Spanish music recommendations

One of the most popular reasons adolescents and young adults here give for wanting to learn English is to be able to understand American song lyrics. Conversely, few people learning Spanish seem to give much thought to listening to Spanish music for the lyrics, but some of it is excellent, especially if you want to learn how people actually speak rather than what your textbook tells you to say (if my high school Spanish teacher knew I listened to such things, she would hang her head in shame).

I think reggaetón is overrated, but really that's just because I think Daddy Yankee is overrated. Calle 13, another Puerto Rican group, is less popular and much better. They're essentially the Spanish version of Ludacris*, with similarly inventive and offensive lyrics. I recommend El tango del pecado, Suave, and La cumbia de los aburridos. Pal norte is less offensive and more political, and is nominated for a Latin Grammy this year.

A somewhat more traditional rock group with similarly creative lyrics, El Cuarteto de Nos come from Uruguay and have been around forever. Watch (you have to watch the videos) Ya no sé qué hacer conmigo, Yendo a la casa de Damián (nominated for a Latin Grammy last year), and Las invasiones inglesas.

Although it's not in Spanish, and the male singer has the most abominable Spanish accent I've ever heard, I also really like this song. (Well, to be fair, his accent is better than this guy's.)

*For the record, I have been asked, as I suspect has everybody who has taught English in the past few years, "Teacher, what means to pop pooty on handstand?"