MVM: Depends on How You Look at It

Happy Monday, people! 😀

Somehow my buffer period between coming home from Spain and going back to Pittsburgh got all gobbled up and I’m leaving tomorrow. Everything’s getting thrown in the good ol’ suitcases again!

We’re starting our senior year a week from today (scary, right?), so after these next 9ish months, the scheduling and credit requirements and textbook buying stop. Then what? Yeah, we don’t know either. To acknowledge the beginning of our last very structured year and the approach of ambiguity, I give you Jarabe de Palo‘s “Depende” (“It Depends”). He, first of all, is Spanish (wee!), and more importantly, says that everything depends on how you look at it. I could freak out about the fact that I’m getting thrown out of the college bubble and into the real world soon, or I could be super excited that I have so many fun possibilities ahead of me!

Speaking of possibilities, if anyone desires a travel blogging apprentice, you know where to find me. 😉

– Alexa

MVM: One Look Back

Looks like I’ll have to refer back to Music Video Martes since being home has kept me running around for these first few days, at least. Sorry for leaving you with a music-less Monday! I know, it’s a crime!

I wanted to throw in one last super Spanish band for good time’s sake. At my last day at work, I heard this song playing. The beat was kind of catchy, but then when I listened, I realized it was talking about a one-night stand. I could probably do better than to compare my time in Spain to a one-night stand, but when I think about it, it’s mostly accurate. Madrid didn’t make me fall completely in love with it like Buenos Aires did, but we definitely had a good time together and are now going our separate ways. I’ll let La Guardia explain it for you.

Warning: This song’s from 1990, so the video is amusingly terrible. 🙂

Do you feel like you ever form a certain “relationship” with different countries when you’re traveling?

– Alexa

MVM: Sad to Leave Spain

This week is already proving to be a crazy one with loose ends needing to be tied up at work, places needing to be visited (STILL – because I’m a bad tourist), and goodbyes needing to be said to the lovely personas that I’ve met in Madrid. I couldn’t possibly forget about Music Video Monday, though! This is the last one that will be coming from Spain, so I saw it fit to choose a super Spanish group.

This song by Maldita Nerea is played a lot, and it gets stuck in my head all the time. I’ll be honest, seeing the video made me a little depressed even though everyone’s happy the whole time, but I mean, children in a hospital? Did they have to do that? Let’s just call it a “bittersweet” moment, which is appropriate for this last week I have in Spain. I’m glad to be finishing up at work, but I don’t want to leave yet! Have you ever had mixed feelings like that when nearing the end of a trip?

One of these should work depending on where you are. I hope. You might miss out on the video. 😦

Next MVM will be coming from Chicago! Craziness!

– Alexa

MVM: Spanish Punks

Because I’m not cool enough to read on the metro like a majority of people do here (read: I’m too cheap to actually buy a book and/or own a tablet), I listen to a lot of music. Most of the time, I just hit “shuffle” and see what my iPod throws at me. Lately, for some reason, I’ve been getting tons of Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate, and various other pop/punk bands that I listened to circa whenever I started high school. Since the theme of this blog is currently most things un-American, I had to find the Spanish version of all that, of course.

El Canto del Loco isn’t actually a band anymore, but they’re one of the better-known groups from Spain and were nominated (and won!) things like Best Videoclip, Best Song, Best Group (all from Top 40 Awards), and Best Spanish Group (MTV Europe Music Awards). I have a few of their songs, but I hadn’t heard this one until it was on the radio at work one day. Since it was kind of an indirect throwback to stuff I listened to before I could speak Spanish, but in Spanish, I was a big fan. If you’re feeling angsty, have at it.

ALSO, because it’s called “Zapatillas” (“Sneakers”), it’s semi-relevant because I was in Almería watching a triathlon most of the weekend (I know, not very relevant at all). I’m sure you’ve always wanted to know what that was like, so don’t worry, I’ll tell you real soon.

– Alexa

MVM: Actually in Spain

Cali & El Dandee may be Colombian, but this song has been all over the radio since I arrived in Madrid. It’s a little bit depressing to watch/understand, but I still love it! So much FEELING. 🙂

(You might have to click on the video to watch it on YouTube – I’m not sure if it’s working. SORRY.)

I’d like to point out that I’ve also heard that song by La Oreja de Van Gogh both in stores and on the radio. It seems like I might’ve prepared my Spanish music knowledge better than I expected!

– Alexa

MVM: Pre-Madrid

Hey, so… Turns out I’m leaving for Madrid in less than a week. Weird, right? I’m not used to it either. As you’ve probably noticed from the return of Music Video Monday, I’ve been trying to find as much Spanish music as possible to prep myself a bit. This song by Juan Magan has been making its rounds on my iPod for quite some time. It’s about Madrid! It’s relevant! Yeah!

The ending’s a bit inexplicable, but I mean, it’s technically summertime. Can’t really blame those girls.

If anyone has any tips or advice on packing/preparing for Spain or on what your favorite spots are in Madrid, por favor help a girl out!

– Alexa

MVM: Manu Chao

Today’s Music Video Monday brought to you by an extremely short break in last-minute studying for finals!

I’ve heard Manu Chao‘s music on various Spanish music mixes that I’ve found online, and Robby recently gave me a CD that has even more of his songs. It was time to share! This one, “Me gustas tú”, is definitely a classic.

He just seems like a happy, goofy guy, right?! Everyone loves one of those. 🙂 You can’t deny a song that says “I like you” literally every other sentence, either. Happy Monday! We like all of you!

– Alexa

MVM: Back to España

Spring semester of junior year must be the hot time to leave Pittsburgh because it seems like everyone and their cousin is studying abroad right now. It makes campus feel a little empty, but at the same time, there are so many other blogs to read and pictures to vicariously live through! Obviously I’ve been taking advantage of every opportunity. That’s why I have to thank Vivienne, a former Spanish class buddy of mine who’s currently studying in Sevilla, Spain, for the musical inspiration today!

I guess Bebe hasn’t hit it big yet or this isn’t their most popular song, but I like it with or without video! Besides the whole breakup part, it’s upbeat and bouncy enough to get you going on a Monday morning, right? 😛

– Alexa