wiki guinea pig

i was a guinea pig for wikipedia last week! basically i went in and they asked me to make a "contribution" on wikipedia and then asked me lots of questions to evaluate that process. before i went i knew i was going to have to write something and of course i got nervous and started thinking, oh my gosh i don't know enough about anything! my mind would go completely blank when i tried to think of a topic. especially because i didn't know if i was going to have to make an entirely new entry or to contribute to a topic already in there. as it turned out it could be the latter, but still i didn't really have any ideas until i sat down in the research office.

well, el gran silencio to the rescue again. that's what came to me. i cleaned up a bit the english-language entry on those guys and really i think wikipedia, no the world, is better for it ;) jejeje. in appreciation for giving me something to write about i am posting this video which i don't think we've ever posted here, of their collaboration with celso piña. it's a great song and the video is another with some beautiful footage of working-class monterrey, mexico.

cumbia poder : celso piña & el gran silencio

Chúntaro Style

La Cumbiambera can't restrain herself. Obviously our mutual admiration of El Gran Silencio is a point of unity among the blogueras, and I'll add here the video for "Chúntaro Style," which is definitely one of my fav videos of all time what with the dancing cholitas & cholitos and the kids and the Guadalupana boom box and all. Not to mention that this is one of those songs that just keeps you dancing.

tonta canción de amor

las 3 roqueras had a field trip last night to catch el gran silencio in sunnyvale at club barcelona. they double headlined with los angeles azules. ¡cuuuuumbia!

as usual, they kicked ass. those guys are so talented with their rock-cumbia-reggae-vallenato situation, and so endearing on stage it's almost too much to see them live. i believe la pachuquita will be posting a more complete report-back with fotos, but last night in the car on the way home we were talking about their performance of this song at the show, and also this video (reminds me of the good old days of mtv) so in the meantime...

tonta canción de amor : el gran silencio

En el umbral del mundo

Recently I made a mix tape—I mean iTunes playlist—for a friend of mine who was transitioning to a new job. I spent a lot of time combing through my collection to pull together songs that captured everything I thought there was to be reminded of in order to have a healthy transition—how to look back and take lessons without getting stuck, how to look forward without fear. Basically, how to live in the moment, and well, feel excited about the wide-open future.

This is the track list for the CD I eventually made. If you are in need of some inspiration/grounding/good old rockera fun (see Charly García’s “No te sobra una moneda” recorded by Los Enanitos Verdes), I suggest these songs.

Enjoy!


Me Voy Al Mundo - El Barrio (Toda una Decada, Disc 1)
Dormir Soñando - El Gran Silencio (Libres y Locos)
Oleada - Coti Sorokin con Julieta Venegas (there’s also the Julieta-only version on Sí, but I like this one better ‘cuz it has clave.)
El Viento A Favor - Enrique Bunbury (Canciones 1996/2006)
Tren Al Sur - Los Prisioneros (Ni por razón, ni por la fuerza)
No Estuvo Tan Mal - Los Enanitos Verdes (Amores Lejanos)
tengo todo - Café Tacuba (Si No)
¿No Te Sobra Una Moneda? - Los Enanitos Verdes (Guerra Gaucha)
727 - La Gusana Ciega
Hombre Al Agua - Soda Stereo (Canción Animal)
Día Cero - La Ley (Historias e Histeria)
Creo - Los Enanitos Verdes (Big Bang)
Fuera de Mi - La Ley (MTV Unplugged)
Amnesis - Quetzal (Die Cowboy Die)
Que Tengas Suertecita - Enrique Bunbury (El Viaje a Ninguna Parte)
Lucha De Gigantes - Nacha Pop (Amores Perros Soundtrack)


La Gusana Ciega playing "727" last year in Mexicali