perd\u00f3n, ya cog\u00ed otro avi\u00f3n \u2014<\/em> Sorry, I already took another plane.
\nAqu\u00ed no vuelvo, no quiero otra decepci\u00f3n \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I’m not coming back here, I don’t want another disappointment.
\nTanto que te la das de campe\u00f3n \u2014\u00a0<\/em>You play he champion so hard
\nY cuando te necesitaba diste tu peor versi\u00f3n \u2014<\/em>And when I needed you, you gave your worst version<\/p>\n

This song includes some great things to say to break up with someone.<\/p>\n

Another interesting thing to keep in mind when you’re listening to this song is the ease with which Spanish speakers rhyme words. With most words ending in similar ways (-a<\/em>, -o<\/em> or –ion<\/em>), it’s a pretty easy thing to do in Spanish lyrics.<\/p>\n

7. \u201cSuperdeli<\/em>\u201d by Caloncho<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“Superdeli”<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

No es tan imposible la utop\u00eda \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Utopia is not so impossible
\nT\u00fa con tus ideas, yo las m\u00edas \u2014\u00a0<\/em>You with your ideas, me with mine
\nCoincidir en esta traves\u00eda \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Match on this journey
\nPor si no te encuentro en otra vida \u2014\u00a0<\/em>In case I don’t find you in another life<\/p>\n

Using super clear Spanish word choices and mostly the present tense, this song is great for hearing words that you already know used in context and in a modern way.<\/p>\n

Focus on the use of the infinitive verb at the starts of many lines, and also look at the easy rhyming style that Spanish gives songwriters.<\/p>\n

8. \u201cPrimera Cita<\/em>” by Carin Leon<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“Primera cita”<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate\/advanced<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Te vi, me viste, al principio fue una broma \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I saw you, you say me, at first it was a joke
\nLuego la verdad se asoma, intercambiamos sonrisas \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Then the truth emerges, we exchange smiles
\nPas\u00f3 alg\u00fan tiempo, poco menos de una hora \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Some time passed, just under an hour
\nY por debajo la mesa tu tac\u00f3n toc\u00f3 mi bota \u2014\u00a0<\/em>And under the table, your heel touched my boot<\/p>\n

Describing a first date in all its gory and romantic details, this song is really good for helping you hear how modern Spanish users use romantic language.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It’s got some great details, expressed in pretty simple Spanish words and tenses, so all learners can benefit from listening to this song.<\/p>\n

9. “Vivir sin aire” <\/em>by\u00a0Man\u00e1<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“Vivir sin aire<\/em><\/a>“<\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Como quisiera poder vivir sin aire \u2014 <\/em>How I wish I could live without air
\nComo quisiera calmar mi aflicci\u00f3n \u2014\u00a0<\/em>How I would calm my affliction
\nComo quisiera poder vivir sin agua \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I wish I could live without water
\nMe encantar\u00eda robar tu coraz\u00f3n \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I’d love to steal your heart<\/p>\n

Mexican group Man\u00e1 gets a little cheesy in this song, as they sing about how they wish they could live without air, water and without their love but they find it impossible. As you can probably tell from the video, the song was released in the early 1990s.<\/p>\n

Useful vocabulary is related to angst-ridden feelings<\/a> like ahogar<\/em> (to suffocate), the line reads me estoy ahogando sin tu amor<\/em>\u00a0(I am suffocating without your love). Try and see how many other lines you can spot that could have been written by a heartsick thirteen-year-old in their journal.<\/p>\n

Man\u00e1 often uses the phrase c\u00f3mo quisiera\u00a0<\/em>(how I would like), which is a good example of how conditionals<\/a> are used in real life.<\/p>\n

10. “Mambeado” <\/em>by\u00a0Onda Vaga<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>“Mambeado<\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yo no s\u00e9 por qu\u00e9 a veces me pierdo \u2014<\/em> I don’t know why I sometimes get lost
\nLos ojos se me dan vuelta y me muero por dentro\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 My eyes go ’round in my head and I die inside
\nY me encierro otra vez y no puedo salir\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 And I lock myself in again and I can’t go out
\nNo puedo ver lo lindo de cada momento\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 I can’t see how lovely every moment is<\/p>\n

Onda Vaga don’t have the same level of international fame as the other artists listed here, but they’re popular in their home country Argentina<\/a>, and with good reason.<\/p>\n

