What a Wedding.
My father has always blasted music around the house because his favorite hobby has been to DJ. My dad, Gustavo Zamora, has been a DJ around the Valley for over 20 years with his company called Magic Sound. He’s been seen at clubs all around town and has also been a DJ for the radio. Here is a video I put together for class. I went with him last weekend to a wedding in Scottsdale. The couple was so nice and they had a huge family that was ready to party.
When did I ever think that all my white friends would be singing along to songs whose lyrics are half in Spanish? Everyone knows about the Macarena and I’ll give you Suavemente or A Dios le Pido because they were a must in Spanish class. Now with mainstream artists like Shakira, Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull, they are bringing a different language to the masses.
In my opinion there is always some nifty song that is being played on the radio that is in a different language and to me, it’s a fad that comes and goes. The only difference about the Spanish songs is that they have the staying power and a big enough following from fans that they don’t go away. There is a giant market in the United States for these Spanish songs and Spanish artists.
I was so astounded when I began hearing “La Tortura” by Shakira on the English speaking radio as a regular song on their playlist. I thought that because there are so many Spanish speakers in Arizona, that that was the reason as to why it was on such heavy rotation. Then I started watching the video on MTV, and I knew that I was mistaken. Soon after, Pitbull came out with a Spanglish song called Culo, and that song also became a hit across the U.S.
My friends all looked to me for the translations, “Omar I have no idea what these songs are saying but I love them!”
“Can you understand what they are saying?”
“Can you tell me what it means?”
“Are you sure that’s what it means?”
Yes. Yes. Yes.
There is a new band called The D.E.Y., and they have really encompassed the Spanglish, do what you want, awesome beats experiment down. They are composed of two rappers and a singer, and they rap and sing back and forth in English and Spanish. They said in an interview with MTVtr3s that they never had any form of entertainment that catered to their lifestyles. It was either cut and dry, English or Spanish. They wanted to do something different and unique.
I hope to see more bands like this because the integration of so many cultures is what we’re living in today. Everyone and everything is mixing into a true melting pot. No one is trying to be like one another so much as learning from one another.
Here is a video for The D.E.Y.’s song I Get The Feeling. Followed by the link to their interview given by MTVtr3s.
Interview about a new business started by a young latina, Sarah Porter. Her business consists of specially designed jewelery. You can get into contact with her and toss out ideas for what you want and she will be happy to help. Check out the interview!
Pictures all by Omar Zamora.
http://soraejewels.com/
Tuesday was the fourteenth year since the death of Tejano Music singer, Selena. Selena Quintanilla Perez had a booming career in the Latin world with numerous hit singles; she had already won a Grammy and was dubbed the Queen of Tejano Music. Her life was cut short when the former manager of her boutiques and president of her fan club, shot her in the back.
I think that when people think of Spanish music, they think of Banda with it’s obnoxious beat (gross), Juanes (because they leraned him in Spanish class), and Selena.
I can honestly not remember one party, quinceañera, wedding or any event that did not play a song by Selena. In fact, each of those events at least played three of her songs. Everyone I know knows about Selena. It’s not even my friends who are Hispanic either. After the movie Selena came out, everybody knew her story. Everyone loves that movie. I love that movie.
Selena had not yet broken into mainstream English music yet, but it was said that she was going to be the first singer to crossover. Still after the movie came out, all of my friends seemed to know her story as well as I did. I remember her English songs being played on MTV and being played on mainstream English radio. Her dream came true.
It’s unbelievable to me that even 14 years after her death, Selena’s legacy is alive and well. Her movie is always on the television, there is always a celebration going on in her name and her music keeps getting played at all the quinceañeras and weddings I go to. We can all share her, no matter if you’re Mexican, White, Black or whatever. Her story is that of a person whose kindness is remembered by everyone, her culture and family is one that represent the Latino community so well.
Here is her English song “Dreaming of You.”
I’m not offended.
A couple of weeks ago my dad brought up a story he heard on NPR about a man posting a sign at his business saying “No Yobs Aqui.”
I interviewed my friend Sarah Porter, about the matter and asked her to give me her take on the situation.
Listen to what we had to say.
Here is the story at AzCentral.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/03/14/20090314nojobs-ON.html
All Photos by Omar Zamora
With how the economy is today it’s no wonder that everyone is trying to save some money. A good place to go to buy some good and cheap Latino Records is at your local used record and CD store. Some people have stopped going out to the movies, or going out to eat but there are some people like me who need entertainment to survive. I am always on the hunt for the best deals on movies and music. Four for $20 movies are one of my favorite things to spend my money on- even when I don’t have money. My friends Scotty and Sarah came with me to our local Zia Records to document our mission to find some cheap music.
I always find some good treasures whether it be older music or the latest jams. It’s a great place to get gifts and fun little things like air fresheners with clever sayings on them and hackey sacs. Some stuff I have found was Timberiche, the RBD of my parents time. A pop group that I remember listening to all the time when I was a little kid because they are like the NSync and Destiny’s Child mixed together for Mexico. I bought that for my mom for Christmas and it brought her back to her teens.
What is good about these shops is that there is a real local feeling and you are also puting money into your own community. These places don’t only have used CDs but they often have used DVDs and Television Shows.
