Love: They say the feeling is the chemical equivalent of eating chocolate. I personally don't like chocolate, but have been known to enjoy a love song every now and then.
On this week's edition of Alt.Latino, we decided to get all lovey-dovey on you guys by sharing our favorite songs about love. A group from Venezuela finds that what was supposed to be a one-night stand has morphed into true love, some Chileans make promises they might not be able to keep, another Chilean finds out there's a very thin line between love and hate, and a fiery Mexicana pens an ode to discovering new love after heartbreak. This, and much more.
Of course, we didn't just limit ourselves to romantic love: We also have a beautiful ballad from a mother to an unborn son, while an unlikely band covers a song of love for your grandma.
What are your favorite songs about love? We want to hear from you. Listen to the show, check out the songs in their entirety and share your thoughts.
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In Luv With U
Since last week's show was all about lust, this week we had to open with this song, which describes the sensation of falling in love with someone you were just hoping to have a good, sexy time with. It happens. Speaking of falling in love, this is a band in a committed relationship with its '70s-style groove.
Eres
When we announced that this week's show would be about love songs, we had a lot of suggestions -- too many to include in one show. But one of the most highly recommended was Cafe Tacuba's "Eres" (You Are). It's a classic Latin Alternative love ballad.
Lo Que Quieras
This Chilean band is a recent discovery of ours -- and we love it. This is a sweet, no-drama love song full of youthful promises. In "Lo Que Quieras" (Whatever You Want), the band promises a special lady whatever her heart desires. "Is winter too long?" the lead singer asks. "Then I will make it shorter." Careful there, buddy. You don't want to make promises you can't keep, and I've heard Chilean winters can be pretty bad on the southern end. WARNING: THE VIDEO FOR THIS SONG CONTAINS SOME GRAPHIC VIOLENCE.
Si Somos Salvajes
If there's one thing you should learn from this week's show, it's that Chile has a fantastic music scene. Pedro Piedra is another example. In this song, he talks about loving a person with whom he constantly has epic fights. "If we are going to treat each other like savage beasts, why don't I just go get my club and hunt some dinner?" he threatens. Wow. Someone needs couples counseling.
Volver A Quererte
To us, this fabulous band sounds like a Mexican version of The Pixies. "Volver a Quererte" (To Love You Again) is about that couple everyone knows: the one that's always breaking up and getting back together. Annoying, but it's a great song.
Te Amo, I Love You
Several of our listeners have asked us to cover more Ely Guerra, and we can see why. Her girly voice quickly morphs into a lioness' roar. In this song, she sings about finding a new love after heartbreak.
Amniótico
When we told our listeners that this week's show was going to be about love songs, someone suggested this track, about the love between a mother and her unborn child. Colombian singer Andrea Echeverri is incredibly poetic, describing how this new life floating inside her makes her feel as though she were floating inside a boat.
Agüela (Mi Abuela & The Magnificent Seven & Bust a Move)
As we mentioned earlier, we're talking about all types of love songs. That includes this one, by Mexican rap group Molotov. It initially sounds like a complaint about a strict grandmother, but by the end, you can tell the vocalist loves his grandma. The song manages to sample The Clash's "Magnificent Seven," Young MC's "Bust a Move" and Puerto Rican '80s rapper Wilfred y la Ganga's "Mi Abuela." Now there's a molotov cocktail!
Mi Abuela
Here's Wilfred y la Ganga's original version of "Mi Abuela." If you don't do anything else today, please check out this super-vintage '80s music video and rap. Priceless.
