By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone Image by Paula Rego
A good song can be lucky enough to become a popular anthem. From there, it not only tastes the sweetness of success on its own but also..., It runs the very high risk of being remade by a bunch of daring people eager to prove, in an exercise of extreme personalization, that they are able to adapt it better to the times we live in. We at Zonagirante.com love good covers and collect them throughout the year to present you at the end of December with a list worthy of being celebrated and criticized, whether for the good humor with which each piece was recorded, for the added details of each recording, or because they rebelled so much against the original production that they brought the public something totally surprising. 2021 is not lagging behind in that task.
Let's begin by saying that some songs are so deeply ingrained in the collective memory that it's not uncommon to encounter a new interpretation every so often, sometimes resulting in hundreds of versions. This happens, for example, with two songs by José Luis Perales, both interpreted by JeanetteThe first one, Because you're leaving, In 2021, it had its cumbia version, in the hands of The Peñaloza family y Mamita Peyote. The other one, I am rebellious, In a more environmentally conscious production, it is presented by the Mexican Priscilla Felix. Sweetheart, a must-have theme for tropical Christmas parties, from Rodolfo Aicardi and Los Hispanos, This time it is sung by Ruzzi y Ximena Sariñana. Blue eyes, an anthem of the sonic traditions of Andean culture, with well-known versions made by Inti Illimani, Mercedes Sosa, Chimizapagua and the Chasquis, among others, was included in the Argentine discography Chule. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, timeless bolero that our ancestors enjoyed in the voices of Celia Cruz, Los Panchos and Ibrahim Ferrer, and hundreds more, had its "dark reggaeton" version in the hands of Colombians Oh Margo. Gypsy face, the classic Argentine Daniel Magal, Published in 1977, it regains its freshness in the intense recording of Julieta Laso. Mexican women Toloache flower They gave a folkloric flavor to Little Rocker Flower, of Velvety. The Spanish icon Camilo Sesto He has been honored by one of the biggest Latin stars of the moment, Nathy Peluso, with its recent production of To live like this is to die of love.
Turning to the popular songbook of the Anglo-Saxon world, as interpreted by Latin artists in 2021, we find splendid and surprising interpretations. Our playlist begins with the rebellious cumbia of the Mexican artist. Red Jesus who, in an act that would offend many misguided radicals, took Hurt, of Nine Inch Nails, and gave it a Caribbean silver flavor. The Brazilian Sylvestra Bianchi He slowed down one of the most well-known songs of The Clash, Should I stay or Should I go, and transformed it into a heartbreaking acoustic blues. The Chilean Cami He gave his own unique beauty to the celebrated composition of Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah. We remember The Bangles and his hit Eternal Flame, Thanks to the man from La Plata Pantro Puto, And from Los Angeles, we hear the Mexican Atelier Focus, in the company of Alex Lora, singing the sixties classic Hard to handle, of Otis Redding.
When it came to recording covers, this was the year we heard an unprecedented number of versions from the catalog of Babasónicos. The fact that we were celebrating 20 years of Jessica, one of their best albums. In our playlist we've included 4 covers: Little whore, in the voice of the Colombian I am Emilia, Pajamas, by Argentinians Glasses, Electric, in charge of Massacre, and The Hot Ones, made by former Illya Kuryaki member, Emmanuel Horvilleur. We also started to miss him again. Gustavo Cerati, and we remember it through Cecilia Toussaint interpreting Cactus, and then, listening to the reinterpretation of Puff, in charge of the New York project Blssom, and Eternal Disc, recorded by Mina and El Tigre. On the centenary of the birth of the great Astor Piazzolla, We heard one of his best-known compositions, Goodbye Nonino, with a dancehall feel by Dancing Mood. Speaking of memories, The Authentic Decadents, beside Chinese Bandits, They made a good memory of the seventieth anniversary of the birth of Federico Moure, leader of the band Virus, creators of Honeymoon in hand. It was also a time to remember the great representative of Argentine cumbia, Gilda, with I Don't Regret This Love, with the voice of Feli Colina.
We recorded curious cases: The Argentine/American Kevin Johansen He took his most-played recording on Spotify, I dreamed about you last night., and translated it to perform it in English in the company of, no less, David Byrne. The Uruguayan woman Romina Peluffo He artistically crossed the northern border and put together an intensely punk version of One million friends, from the Brazilian Roberto Carlos. From Buenos Aires, Ramiro Abrebaya He returned to the early days of Argentine rock and brought it, in his own way, to these pandemic times. Love is stronger, of Tanguito. The Chilean woman Vicenta pays tribute to his compatriot Javiera Mena and it plays Here's the whole thing. The Chilean also Gepe happily invades one of the most popular tunes of Spanish music with Andean airs Rosalía, Baghdad. The Caribbean revelry reaches for the sky with the tribute they pay together. Public Disorder, Chico Trujillo y Digital Charanga to the teacher Pastor López, making a mix of two of his greatest hits, Treacherous y The Absent Prisoner. And finally, the memory of Little White Man and his incredible band King Changó, in charge of The Mints.
In short, we bring you 105 minutes of expertly crafted tributes, a diverse range of sounds that honor great original songs. We hope this playlist helps you happily close out this strange year.
