The Vuelta a Espana is coming – I need Spanish Music!
Si, amigos! It’s almost time for another fun stage race to simulate in your indoor cycling classes. The Vuelta a Espana is August 28 – September 19. This will be the 75th anniversary of the Vuelta. One very exciting aspect of the Vuelta this year will be a night-time Team Time Trial to be held in Sevilla. Now that will be exciting to watch, as well as to coach in your classes. So much so that I will make it an audio PROfile for ICI/PRO members. There was no Team Time Trial in the Tour de France this year, and those are one of my favorite stages to simulate (that is….after an epic battle on an HC climb), so I get to do one for the Vuelta!
In my opinion, one of the things that makes these real-life stage profiles so much fun to do in indoor cycling classes is to use music from that country. It not only adds flair but a cultural twist as well. In Italy it was fairly easy for the Giro d’Italia – Italian songs are Italian songs. And the same for the Tour de France – I’ve got an unending supply of great French songs to use (OK, a few are from Québec).
But Spain is presenting a problem. Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world. I am stating the obvious here, but just because the lyrics are in Spanish doesn’t mean it’s from Spain. I already have tons of tunes from Latin America. But I don’t want songs from Latin America, I want songs from Spain. You know, over in Europe. Espana. I posted this on Facebook and I got 35 responses – most of which were not Spanish. Things like “Shakira” (she’s from Colombia), or other artists from Cuba, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and more. Yes, I do enjoy these Latin songs, and I use them in other classes, and yes, I will use Rodrigo y Gabriela in my Vuelta rides even though they are from Mexico (because their incredible music is very Spanish-like flamenco).
And I may very well use some Latino music in my Vuelta rides (betcha my students will never know the difference). Nevertheless, I am looking specifically for Spanish-from-Spain-in-Europe artists. It can be traditional, rock, pop, electronic, dance, etc. If you have any to share, please let me know. I will share here on ICI all the groups I discover, for those of you who want to expand your international music library and create Vuelta a Espana rides.
I have already gotten a few great suggestions from my Facebook and Twitter queries. For example, two Basque groups (both rock/pop genre) are Estopa and La Oreja de Van Gogh (“Van Gogh’s Ear” – what a clever name). Both can be found on eMusic.
Of course there are many Gypsy Kings songs that will lend themselves to a Spanish class. And dance/trance tunes from Balearic Islands (Like Maillorca and Ibiza), the latter so famous for its chill-out grooves. Buddha Bar and other Claude Challe compilations should reveal some others – I’ve just got to “go fishing” for them.
If you have any to share, post them here or email me at jennifer@indoorcycleinstructor.com. I will share them all in a few weeks, as we get closer to the Vuelta.
16 Responses to “The Vuelta a Espana is coming – I need Spanish Music!”
Leave a Reply
Epic Planet DVDs
Global Ride DVDs
Endurance Films
The SufferFest
ICI/PRO Members Links- Never lose sight of your passion! September 2, 2010
- ACE Approved! Conference Participants Can Earn 1.4 ACE CECs August 31, 2010
- Under Construction This Coming Weekend August 30, 2010
- Krankcycle at IDEA – Interview with Mike Michaels August 29, 2010
- Small Class? Maybe It Isn’t Your Fault… August 25, 2010
Bailamos, Enrique Iglesias, 3:34 (very high energy and fun and you don’t get more Spanish than Enrique)
Malagueña, The Cascades 5:08 (powerful remix of a classic)
Anything by Ottmar Leibert and Luna Negra (ok, so Ottmar is German and a sometime Santa Fe resident, but his music is pure Español)
Oh, I’d forgotten about Ottmar Leibert. Mostly for cooldown, wouldn’t it be? I’ll check out the others – they sound great!
Balearic Sessions and Balearic Soul are two great artists as well.
I sometimes use Ottmar Liebert in the warmup. Some are certainly fast and exciting enough for a descent or a flat and there are dozens of songs.
I have a lot but need to be at home, so when I will be back I will send you some.
I have made a few profile all Spanish sound.
There is also a flasmenco remix of the bolero de Ravel nice …
Check B-tribe they have some nice one.