This Zia Records had its own little section for Shakira and we all know how Shakira has had one of the best major cross-overs in the US. Definitely one of the best Latina acts out there.
There was no luck today in finding a good CD, but i guess I got to save some more money instead. Other ways that people are saving money is going to used clothes store, dollar stores, and bumming from their parents. I have some friends who frequents Savers. They find some 
great deals and great stuff. It’s not a big deal people, just wash it and it is like good as new.
Here are some of the albums I’ve purchased in the past at Zia, F.Y.E. and Circles: Records and Tapes in down town Phoenix..
Motel by Motel
17 by Motel
Un Dia Mas by Reik
Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo by Calle 13
Here is the song 17 by Motel, they are a great alternative rock band and Rolling Stones called their sophomore album one of the biggest albums of 2008 to anticipate.
All Photos By Omar Zamora
I don’t have to wait for the weekend anymore to watch Spanish music videos that are a few months outdated on Univision.
MTV has made a channel that I am currently obsessed with because it incorporates all the music that I love.
I am obsessed with MtvTrés.
The motto that MtvTrés goes by is “We Get You,” “Para Music Freaks,” and “Lati… Hispa… well you know what I mean.” We totally get what they mean. There is finally a giant organization that realized that there is a giant market out there of kids whose every day life is filled with Spanish and English. The great thing is that this channel is not a Spanish channel. It’s a channel that truly caters to the new generations who embrace a new culture that’s on that borderline. There are kids out there who not only listen to Top 40 hits, but also listen to music in Spanish and even more today the music that is in Spanglish.
One of my favorite songs out there right now is the latest single by Calle 13 called Electro Movimiento. Check it out. It’s a synth-pop rap with an English chorus.
Mtv3’s main shows are Quiero Mis Quinces (Sweet Sixteen), Pimpeando (Pimp My Ride), and an assortment of music video shows including one in development that will show case Banda Music (not my cup of tea but there is an audience for it.)
Their commercials show something that would be very normal and typical for a Latino kid to go through, but would be alienating to other cultures. They show our over bearing parents, choosing the right dress for the Quinceañera and the ever open door to stay living at home with our parents even in to our 40s.
They also have an online blog called Blogamole focusing on everything from chisme to politics and current latino news.
Every few weeks they run mini-documentaries that focus on a young person who has affected their community in a small way through their TuPride campaign.
That’s what I like the most of Mtv3. They are shedding a positive light on the Latino youth community that is often overlooked.
Link- MTVTr3s
It used to be that I could only get really good Mexican food at my house, my Nanas, or at anyone’s house that was related to me. Or duh, from a Mexican. Now us college kids seriously can go to just about every other corner and find exactly what we’re craving and it will be delicious, cheap and pretty close if not the same to the real deal. This is thanks to all the branding that the“blahblah-Beto’s” or “los-somethingorother’s” names have caused out there.
Filibertos in Tempe
The most popular franchise I see in the Phoenix area is Filiberto’s. I prefer my local Fiesta Burrito but I used to live across the street from the Filiberto’s that’s closest to Arizona State University. That place was seriously always happening. I did not matter what time of the day or night, I could look out my window and there would always be someone there, ordering food at the little makeshift shack or waiting at the drive-thru.
When did everyone begin to love these places with all their heart? The 2 a.m. drunks, the cure-seeking hung-over folk, the poor college students and the mom taking her friend out for an “authentic” Mexican lunch? When? Why did I seriously not know about these until my senior year of high school after an obscure Friday night party?
The only big difference is that when I took my Mom and Dad there, they automatically didn’t like it. It’s clearly a fabrication to the older generation but whatever, us young folk like it. We eat it up like our ma’s made it in the kitchen by our room. Where else have I seen menudo, tortas, horchata and cow tongue on the menu? Nowhere. This will do.
This is so crazy to me because when I was growing up on South Phoenix, my family and I were the only brown faces to be seen for miles. My friends would come over and be astonished by the cow tongue, the cow tripe and the horchata (best described as a rice and cinnamon drink.)
Well I think the only possible explanation is that everyone is sick of Taco Bell. I was never a fan and even being in one of their stores grosses me out. Don’t eat there. Just Saying.
Now, everyone is sipping on that horchata like they have been their whole life. I’m okay with it though; let us all enjoy horchata. Everyone I know eats at one of these places at least once a week. You should definitely get out there and look one of these places up if you still haven’t. Go grab a chimichanga, a carne asada french fry platter, or a breakfast burrito if it’s still too early. Wash it down with some horchata and enjoy your day.
The Bertos Bonanza- AZ Central
Hey people. Latino culture has been popping up all over the United States and I’ve noticed that there aren’t many blogs focused on the youth of this culture. I’m going to bring aspects from entertainment, music, politics, and just interesting stuff that I come across that affects the young folk. Yes this is still America but with organizations like LatinoVote, MunDos and MtvTres, it’s no wonder that latino youth of today have a bigger and stronger voice. Balancing our mainstream american life with the old culture that our madres and padres gave us, has definitely given us a different point of view to many things. We can speak Spanglish and help translate at our jobs yet still watch the latest movies on the weekends and keep up on the latest news. Atrévete. Dare yourself right now and get ino the Latino youth culture. Get there.