Plus, their songs are excellent for learning Spanish. They’re simple enough that you can translate them, but full of enough new vocabulary that it’s still a challenge to figure them out.<\/p>\n

Now, these lyrics may sound depressing, but the chorus invites everyone to sing it to the moon, the sun and stars, so this bunch of boys aren’t quite as moody as they sound at first. This song is also another good one to sing at the top of your lungs. To really get in the Onda Vaga mood, this is preferably sung around a campfire.<\/p>\n

11. \u201cPaz, paz, paz\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Juanes<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cPaz, paz, paz\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Beginner<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Somos la nueva semilla del futuro, de la vida \u2014\u00a0<\/em>We are the new seed of the future, of life
\nSomos los ni\u0144os que cantan por la paz y la esperanza \u2014\u00a0<\/em>We are the children who sing for peace and hope<\/p>\n

Lots of super useful vocabulary is included in this peaceful song. For example: semilla\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(seed), futuro<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(future),\u00a0vida<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(life),\u00a0esperanza<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>(hope) and\u00a0so\u00f1ar<\/strong><\/em> (to dream).<\/p>\n

12. \u201cCarta a Rigoberta Mench\u00fa\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Celtas Cortos<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>\u201cCarta a Rigoberta Mench\u00fa\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Beginner<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quiero ver la luz del Sol natural \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I want to see natural sunlight
\nQuiero despertar sin temer morir \u2014 <\/em>I want to wake up without a fear of dying
\nQuiero caminar de pa\u00eds en pa\u00eds \u2014 <\/em>I want to talk from country to country
\nSin tener que odiar a quien vive all\u00ed \u2014\u00a0 <\/em>without having to hate who lives there<\/p>\n

This song is grammatically simple, which makes it a good choice for beginners. It has a lot of vocabulary\u2014including a great variety of nouns and verbs.<\/p>\n

Some of the infinitives include\u00a0ver\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to see),\u00a0despertar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to wake up),\u00a0caminar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to walk),\u00a0odiar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to hate),\u00a0resistir\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to resist),\u00a0cultivar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to cultivate),\u00a0cantar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to sing) and\u00a0so\u00f1ar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to dream).<\/p>\n

And these are some of the nouns:\u00a0tierra<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(land),\u00a0sue\u00f1os<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(dreams),\u00a0magia<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(magic),\u00a0luz<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(light),\u00a0jard\u00edn\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(garden) and\u00a0mundo\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(world).<\/p>\n

Before reading the lyrics, make sure you know who Rigoberta Mench\u00fa<\/a> is.\u00a0<\/p>\n

13. \u201cC\u00e1mbialo\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Paula Dalli<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>\u201cC\u00e1mbialo\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/em>Unfortunately, there are no lyrics of this song without spelling mistakes and a few words are missing.<\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

C\u00e1mbialo, S\u00e1lvalo \u2014 <\/em>Change it, save it
\nUnamos todos nuestras manos \u2014\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Let’s all join hands
\nSentir\u00e1s la amistad, \u2014 <\/em>You will feel the friendship
\nLa fuerza del ser humano \u2014 <\/em>The strength of the human being<\/p>\n

This song is fun because it is full of rhymes.<\/p>\n

Such rhymes include\u00a0hablar \u2013 cambiar \u2013 dar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to speak, to change, to give),\u00a0c\u00e1mbialo \u2013 s\u00e1lvalo<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(change it, save it),\u00a0amor \u2013 mejor<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(love, better),\u00a0reacci\u00f3n \u2013 ilusi\u00f3n<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(reaction, illusion),\u00a0sentir\u00e1s \u2013 mover\u00e1s<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(you will feel, you will move), etc.<\/p>\n

There are also quite a few examples of the imperative here, such as ayuda<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(help),\u00a0unamos<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(let\u2019s join),\u00a0empieza\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(start),\u00a0toma\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(take),\u00a0c\u00e1mbialo\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>and\u00a0s\u00e1lvalo<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

You can also learn the useful expression poner en marcha<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(set in motion), which appears in the song.<\/p>\n