I love B-Tribe. Sensual Sensual is a great album. But mostly cooldown as well.
You are in Quebec Pascal?
I have all album from B-tribe, they are all good yes mostly cool down but they have a few track really nice for saddle time.
I have also used some soundtrack with latin sound but again when I will be back home.
Yes I am in Quebec, I have already ride 200km in 2 days and enjoy the nature and familly life.
I have a big problem, I love it TOO MUCH !
I will open news thread on IDC pedalon page about comment I have already here from IDC …
This morning during my 2+hour mountain bike ride I listened to a bunch of the new Spanish songs I’ve been downloading. Oh I have some great stuff! I’ll keep taking more suggestions, I’d like to find more Spanish rock & pop (like La Oreja de Van Gogh and Estopa), and I really love the flamenco infused electronic – makes for a great concerted climb (of which there will be a lot during the Vuelta).
I like “Generique” by Kouz-1 (feat. Ardag). It’s on the L’auberge Espanole soundtrack (a great album all around!) it’s got a very fast, fun sound to it, perfect for simulating flying down a hill.
Tara,
After much searching I found it on Amazon*. It’s actually a French movie “the Spanish Apartment”. New the soundtrack is $129!! (that’s the price of imports I guess!) But there are some used ones for $15. You think it’s that good? I may go ahead and buy a used one on your recommendation – but I’m holding you to it!
(just kidding). I don’t mind paying for a whole cd for one song if the song is worth it. Maybe we’ll rent it from Netflicks to see the movie first!
*FWIW, I actually find a far greater variety on Amazon than iTunes. First I always look on eMusic since I have a monthly quota to fill, and I’m happy to say there is a lot of good international music available on eMusic, including many of the Spanish ones I’ll be recommending. (not this one however)
Jennifer:
$129! That’s crazy–even $15 for used seems high; I know I purchased my CD in the US for about that, new. The whole CD is one of my favorite albums — some good indoor cycling music, some good party music, so it’s probably worth $10-15 (not $129, though!)
I would definitely recommend getting the movie on Netflix– the movie itself is one of my favorites. The protagonist is a French student who goes to study in Barcelona for a year and lives in a multi-cultural student apartment.
I love foreign films, sounds right up my alley. I’ll put it in my Netflix feed.
And I’ll put out the $15 for it – sounds great to me! Funny how the economics of supply and demand makes it way to seemingly innocuous albums like a French movie soundtrack!
Hi Jennifer This I consider a verdaderos spanish musicians ,I hope you will find it good para tu vuelta de espana:
*Raimundo Amador, Bollere, ay que gustito
*Jarabe de Palo
*Ketama, te miro y tiemblo,me gusta como eres,aqua,ying yang,dejame vivir, menos que un amor,
*Kiko Veneno
*Manolo Garcia , pajaros de barro,abre la
puerta, nunca el tiempo es perdido.
*Alejandro Sanz,desde cuando , corazon
partio.
*Niña Pastori, corazon partio
*Diego El Cigala
*Rosario Flores
*Pata Negra
*Navajita Platea
*Alba Molina y Raimundo Amador , Noches de bohemia.
* Jose Ortega
*Manzanita,un ramito de violetas
* Juan Manuel Serrat , mediterraneo.
* Nino Bravo, la cancion de la alegria
* = Musician ,= songs
Buenissimo! Muchas Gracias !
Baila Morena by Zuccero (sp?)
Looking for more new spanish musicians I found this in youtube very interesting:
*Siente , Technotrance flamenco (Echevere).
*Electronic tango flamenco Von Magnet
ma peine . ,maybe is more Gipsy-spanish
music
*Techno disco flamenco.
*Flamencolectronic show.
*Flamenco Lounge , Levatis & friends
*Ricardo Griego ,Techno flamenco.
Perhaps those are more apropiate because are more instrumental, than the others singers . I’m sure you will find were to get it , let us Know ,y que viva espana!!!!Ole
Bill, that song works great! He is Italian, but the song is Spanish. Roberto – I found a good one by Levantis & friends, but couldn’t find much else. What I did find by Von Magnet is very industrial punk!