Alvaro Soler and Sonidos Magicos

Today I have some music for you by an artist all the way from Spain. And this is a bit of a nice detour, especially since much of the Spanish music I talk about is from Latin or South America. But I would like to introduce you to an artist who has brought the vibrancy and playfulness of Spain to the music world. Alvaro Soler is a wonderful singer-songwriter who really knows how to make the music feel free and alive.

This song is his most famous song, but Alvaro Soler still remains a rather underground artist, especially here in the States. So there are two versions of this song- one in Spanish and one in Spanglish. But today, I want to talk just about the Spanish version of the song. There is this incredible richness to the way Alvaro Soler sings in Spanish, something that cannot be fully expressed in English words and verses. There is a specific energy and atmosphere which can only be captured by singing this song in the native language of Alvaro Soler, and that is what makes this song have the most intoxicating and spectacular vibe. This song is so contagiously fun, full of this incredible energy and complete liveliness. There is also this constant sense of freedom and adventure woven throughout the song, something that is pretty perfect considering the song is all about that.

This song is just so up-tempo and bubbly and just an all around feel good track! And we get that sound from the get-go. As soon as the song opens, we are greeted by a coordinated clapping rhythm, giving the song a flamenco vibe to it.  And then we get Alvaro Soler's sweet and untamed guitar work. He plays exquisitely well, and that acoustic guitar sound maintains the Spanish influence on the soundscape of the song while also allowing it to be something more organic. Interestingly enough, there aren't any electronic instruments or melodies in this song whatsoever. Everything we hear is a product of some kind of physical instrumentation, whether it be the guitar or the hitting spoons on a glass. And I love how much more grounded and involved it makes the music. We can clearly hear an accordion between the chorus and verses, along with about 3 other percussions. All of these elements combined, give the song an infectious happiness to it, something that you cannot help but feel. More instruments allow for more interpretations of the music and different ways of feeling the song. And I love that because it makes the meaning of the song flow through the music even more.

The lyrics are also absolutely lovely. This is a song that is all about putting away the things that make us different and uniting under the banner of love. That message is at the heart of music, the universal nature of music and the beauty which arises from understanding the language of music around the world. Alvaro Soler conveys this message in such a fun and fantastic and vivacious way, that we want to join him and explore the world the way he does. This song is just one of those that feels so good from head to toe, in your heart and in your soul. I love everything about this song, from Alvaro Soler's voice to the instrumentals to the lyrics. This song is just so beautifully and happily well done that I cannot help but feel the same sentiment.

Today's instrumental song is some flamenco! A lot of people get confused by what some Latin and Spanish music types are, so today I want to focus on one that was really prominent in the first song. Flamenco is very rhythmic, but also a little chaotic, creating an energizing atmosphere as if we are all on our tiptoes to experience what happens next. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!




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