14. \u201cPapeles mojados\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Chambao<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>\u201cPapeles mojados\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate\/advanced<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Miles de sombras cada noche trae la marea. \u2014\u00a0 <\/em>Thousands of shadows the tide brings every night
\nNavegan carga’os de ilusiones que en la orilla se quedan. \u2014 <\/em>They sail, loaded with illusions that remain on the shore
\nHistorias del d\u00eda a d\u00eda, historias de buena gente. \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Stories of everyday life, stories of good people
\nSe juegan la vida cansa’os, con hambre y un fr\u00edo que pela \u2014 <\/em>They risk their lives tired, hungry, and bitterly cold<\/p>\n

This song is great for hearing a different variety of Spanish pronunciation because\u00a0you’ll find a lot of Castilian Spanish pronunciation here.<\/p>\n

For example, cargaos<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0cargados<\/em><\/strong> (in context: full of\u2026), cansaos<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0cansados<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(tired),\u00a0mojaos<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0mojados<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(wet),\u00a0\u2018ta<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0hasta<\/em><\/strong> (till) and bocan\u00e1<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0bocanada\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(breath).<\/p>\n

Once all the vocabulary is understood, ask yourself what you think the title of the song means. Ask yourself questions like: \u00bfDe qui\u00e9n son las sombras que trae la marea?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(Whose shadows do\u00a0the tide bring?),\u00a0\u00bfPor qu\u00e9 se quedan las ilusiones en la orilla?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(Why do the illusions stay on the shore?),\u00a0\u00bfQu\u00e9 significa que los papeles no tienen due\u00f1o?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(What does \u201cthe papers have no owner\u201d mean?)<\/p>\n

15. \u201cLos ni\u00f1os queremos la paz\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by 3 + 2<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics: <\/strong>\u201cLos ni\u00f1os queremos la paz\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Beginner<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Canta conmigo, canta \u2014 <\/em>Sing with me, sing
\nGritaremos: “Basta ya” \u2014 <\/em>We will shout, “Enough is enough”
\nVen y dame la mano \u2014 <\/em>Come and give me your hand,
\nLos ni\u00f1os queremos la paz \u2014 <\/em>We children want peace.<\/p>\n

Pay special attention to the rhymes in this song, such as estaci\u00f3n \u2013 canci\u00f3n \u2013 rinc\u00f3n \u2013 coraz\u00f3n\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(station, song, corner, heart);\u00a0hablar \u2013 olvidar \u2013 contar \u2013 ganar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(to talk, to forget, to count, to win).<\/p>\n

16. \u201cNi\u00f1o soldado\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Ska-P<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cNi\u00f1o soldado\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2014<\/em> Note that there are few accents missing.<\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Beginner<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fui a nacer donde no hay nada \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I was born where there is nothing
\nTras esa l\u00ednea que separa el bien del mal \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Beyond that line that separates good from evil
\nMi tierra se llama ‘miseria’ \u2014 <\/em>My land is called “misery”
\nY no conozco la palabra ‘libertad’ \u2014 <\/em>And I don’t know the word “freedom”<\/p>\n

This song is helpful with learning the vocabulary of war.<\/p>\n

For example: miseria\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(misery),\u00a0secuestro<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(kidnap),\u00a0tortura<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(torture),\u00a0disparar<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(to shoot),\u00a0asesinar<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>(to murder),\u00a0mutilar<\/em><\/strong> (to mutilate), indiferencia<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(indifference),\u00a0infierno<\/em><\/strong> (hell) and pistola<\/em><\/strong> (gun)<\/p>\n

17. \u201cMal bicho\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cMal bicho\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Es malo tu destino \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Your destiny is bad
\n\u00bfQue marc\u00f3 tu camino? \u2014\u00a0<\/em>What marked your path?
\nLa canci\u00f3n que es valiente \u2014\u00a0<\/em>The song that is breace
\nEs canci\u00f3n para siempre \u2014 <\/em>is a song forever.<\/p>\n

This song allows you to see the use of\u00a0vos<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0instead of\u00a0t\u00fa<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(you) in Argentinian Spanish<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It also has quite a bit of useful vocabulary, such as:<\/p>\n

privilegios<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(privileges),\u00a0ambiciones de poder\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(power ambitions),\u00a0discriminar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(discriminate),\u00a0falsas condenas<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(false sentences),\u00a0conciencia\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(conscience),\u00a0imponiendo posturas\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(imposing postures),\u00a0violencia<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(violence),\u00a0injusticia\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(injustice) and codicia<\/em><\/strong> (greed)<\/p>\n

