190- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion - Media and
communications - Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
Modern music: what the Spanish are listening to now
Flamenco-rock enjoyed brief popularity in the late
1980s and early 90s with bands like Triana doing well, but
today the fad has passed. Spanish music now embraces
a broad church, with its mix of indie rock, hip hop and
dance music negotiating a path through the nation’s
enduring love of pop stars and crooners. American and
British acts are also usually well represented in the music
charts.Pop
Here, the Spanish love of female vocalists shows no sign
of fading. Ella Baila Sola were a much respected acoustic
guitar wielding double act who disbanded in 2001 after
four albums, while, on the poppier side, Mussas, a trio
combining pop, rap and lipgloss are the latest to delight
teenyboppers. Male trio Café Quijano, a chirpy boy band
who looked old enough to know better, were widely
cheered until they broke up in 2007. And the pleasingly
named La Oreja de Van Gogh (yes, they are referring to
Van Gogh’s detached ear) make equally pleasing light pop
of the sort that washes over you, selling millions of
records on the way. However, Alejandro Sanz has been
the undisputed king of pop in recent years, a Grammy-
winning balladeer who has collaborated with everyone
from Paco de Lucía to Shakira.Rap and hip hip
Rap and hip hop are both strong genres in Spain,
counting on legions of fans, particularly among the urban
youth. The lead rapper is a guy called Tote King, an
undeniably charismatic character who combines the self-
aggrandisement of most rappers with social commentary.
Junior Miguez is another big name, as is Mala Rodríguez,
a female artist with a blunt – and usually entertaining –
feminist approach to hip hop, sometimes mixed with a
dash of flamenco.Hands in the air Ibiza
Dance music in Spain
(and that’s the wave your
arms about till six in the
morning sort, not the
flamencosort) doesn’t
thrive like hip hop or
rock. There are a handful
of notable DJs, but the
country’s strongest
association with the rave
culture comes from the
foreign artists flocking
to the White Isle, Ibiza,
still the favourite haunt
of Europe’s clubbing
fraternity almost 20
years since the first
Balearic Beat sounded.
The main club nights,
like Amnesia and Pacha,
have been going for
years. In terms of
domestic talent, both
To n i R o x a n d O s c a r
Mulero emerged from
the house music scene
of late 1980s Madrid,
and both are still DJing
today. A more recent
crop of DJs includes
Chus, Nuria Ghia and
Brian Cross (don’t let the
name fool you, he’s
Catalan).v4 SPAIN BOOK 27/3/08 10:05 Page 190