Hey amigos,

What can you tell about musica latina from Spain.
Since Operacion Triunfo,the hispanic record company's aren't affraid to invest in people such as David Bisbal, David Bustamante, Chenoa, Rosa...ect. ect. ect.
Is it because of their popularity or is it because of the fact that they can sing as professionals?which they are now.

I'll have to admit that some of them can sing really good, but is it also a way of making money for the big guys?

"the silence speaks volumes......"

It is an interesting phenomenon (is it spell correctly?). My opinion is that, althought the Operación Triunfo artists are not bad, I prefer to spend my money on a well recognized and profesional singer.

The marketing around them is incredible, and sometimes it seems that what is important is just the money the disco company does, and not how good the artist is.

Fernando

Hola Fernando,
Can you explain what Operación Triunfo is all about? I have read several threads that mention this phenomenon, but I am not really sure what it is.
Gracias

Excuses Booklady, I should have explained it

Operación Triunfo was (it's over) a very popular TV programm of the public spanish channel TVE (Televisión Española) which consisted of an academy where a group of selected wannabe artists prepared themselves and learnt the different things necessary to became singers.

The winner of this programm (Rosa López) was offered the oportunity to participate in the Eurovision Festival (a contest between singers of all european countries).

Some of the most popular singers nowadays in Spain came from this programm. Some of them (the ones I recall) are:

Rosa
David Bisbal
David Bustamante
Naim Thomas
Manu Tenorio
Fórmula Abierta (a group of four)
Natalia
Chenoa

Personally I can't stand it... :p

Fernando

Fernando, i remenmber yopu for helping me during my trip to madrid last may.
about Operation triump, it has just finish here in panama. i knew rosa won but i cant help myself to avoid the end opf the show...
i think it became like a soap opera mixed with a reality show that involve the people...
some of us just can be on the side.
that program shows latin countries a new point of view of spanish society... a good one!
VIVA ESPAÑA.
salud
Quime

" hagamos un mejor mundo"

Hi Quime, how was your trip?

I didn't know the program was exported as is, I thought it was just the format... But you are right, the program is not bad (althought I have not seen a full programm) and it is more or less representative of what are the interests of the spanish society, perhaps it does represent us in some way...

Fernando

Fernando and others,

The word 'wannabe' is very colloquial, is there a Spanish equivalent. I know this posting has nothing to do with Latin music, but I am quite curious.

After 8 months here I have learned a lot of Spanish, but I continue to realize how much there is to be learned. Learning a language is a lifetime pursuit, of course my love of Spain and her language gives me great reasons for retuning to Spain with great frequency. I can´t wait to get my hands on the recomended linguistic texts.

In order to help me with my Spanish,
I have been studying Portuguese with a private instructor for a couple of months now. I have found it very helpful, but I can´t find a portuguese equivalent to wannabe either.

How did Rosa do on Eurovision?
Where can I hear Rosa sing?

Hi Shawn,

you must be a spanish linguistic by now... you spoke spanish well 8 months ago, and you should probably speak it very good by now

To learn a language is something terrific (I really love to learn english hehe).

I don't think there is a spanish equivalent to wannabe, it is one of those terms or sentences that express an idea, but which you can't translate literally. I understand what it means, but I can't find an accurate equivalent. It would be something like "quiere ser" but it can't be used in the same context.

Perhaps "aprendiz" is near...

Fernando

Thanks Fernando!!

Yes, I underdstand their are countless expressions in all language that can´t be translated easily. I am a frim believer that well done translation is an art. I think we have all seen less than standard translations, that at times provoke laughs and occaionally tears.

For example how does one translate the lyrics of Emenim (sp? I not a fan, sorry)? I have had several Spaniards ask me for help understanding American rap music, and even when I understand the lyrics I struggle to translate them into Spanish, due to the slang, vulgarities, and cultural references. I have to ask myself, why would a Spaniard take an interest in music that is a giant riddle?

As for my Spanish, as with all pursuits everyday I realize how much there is to be learned. Somedays, I fell like I have got a real grasp of the language. Otherdays, I encounter a travler from Zafra or Granada and I wonder if I will ever fully understand every eldery Andaluz from the smallest of pueblos.

Hola Ferndano y Shawn,

Don't you think that the closest Spanish word to wannabe is presumido? as in "El presume ser un cantante" "he's a singer wannabe."
But of course presumir is not a slang word like wannabe.

Sometimes it is impossible to make a true translation between two languages, the best you can do is display the candor in the meaning, don't you think?

Shawn, I have somtimes difficulties to understand some spaniards There are so many different accents, local words and expressions, influences by other spanish languages that it is almost impossible to be fluent and have the ear trained for all of them.

Booklade, if I understand the meaning of wannabe well, I think that presumido is not really a good translation. But you have a point with the verb presumir in the sentence "Presume de ser un cantante" that is more closed to the idea I think.

What a dominion of spanish you two have my god...

Fernando

I dunno, I think Chenoa is pretty cute...

Seemingly, presumido is more of an arrogant person. I totally understand the issue about "translating" rap music for the non-English speaking masses. It would almost be easier to teach everyone English than to translate some of the basura that passes in the name of "music".

As for Eminem, I'm not sure that it's really important that an international audience as large as possible gets the full meaning of his music. We could probably add a number of other "artists" [I use the word loosely] to that list.

By the same token, there are a number of Spanish-speaking acts that at time make me wish I didn't speak Spanish...thus not subjecting me to their mindless warblings.

Translating Eminem....yeah I have had experience with this one . When I studied abroad, my host brother had one of Eminem's cds. One day I returned home from class and my host mom asked if I knew of such an artist, of course I said yes, and she then proceeded to ask what his lyrics meant (the 3 kids were learning English in school, but the other spoke none) Yikes!
At first I started to try to explain some of them, but from the looks on their faces, I decided that I had just better leave it at saying that I did not support his work, and that many of the songs contained some not so great messages.
Translation is definitely an "art"

Going back to the translations I think the perfect word for wannabe would be 'aspirante', someone who wants to be or get something.
As for the 'presumir' it has two different meanings, and I think the sustantive for this one would be 'presunto' instead of 'presumido'.

presumir. (Del lat. praesumĕre).
1. tr. Sospechar, juzgar o conjeturar algo por tener indicios o señales para ello.
2. intr. Dicho de una persona: Vanagloriarse, tener alto concepto de sí misma.
3. intr. Dicho de una persona: Cuidar mucho su arreglo para parecer atractiva.

Hola Miguelito,
Yes, I agree "apirante" would be better particularly if you use wannabe in a positive sense. But if you use wannabe in a perjorative sense then "el presume ser" could be used as you have stated in your definition of presumido as a vainglorious person.

We're getting closer, but no cigar, yet! The problem is in the slang term itself. Wannabe stands for want to be, "I wannabe a star" which in this sense aspira, or quisiera (ese) ser would also be a meaningful translation. But wannabe has historically a pejoritative allusion, as in "he's just a wannabe" as though the person has said he tried but didn't. I love language. Fascinanting!

I have longed admired the United Nations translators because it is so difficult to translate from one living language to another for precisely the same reasons: connotations of expressions.