Tropical Flavors of Puerto Rico!!

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory with a landscape of green mountains, waterfalls and the tropical rainforest of El Yunque National Forest. It's known for its white-sand beaches and coral reefs, popular for snorkeling, diving, surfing and sailing. In San Juan, the capital and largest city, the Isla Verde area is known for its beach bars, nightclubs and casinos.

A Brief  Boricuan Musical History

Reggaeton Artist - Don Omar

The music of Puerto Rico has evolved as a heterogeneous and dynamic product of diverse cultural resources. The most conspicuous musical sources have been Spain and West Africa, although many aspects of Puerto Rican music reflect origins elsewhere in Europe and the Caribbean and, over the last century, from the U.S.A. Puerto Rican music culture today comprises a wide and rich variety of genres, ranging from indigenous genres like bomba y plena, aguinaldo and danza, to recent hybrids like reggaeton. 

Jose Feliciano

Marc Anthony

In the realm of classical music, the island hosts two main orchestras, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Puerto Rico. The Casals Festival takes place annually in San Juan, drawing in classical musicians from around the world.

With respect to opera, the legendary Puerto Rican tenor Antonio Paoli was so celebrated, that he performed private recitals for Pope Pius X and the Czar of Russia Nicholas II. In 1907, Paoli was the first operatic artist in world history to record an entire opera - when he participated in a performance of Pagliacci by Ruggiero Leoncavallo in Milan, Italy.

Over the past fifty years, Puerto Rican artists such as Jorge Emmanuelli, Yomo Toro, Ramito, Jose Feliciano, Bobby Capo, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barreto, Dave Valentin, Omar Rodríguez-López, Hector Lavoe and Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez have thrilled audiences around the world.

Jennifer Lopez

THIS MONDAY, LATIN SOUNDZZ!! WILL HOST PUERTO RICO AS THE THEME COUNTRY OF THE WEEK!! DON'T MISS OUT THIS GREAT SHOW, AS WE FLY TO LA ISLA DEL ENCANTO, PUERTO RICO PAPA! DALE!! ONLY ON KSFS RADIO. 10 AM PACIFIC TIME. ALSO DONT FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

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Feliz Dia De Los Muertos! (Day of The Dead)

Feliz Dia De Los Muertos - Novemeber 2nd.

Traditional Dia De Los Muertos Costumes

What is Dia De Los Muertos?
The day of the dead, a Mexican celebration, a day to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of "papel picado" which is a special thin decorative paper, flowers, candy "calaveras"(skeletons and skulls), and "parades".

"papel picado" is cut in different shapes, colors and is decorated in public places.

It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2.
In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place "ofrendas" (offerings) of food such as "Pan De Muertos"(sweet bread baked in shapes of skulls and figures), candles, incense, yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (also spelled zempasuchil) and most importantly a photo of the departed soul is placed on the altar. 

"Pan De Muerto" placed on the "Altar"

It might sound somewhat morbid, but the Mexicans react to death with mourning along with happiness and joy. They look at death with the same fear as any other culture, but there is a difference. They reflect their fear by mocking and living alongside death. Living alongside death means that Mexicans have to learned to accept it within their lives. Death is apparent in everyday life. It is in art and even in children's toys. It is not respected as it is in other cultures. Children play "funeral" with toys that are made to represent coffins and undertakers. Death is laughed at in its face. Many euphemisms are used for death, "La Calaca"(the skeleton), "La Pelona"(baldy), "La Flaca"(skinny), and "La Huesada"(the bony). There are "refranes"(sayings), and poems that are popular with day of the dead. These sayings are cliches and lose meaning when translated. For example "La muerte es flaca y no puede conmigo" means "Death is skinny/weak and she can't carry me." Calaveras (skulls) are decorated with bright colors with the name of the departed inscribed on the head. Children carrying yellow marigolds enjoy the processions to the cemetery. At the cemetery, music is played and dances are made to honor the spirits. Death is a celebration in Mexico. Death is among them. 

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THIS COMING MONDAY WE GOT MEXICO!!! DON'T FORGET TO LISTEN

The country of tango, vino, delicious steak, and...

How are you guys, it's la Guerita!

