Customer Reviews

Jonathan Te Vas a Emocionar

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I speak a vey minimal amount of spanish, yet this happens to be my favorite Jonathan Richman solo album. When you listen to his English albums you notice the silliness and kind of subconsioulsy pick up on the fact that he is transcending language and going into the realms of pure emotion. When you can't understand a word he is saying this subconsious reverie is brought to the forefront. This is definitely his most intimate album.

I really don't know what most of these songs are about (well if it's Jonathan they are either about love or chewing gum) but they sound sincere and human. I wish this one would get more acclaim than it does because it's a beautiful record.

Who coulda expected this? I speak about a hundred words of Spanish so when I listen hard I can get the gist of what he's talkin' about. Really though, it's not necessary to fully comprehend the lyrics. There's a transcendence in hearing a good Jonathan album and having many of the words not be comprehendable almost frees one to concentrate on the beauty of his music.

His accent is pretty white guy. But, heck, he is a white guy. And he sings so sincerely. He's clearly learned Spanish better than me and I'm half Mexican (parents thought we'd have trouble in school so we were never given our language gift).

I gotta admit, I don't relisten to this album much. That's typically a sign that it's not one of my favorites. It is a good listen for a coupla times tho. It's interesting to see how few other artists have done songs in other languages. The early BEATLES did a coupla songs in German. STING did a 12" with about 3 songs in Porteguse and 3 in Spanish, a record well worth owning. When music is sung in a different language it changes the artistry of it. JAMES TAYLOR does a song in French and it's surely one of his most romantic. chrisbct@hotmail.com

Best Jonathan album out there! Especially 'Reno', 'Papel de Chicle' 'Cerca' 'Ahora Es Mejor' 'Una Fuerza Alla' 'Compadrito Corazon' and 'No Mas Por Fun'--most of which are translation of english versions of the same songs which for whatever reason just don't sound as good in english as in spanish. My friend Zeke hates this album and he is a native Spanish speaker. He goes 'who is that jackass?' Zeke doesn't get it.

Favorite line: 'Tal vez Tom Jones, tal vez Charo' (from Reno.)

I have listened to this album over and over for years, especially Reno which was my theme song for like a year.

Jonathan taught himself spanish and wrote these songs. This is a wonderful wonderful selection. There is no one in music like Jonathan. He is a genius who still plays in small clubs and keeps his life and his music under his own control.