I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz's single might be gaining momentum in America (finally!), but once again, the US is getting last year's music. Last year, Jason Mraz was topping charts in almost every country in Europe with his quirky, soulful single (just check out this clip of Jason Mraz playing in Sweden!!). A year later, the single has hit US shores and is gaining quickly in both sales and popularity.

Mraz, singer of the popular song "The Remedy", disappeared for a surprising amount of years (I had written him off as a one-hit wonder) before returning with a vengeance in 2006-7. But not to worry, he's still the same shabadoo-ing artist with that smooth, lyrical voice with a knack for slipping in an obsene amount of words into each beat. If you haven't heard the song yet (which is nuts), check it out here.

Kate Ryan - Belgium's Queen of Techno

Not just another ugly face
In a country starved of an entertainment superstar with an international following (or just plain entertainment), Kate Ryan is a godsend. A competitor in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 (EU's version of American Idol), Kate Ryan quickly became a European phenom with her techno single "Voyage Voyage" in 2007. Then, in 2008, she released Ella Elle L'a (She has it), which is all the rage in nightclubs all over Europe. Ella Elle L'a has a cliche, Euro dance club techno beat, and Kate Ryan is no Heidi Klum, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't like it :)

Mon Paradis - Christophe Mae

singer with 'tude
Christophe Mae got his start when he participated in the popular French theater act "Le Roi Soleil" (The Sun King; aka Louis XIV). Along with co-star Emmanuel Moire, he went on to start his solo career, releasing the album "Mon Paradis" in 2007. Quite frankly, his voice takes a little getting used to; he has a surprisingly large vocal range. However, once you get the lyrics/paroles of his single "On s'attache" (Efforts), and listen to "Belle Demoiselle" (Beautiful Woman) and "Ca Marche" (from Le Roi Soleil), it's hard to find what not to like!

El Mundo Se Equivoca - La Quinta (5a) Estacion

"El Mundo Se Equivoca" (The World is Mistaken/Wrong), is La Quinta (5a) Estacion's (The 5th Season) 3rd album, and features some great music - just listen to "Me Muero" (I Die - don't worry, it's not as morbid as the title makes it out to be), which features trumpets and other traditionally Mexican musical forms (which is odd, considering that La Quinta Estacion is a Spanish group), "Suenos Rotos" (Broken Dreams), a stripped-down, simple, touching ballad with just a piano and the powerful, beautiful voice of Natalia Jimenez (lead singer). OMG. If you need a reason to listen to this group, make it Nataliz Jimenez - she has a voice that is overflowing talent and raw energy; just listening to her can inspire one to sing in the shower ~ And, obviously, she sounds better live than on the recording.

Of course, listening to these songs without the lyrics is like searching for a pin in a dark room. So, of course, I've posted some links to the songs I've mentioned.

Me Muero lyrics/letras

Suenos Rotos lyrics/letras

and listen to this too: Algo Mas, from their previous album "Flores de Alquiler" (Leased Flowers)

Flores De Alquiler lyrics/letras

Julieta Venegas - MTV Unplugged

Julieta Venegas, a beautiful Mexican singer/songwriter/composer, is one of my favorite Spanish artists because her style is creatively clean and simple; plus, she is an AMAZING performer who often sounds better live then on the recording. Obviously, her MTV Unplugged concert was excellent; and, in addition to playing hits like "Limon y Sal" (Lemon and Salt, live), "Eres Para Mi" (You Are For Me, live), and "Andar Conmigo" (Walk With Me, live), she also played her new hit single, "El Presente" (The Present) on the accordion, which is already popular in both Spain and Mexico. It's a great, catchy, song that showcases her skills as a performer - a typical Venegas song. Check it out!

El Presente lyrics/letras

Eres Para Mi lyrics/letras

Limon y Sal lyrics/letras

Julieta Venegas and her tricked-out accordion

Tenia Tanto que Darte - single; Nena Daconte

A Spanish pop duo, Nena Daconte is comprised of Maria "Mai" Meneses (singer/composer, former contestant on the Spanish TV show Operacion Triunfo, a Spanish singing contest) and Kim Fanlo (guitarist), and their first hit single, "En Que Estrella Estara" (In What Star I Will Be), was number one in Spain in 2006. It's a good song; check it out. Their recently released single, "Tenia Tanto que Darte" (I Had So Much to Give You), from their second album, Retales de Carneval (Remnants of the Circus) has more of a pop-y feel to it - the adorable music video belies the melancholy lyrics. (The lyrics are translated; if you're a beast at spanish&want to challenge yourself, simply type in google "letras tenia tanto que darte" and you should get some results) This song is already #1 on the Spanish iTunes chart, and if the rest of the album is anything like the single, Nena Daconte is poised to pick up a couple of awards at year's end.

Mai Meneses has a great voice - I'm not talking Celine Dion-caliber here - but undoubtably talented and in "Tenia Tanto que Darte", exudes a cute, girly exurberance that's hard to dislike.

Mai Meneses(L), Kim Fanlo (R)