Next Monday, on October 26th, we will take you on a journey through Argentina. I personally cannot wait for this episode!! Argentina is definitely one of the "closest to my heart" Latin American countries. Don't get me wrong though; I like and admire all of Latin America. I am interested in music, history, and culture from all the countries.

I am just extra excited about the Argentina episode, because I am more familiar with this country & its music in general due to being exposed more to it over the years. Just like each of you, undeniably, have your own areas and/or topics of interest; you all have certain things you just know more about in general, whether it is due to the degree of exposure, personal history, environment, attachment etc.

Argentina is known for many things ranging from delicious foods through diverse landscapes to extraordinary musical scene. I don't mean to talk about all of these things in this post in detail, because you can just google Argentina and read about everything you can find, and focus on whatever you are interested in. I do want to talk in this post about my experience with Argentinian music in particular. Everything started for me with the very famous Argentinian telenovela of the late 90s called "Muneca Brava" starring a highly talented Uruguayan born actress, Natalia Oreiro, and an extremely charismatic Argentinian actor Facundo Arana. This novela was a very long series (over 250 episodes!), and it was broadcast in so many countries all over the world, including my country of origin, Poland. The series proved to be great in many different aspects: the story, the characters, its cast, script value, and... MUSIC!!! That's exactly right! Music in itself was a huge part of this series. Not just the theme song, and background songs performed mainly by Natalia Oreiro, but the live music and bands who were featured on the novela as part of the "bailanta" scenes.

Scenes from the bailanta (a local, popular nightclub/ dance club where the main characters would go for entertainment) turned out to be a goldmine for discovering great music. A large amount of different bands and artists were featured throughout the series promoting themselves and at the same time popularizing some great Argentinian music all over the globe. This is how I, a girl from Poland, got into it, started learning Spanish on my own & continued to explore the culture, geography, history and music of Latin America.

Make sure to join me and el Chuy this upcoming Monday at 10 a.m. as we take you on a musical journey through Argentina, and share with you some interesting facts about this exciting country. You can listen to us for FREE all over the world, just go to this website: ksfsmedia.net/radio & enjoy!



Lotzz of love,
La Guerita      

  

No Paren La Fiestaaa... fun, fun, fun!!!

Hi Guys, How are you doing tonight? :)

We just wanted to share two videos recorded during today's show. We had lots of fun during the Brazil episode this morning, and we hope you had fun with us as well! 

Enjoy the videos, and join us next Monday for another exciting journey across Latin America.

                                                                           

You decide on a country theme this time!

Hello Everyone!

We want to hear from you! 

Help us decide which country should be featured on Latin Soundzz after Brazil.

Should it be the amazing Argentina?

The outstanding music of Venezuela?

 

Maybe the musical richness of Mexico?

Tell us through comments what you would like to hear on the show!

Lotzz of love, 

La Guerita & El Chuy 

Let's All Dance Samba Do Brasil!!

VAMOS DANÇAR DO BRASIL SAMBA!

 

  

    The music of Brazil encompasses various regional music styles influenced by African, European and Amerindian forms. Samba has become the best known form of Brazilian music worldwide, especially because of the country's carnival, although bossa nova, which had Antônio Carlos Jobim as one of its most acclaimed composers and performers, have received much attention abroad since the 1950s, when the song "Desafinado", interpreted by João Gilberto, was first released. 

(CLICK PLAY BELOW TO GET A TASTE OF THE AMAZING BRAZILIAN MUSIC! WE WILL HAVE THIS MONDAY)

SAMBA
      In 1929, prompted by the opening of the first radio station in Rio de Janeiro, the so-called radio era began spreading songs – especially the novelty Samba in its current format – to larger masses. This period was dominated by few male interpreters – notably Almirante, Braguinha, Mário Reis, Sílvio Caldas, Francisco Alves and singer/composer Noel Rosa and even fewer chanteuses such as Aracy de Almeida and sisters Aurora Miranda and Carmen Miranda, who eventually came to Hollywood becoming a movie star.



FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BRAZIL THIS COMING MONDAY OCTOBER 19TH ONLY ON LATIN SOUNDZZ!! 
@10 AM PT.  ...ON ksfsmedia.net/radio   WE GOT FUN FACTS! MUSIC AND MORE!

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