Dazzling Decripolou

Decripolou and her beautiful daughter

Even though music was just a minor part of her repertoire,
I just wanted to dedicate a few pics on one of the most amazing street artists
I have seen in a long, long, loooong time.

The brazilian Clowness who made me smile non-stop!

Argentinian Desaparacidos

One of the things that left the greatest mark on my impression of Buenos Aires was the different way people deal with the past. After having been informed about the Peron as well as Videla era, I was left with a feeling of confusion. The past century has obviously been highly turbulent for all parties and everyone seems to deal with it in its own way. From marching the Mayo Square to spreading pamphlets. Some look forward while others refuse to forget. Whatever the solution might be, music will always be part of it....


Some notes of Argentinian resitance....

Los Dinosaurios
Charly García

Los amigos del barrio pueden desaparecer
Los cantores de radio pueden desaparecer
Los que están en los diarios pueden desaparecer
La persona que amas puede desaparecer.
Los que están en el aire pueden desaparecer en el aire
Los que están en la calle pueden desaparecer en la calle.
Los amigos del barrio pueden desaparecer,
Pero los dinosaurios van a desaparecer.

No estoy tranquilo mi amor,
Hoy es sábado a la noche,
Un amigo está en cana. (cana= slang means jail)

Oh mi amor
Desaparece el mundo

Si los pesados mi amor llevan todo ese montón de equipajes en la mano
Oh mi amor yo quiero estar liviano.

Cuando el mundo tira para abajo
es mejor no estar atado a nada
Imaginen a los dinosaurios en la cama

Cuando el mundo tira para abajo
es mejor no estar atado a nada
Imaginen a los dinosaurios en la cama

Los amigos del barrio pueden desaparecer
Los cantores de radio pueden desaparecer
Los que están en los diarios pueden desaparecer
La persona que amas puede desaparecer.
Los que están en el aire pueden desaparecer en el aire
Los que están en la calle pueden desaparecer en la calle.
Los amigos del barrio pueden desaparecer,

Pero los dinosaurios van a desaparecer.



Gracias, Pato....

Enjoying Good Airs!

A walk around Buenos Aires is a real musical treat. Prejudiced and slightly to highly ignorant, I expected to hear the masters of Tango, Astor Piazzola and Carlos Gardel, on every street corner and from random French balconies. But while I was on the outlook of high heeled, naked legs elegantly folded around manly waists in black tie, I kept being surprised about the amount and quality of the musicality displayed in the calles (which in Argentina is being pronounced as ca-sjies).

From percussion and vocal solo's to entire rock bands performing their latest disc. Accordion orchestras remixing their roots. Blues formations jamming until the last snare gives up. School kids singing their lungs out, anticipating a trip to the local soccer stadium. And last, but not least: the well-practiced whistles of all-aged men when confronted with a female appearance.


Listen to the lyrics and you'll understand why they 'had me at hello!'.



An alternative dance at the most dreamy tango place in Buenos Aires

La Catedral Del Tango


Kids on their way to La Bombonera

La Vuelta de Mas Fuerte

Mas Fuerte is back!
No need for words. Just listen to this powerful yet dreamy Techno set ...

Feliz Año Nuevo con Bongito!

There we were, finally. Jamie's wet dream ... and maybe mine as well. All we needed was a bit of ocean and some magic tunes.
Try to imagine the following scenery: a beautiful bay (with several lost sea lions) surrounded by some highly picturesque hills. The sun has set recently, but the air still smells like freshly disappeared rays of light. Birds whistling bedtime-lullabies. The sound of waves smashing on the shore. Boom. Tschuck. Phiew. Boom. Tschuck. Phiew. It's creating mellow beat. Here you go, a personalized soundtrack for this romantic night. Could be perfect. In normal circumstances, this would be all it takes.

But tonight is different. The soundtrack will be upgraded. And not by just anyone, the 'one' will do it. Señor Ricardo Villalobos himself flew back to his homeland to be part of the Quinto Sol event (Latin American Musicians Festival). And he did an amazing job. After having been disappointed in the grandmaster back in Berlin, I must admit that skepticism was amongst my prejudicial sentiments. But he took it away with his first track. Well. No subtle intros or calm build-up after (this should be mentioned as well) Rareshs' amazing set, but some truly powerful tunes, marking his entire repertoire. There he was. No doubt about that. Bongo Ricky is back!

myspace.cn/ricardovillalobosonmyspace

Private Carreras y Domingos

'What is it? Where is it coming from?', we wondered from our balcony. 'Is there an orchestra playing? Is it puppet theatre? Or is it just a deaf person miming Andrea Bocelli?' Only having second rows seats, we had to get out of our comfy plastic garden furniture to see what was happening at the other side of the building. According to my alter ego, you don't need to see in order to hear. So I went alone.

And there they were. Two incredibly talented men along with their getto-blaster, performing all their favorite '3 Tenors' songs. It was truly beautiful to watch them singing right on the small metro square, enchanting even the skateboarders whose spot had been taken. I must admit, their songs provoked a strong Andre Rieu atmosphere, but I don't mind a bit of hand-clapping and the occasional sing-along-song. So I happily participated. And I enjoyed it, as I have never enjoyed street opera before. It was worth the mini-walk. I was really content to have seen it.... until...... I learned a rather important piece of info about our singers.






Apparently, we have balcony seats for the Metro opera every Thursday.....
So from now on, we'll stay just where we are and will hear them bis! every week. If we want to ....or not!

With Motion

Banda Conmocion. The first encounter with Chilean music. And not just music. Seeing this band perform was like getting a high speed course of Chilean culture.

For instance, take 'time', as a highly insecure variable. When the starting time (for what, you will be asked later) is scheduled for 11 p.m. that doesn't imply that the band will actually start at 11 p.m. According to everyone involved in the specific appointment (concert, date, official meeting), no one pointed out 11 p.m. as exact starting time. It could mean that you can get in line, can drink a beer in front of the venue, talk to other visitors, read the program ...again... or just cross your arms and wait. Because most importantly, it means tipin (phonetically), which is Chilean for approximately. So don't be surprised if you will be let in an hour later and if the band will start playing at 1.30 a.m. It's just the way things ago. And as you see that nobody seems to worry about it, you might as well let it rest too.

Secondly, once the doors open and the waiting line (with you in it) will start to move, don't be surprised if a bunch of unseen (until that moment) people will magically appear. Don't blame them, of course it's all your own fault for not protecting your spot. So watch out for the word 'permiso' , which in the contrary of what an English-speaker might believe, has nothing to do with asking permission. It's a statement. The person is declaring you that he or she will stand in front of you and consequently will get in sooner than you will.

Third recommendation: everything with the word 'pisc..' in it. Try it, but watch out! This highly addictive, innocent-looking and most of all cheap species of booze will make or break your night. Just so you know.

Four: Dancing with other people. Even though Chile appears to be a highly westernized and individualistic (emancipated) society, its jealous Latin heart still burns. So smile, laugh, wiggle or shake whatever you want, but don't dare to dance with other people's pololos or pololas. Stick to your own partner, inner alter ego or the chicos and chicas that have been standing by themselves for more than a safe amount of time.

Last, but not least. Once you understand the rules, you'll have a blast of a time. This band in particular is a real treat. The 24 excited musicians will do whatever it takes to make you cry, laugh, dance, jump, yell, wave and boogie. Just give in to the circumstances. The sooner you will, the sooner you'll see the beauty of it all.


NOTE This specific video was taken during the Carnaval in Valparaiso and not at the venue un Santiago.