AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

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Stephan
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AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Stephan »

Bracket 2.2.13
Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar

Bracket 2.2.15
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love) - RapidShare
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Honorio
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Honorio »

Bracket 2.2.13
Melingo - Corazón & hueso (Argentina, 2011)
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île (French Guyana, 1958)
The nicolas bracket. Two wonderful (and typically nicolesque) songs but I got no doubt, the relaxing island of Henri Salvador is the place where I want to go.


Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu mirada y mi voz (Peru, 1997)
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar (Argentina, 1969)
The ladies bracket (well, we have this week equality, four ladies and four gentlemen). The Afro-Peruvian song nominated by Greg is great but I'm going to stick again to my nomination (and the song I would like to win this Southern America part), that beautiful song about the suicide of Argentinian poet Alfonsina Storni that drowned herself on the Mar de la Plata.


Bracket 2.2.15
Ástor Piazzolla - Oblivion (Argentina, 1984)
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la vida (Chile, 1966)
The most difficult bracket. Two wonderful songs, the bittersweet "Gracias a la vida" from Violeta Parra (an optimistic chant to life just before committing suicide) and the superb "Oblivion" with Ástor Piazzolla extracting notes of pure sandness from his bandoneon. I go with Ástor but that's almost a tie for me.


Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De Ushuaia a la Quiaca (Argentina, 1997)
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love) (Peru, 1950)
The Henrik bracket. Two song I discovered thanks to Henirk and Acclaimed Music, the bizarre and astonishing voice of Yuma Sumac against the elegance of Gustavo Santaolalla playing the charango. Gustavo for me. By the way Ushuaia and La Quiaca are the towns located at the South (Ushuaia) and North (La Quiaca) limits of Argentina.
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Miguel
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Miguel »

Bracket 2.2.13
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île

Bracket 2.2.14
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar

Bracket 2.2.15
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la vida

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De Ushuaia a la Quiaca
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nicolas
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by nicolas »

Bracket 2.2.13
Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso 5
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île 5
My favorite songs of this thread against each other...

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz 3.5
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar 4

Bracket 2.2.15
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion 4.25
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida 4

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca 4.25
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love) 4.25
Tight. But "De ushuaia a la quiaca" has more emotional power IMO while "Xtabay" is more original.

In the end, same ballot as Honorio...
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Henrik »

nicolas, I remember you didn't like "Gracias a la Vida" so much in round 1, so I checked if you had changed your rating. I ended digging up all these numbers, and thought I might as well post them. I hope you don't mind.

Except while you listened to bracket 2.2.14, you seemed to be in a more positive mood this week!

Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso 4.5 => 5
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île 5 => 5

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz 4 => 3.5
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar 4.5 => 4

Bracket 2.2.15
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion 4 => 4.25
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida 3.5 => 4

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca 4 => 4.25
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love) 4.25 => 4.25
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nicolas
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by nicolas »

yes, thanks !

I didn't know most of these songs before the game (except of course those of bracket 1)
Seems like I'm still discovering them, and like them more after each listen (except for bracket 2)
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by jamieW »

Bracket 2.2.13
Winner: Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île
Both beautiful songs, but “Melingo” keeps growing on me. I especially like the subtle way it builds in intensity throughout.

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz
Winner: Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar
Both wonderful voices; but the story that inspired “Alfonsina y el mar,” and Sosa’s use of vivid, chilling lyrics to tell a tragic story reminded me of the first time I heard “Strange Fruit,” which remains one of the most powerful music experiences I’ve ever had.

Bracket 2.2.15
Winner: Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida
So many of these unfamiliar voices sound surreal to me, and Violeta Parra is at the top of the list. (After reading Honorio’s ironic explanation of what would follow, it gave me chills to hear it again.) However, “Oblivion” is absolutely gorgeous, and is one of those instrumentals that seem to take on the personality of its title.

Bracket 2.2.16
Winner: Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love)
Sumac’s voice is amazing, with a remarkable, otherworldly range. But it’s up against my favorite of the entire bracket: the haunting, atmospheric “De Ushuaia a la quiaca.” (And a special thanks to Honorio for including the year of each song’s release in his posts. It makes it easy for me to place some of these great songs in their rightful places on my yearly lists.)
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Henrik »

Bracket 2.2.13
Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar

Bracket 2.2.15
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida
Yes, the next bracket is the "Henrik bracket", but these songs are among my favourites too. Difficult choice.

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love)
I had to check my positions for these songs in my top 500 ballot. It turned out that I put "Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love)" at #145 and "De Ushuaia a La Quiaca" at #151 which is really no difference at all. Well, I will stick with this order, as much as I love them both...
Everyone you meet fights a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
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Henrik
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Henrik »

jamieW wrote:(And a special thanks to Honorio for including the year of each song’s release in his posts. It makes it easy for me to place some of these great songs in their rightful places on my yearly lists.)
I second this!
Everyone you meet fights a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Poliuks »

Bracket 2.2.13
Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île
Both tracks are very smooth and relaxing, but I'll go with great orchestration and overall subtlety of Melingo.

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar
Really touching song - because of both its story and the way it is performed. Propably my favourite in this thread.

Bracket 2.2.15
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love)
Vocal part in Xtabay is a bit too bombastic for my taste. My choice is melancholic, beautiful guitar song of Gustavo Santaolalla (even if the strings, in my opinion, don't fit here very well).
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Dan
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Dan »

Bracket 2.2.13
Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île

I'm a big fan of Melingo, but "Dans mon île" is a laidback and straightforward gem of a song and an all-time favourite of mine.

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar

Delicate and touching songs from both women. The Mercedes Sosa song tugs at a few more heartstrings than the Susana Baca song, so it gets my vote.

Bracket 2.2.15
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida

"Gracias a la Vida" is yet another beautiful (and beautifully performed) song this week, but I absolutely love the controlled melancholy of "Oblivion".

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love)

An exciting and eccentric performance by Yma Sumac, but the atmospheric Gustavo Santaolalla piece keeps getting better with each listen.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Kingoftonga »

Bracket 2.2.13
Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz

Bracket 2.2.15
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca
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Stephan
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Stephan »

My votes go to Melingo, Mercedes, Violeta, and Gustavo.

Bracket 2.2.13
Melingo - Corazòn y Hueso - 3
Henri Salvador - Dans mon île - 5

Bracket 2.2.14
Susana Baca - Tu Mirada y Mi Voz - 1
Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar - 7

Bracket 2.2.15
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion - 6
Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida - 2

Bracket 2.2.16
Gustavo Santaolalla - De ushuaia a la quiaca - 7
Yma Sumac - Xtabay (Lure of the Unknown Love) - 1
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Honorio
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 2 - Southern America

Post by Honorio »

Henrik wrote:
jamieW wrote:(And a special thanks to Honorio for including the year of each song’s release in his posts. It makes it easy for me to place some of these great songs in their rightful places on my yearly lists.)
I second this!
Many thanks, boys. As you can guess, I only did it for fun. Researching for the place and date of release of some records is one of my vices (but some other people got much worse addictions, lol). Anyway I think it's important, some sounds that now are not surprising at all were groundbreaking at the time of it release. Think about the people that listened for Yma Sumac in 1950, probably they came to think then that they were sounds from the outer space...
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