Spanish Songwriting

Question

As part of the composition portion of my music course I decided one of my pieces should be a Spanish Latin style song. I listen to quite a lot of latin music so I know that there are major differences between lyrics of Spanish songs and English songs. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for writing good lyrics or even any examples or ideas (I probably won't use them but they might give me some ideas )

Gracias todos

Answer 1

I would just say be original! There are so many opportunities for frases bien suaves in Spanish that almost anything you say can be poetic. One very important thing to remember is not to think/write in English, just do it all in Spanish and it will come out a lot more authentic to the language.

"fíjese, yo le, echo de menos y el verle sería, el partir los cielos y sentir, la fuerte, mano de Dios recordar el abuso que, usted había cometido"

Answer 2

I think a perfect Spanish song would have to have each of the following words or phrases at least once (if possible)...

corazón

las estrellas

tus ojos

tu piel

tu cuerpo

no hay remedio más que...

respirar (conjugated appropriately)

el sol

la playa

Here is one song that was able to incorporate several of these elements: Fotograhía.

Here is another: Cuando Calienta El Sol (Lawrence Welk version).

Not all songs containing the word "corazón" will qualify as a great Spanish song, however. For example: ¡No Rompas Más Mi Pobre Corazón! (warning...this is the Spanish version of Achy Breaky Heart and contains scenes of people line dancing).

Okay, so actually, I just listed some words from the three Spanish songs I'm familiar with. - webdunce, Nov 27, 2011

haha so true :) - spanish-at-heart, Dec 3, 2011

Answer 3

Well, I know when it comes to the flow of lines in Spanish poetry, that goes by syllable count, and if you have one word ending in a vowel and the next word beginning in a vowel then those syllables blur together.

So normally it would be:

Yo amo ella Yo | a | mo | e | lla

But since the vowels blur together: Yo a | mo e | lla

So it comes out sounding like 3 syllables instead of 5. You hear this a lot in Spanish songs too, which is why it can be tricky when you're just listening. I know a lot of songs in general in most popular styles in any language aren't very picky about meter, but I think your lines might sound off if you try to make

Yo | la | qui | e | ro

fit the same as: Yo a | mo e | lla

Even though they technically each have 5 syllables.

For example here: una musica y una cena con velas - siempre tu - fotonovela solo tu.

u | na | mu | si | ca | y | u | na | ce | na | con | ve | las - 13 syllables

becomes more like

u | na | mu | si | ca y u | na | ce | na | con | ve | las - 11 syllables

Answer 4

Jesse & Joy are a popular Mexican band that have awesome lyrics! Most of the spanish songs I listended to have the word "corazón" or "heart" in them,

I think there are actual laws and international agreements requiring Spanish songs to use the word "corazón" like X number of times...regardless of the song's subject matter. - webdunce, Nov 27, 2011

I know right!! - spanish-at-heart, Nov 27, 2011

Answer 5

I have the lyrics of a beautiful spanish song called "Fotonovela" if that is what you are looking for. I brought it for you, I hope you like it.

Tu para mi eres la estrella.
un corazon a todo color.

nuestra vida como una dulce mentira -
cuentos tiernos - inventos que inventas tu. b
Vuela - con tu fotonovela
vuela - mujer fotonovela.

Tu para mi solo una historia
un medio amor sin solucion

una musica y una cena con velas -
siempre tu - fotonovela solo tu.
Vuela - con tu fotonovela
vuela - mujer fotonovela.

Tu para mi eres la estrella
yo para ti no se quien soy.
Vuela - con tu fotonovela
vuela - con tu fotonovela.
Vuela - con tu fotonovela
vuela - con tu fotonovela

Answer 6

Busce por las poemas

http://www.poesiaspoemas.com/