18. \u201cS\u00f3lo le pido a Dios\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Mercedes Sosa<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cS\u00f3lo le pido a Dios\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Level:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solo le pido a Dios \u2014\u00a0<\/em>I only ask God
\nQue lo injusto no me sea indiferente \u2014\u00a0<\/em> May the unfair not be indifferent to me
\nQue no me abofeteen la otra mejilla \u2014<\/em>That I won’t get slapped on the other
\nDespu\u00e9s que una garra me ara\u00f1\u00f3 esta suerte \u2014\u00a0<\/em>After a claw scratched this luck of mine<\/p>\n

This song is great to see how the subjunctive is used. Every time the singer asks god for something, the subjunctive is used.<\/p>\n

For example, que el dolor no me\u00a0sea\u00a0indiferente<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(that pain is not indifferent to me) and\u00a0que la reseca muerte no me\u00a0encuentre\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(that the dry death won\u2019t find me).<\/p>\n

Also pay attention to the phrase la guerra es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte<\/em><\/strong> (war is a big monster that steps on hard), which is an important metaphor in the song.<\/p>\n

19. \u201cRosa de la paz\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Amaral<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cRosa de la paz\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Level:\u00a0<\/strong>Intermediate<\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cuando el mundo entero estalle, \u2014\u00a0<\/em>WHen the whole world explodes,
\nSer\u00e1 demasiado tarde \u2014\u00a0<\/em>It will be too late
\nPara reencontrarnos con las leyes naturales \u2014\u00a0<\/em>To reconnect with natural laws
\nSi hemos roto con los bosques \u2014 <\/em>If we’ve split with the forests.<\/p>\n

A good activity to do after listening to this song a few times is to write a journal entry on this prompt: \u00bfQu\u00e9 dir\u00eda de este mundo un viajero del futuro?<\/em><\/strong> (What would a traveler from the future say about this world?)<\/p>\n

Try to use the subjunctive mood, like the song does with Ser\u00e1<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

20. \u201cNo dudar\u00eda\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by Rosario Flores<\/h2>\n

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Full lyrics:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cNo dudar\u00eda\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Level:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lyrical excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

No dudar\u00eda, no dudar\u00eda en volver a re\u00edr, \u2014 <\/em>I wouldn’t hesitage, wouldn’t hesitate to laugh again,
\nPrometo ver la alegr\u00eda y escarmentar de la experiencia \u2014 <\/em>I promise to see the joy and learning of the experience
\nPero nunca, nunca m\u00e1s usar la violencia \u2014 <\/em>But never again use violence<\/p>\n

This song will be a great review or practice for the Spanish conditional. I suggest you write a list after listening of 5-10 \u201cSi yo pudiera\u2026 no dudar\u00eda\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(If I could\u2026 I wouldn\u2019t doubt) sentences to propose how to stop violence.<\/p>\n

How Spanish Song Lyrics Can Improve Your Fluency<\/h2>\n

You know that feeling when you look at the lyrics in English and realize “Oh, that’s what the song is about!”? Well, it’s like that when you figure out Spanish lyrics\u2014but it’s even better because it requires a little extra brain power to decipher the riddle.<\/a><\/p>\n

As well as learning loads of new vocabulary, you can also see how some of that grammar you’ve been swotting up on<\/a> is used in the songs.<\/p>\n

Singing along to the songs once you’ve figured them out can help you get used to Spanish pronunciation<\/a>, and singing the fast bits is an extra challenge. And if you ever do happen to go to a karaoke party where all the songs are in Spanish, you’ll be at an advantage.<\/p>\n

For an additional challenge, try focusing on Spanish rap songs. With a high volume of lyrics in a short span of time, these songs can teach you faster pronunciation and authentic language.<\/p>\n

So, how exactly do you learn with song lyrics?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, we recommend the first time you listen you watch the video<\/strong> and enjoy the music<\/strong> without worrying too much about the words. Hopefully, after this first viewing you’ll have an idea more or less of what the song is about (if not, don’t panic!).<\/p>\n

The second time around you can start and stop the song to try and pick out some more vocabulary. Try filling in the gaps with a website like LyricsTraining<\/a>, or simply look up the letra\u00a0<\/em>(lyrics) with your good friend Google so you can start trying to figure out what’s going on.<\/p>\n

If you want to see the lyrics in front of you, there are also other websites and resources that can help you follow along. The language learning program FluentU<\/a>, for example, has a selection of Spanish music videos within its content library.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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