Customer Reviews

Las Ketchup

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Hailed as a new macarena in Europe and elsewhere, Pilar, Lola, and Lucia, the trio's members, all daughters of famed Spanish flamenco guitarist, Tomate, have produced a benign, catchy, Euro pop CD that at times, like a Spanish paella, combines Latin-pop, rumba, reggae-drum beats, and hiphop (even the Sugarhill Rappers' Delight 1979 chorus). There are four versions of the "HEH HAH" song: Spanglish, Espanol, Hippy-style, and Karaoke. The liner notes are excellent. Includes the words as well as some translations. I bought the CD for the title track, but the other tracks are fine standard Europop tunes.

Go back to 1979 and try to remember Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight". It went something like this: "I said a hip hop the hippie the hippie to the hip hip hop and you don't stop the rock...." Are you singing along with me? Now try the same tune with: "Aserejé ja de jé de jebe tude jebere sebiounouba majabi an de bugui an de buididipí." No, this is not a mere coincidence, the author and producer of "Aserejé (the Ketchup Song)" is Manuel Ruiz, a.k.a. "El Queco", who came up with the idea of writing the Aserejé song while singing the Sugar Hill Gang's song to his kids. El Queco didn't happen out of the blue, he's been around for a while. He recorded his first album at age 17 and produced the 2001 Grammy Award winner flamenco album: "Ciudad de las Ideas-Vicente Amigo."

But anyway, who are these Ketchup girls? The three sisters, Lola, Lucía and Pilar decided to name themselves "Las Ketchup" as homage to their flamenco-guitarist father, Juan Muñoz, whose nickname is "El Tomate." Their catchy single, "Aserejé" climbed up on the charts about two seconds after it was released. The song, in spite of having a refrain that is neither Spanish, English, Esperanto or any other language, is extremely contagious and gets your body moving of its own will. People are saying it's the next "Macarena." I think its rhythm is much more delightful than the song by "Los del Río", which made Bill Clinton sway hips from side to side.

Other songs in the Ketchup album include "Kusha las Playas" which is an intelligent mix of acoustic pop and rumba and is even reminiscent of certain Jamaican rhythms. "Un de vez en Cuando" is an infectious marriage of flamenco and electric guitars. "Lánzame los trastos, Baby" is a complicated fusion of reggae, rap and folk Andalusian song. "Sevillanas Pink" (my favorite song in the album) is a fabulous weave of the classic Sevillana rhythm with blues! (I don't believe anyone had ever done this before.) And the transsexual story it tells goes quite ad'hoc with our times. All in all, it's an awesome song. If you're into flamenco in its multitude of forms, you will definitely enjoy this album.

Nutrition information and ingredients of Las Ketchup...

Tomatoes--3: Lola, Lucia, Pilar
Latin disco-pop--11 servings
includes Hey Hah spice--4 servings
Flavouring--definitely Latin
Other info--goes good with Shakira salad, Selena pilaf, or Patricia Manterola casserole

Warning: certain stomachs used to Alabina Delight may undergo certain side effects.

OK, here goes. The first song happens to be "The Ketchup Song (Hey Hah)" that has swept the European charts, so there's no need to squeeze the bottle or slam one's fist behind the bottle. It's the best song here, no contest, with a tempo and vocals tempered so it doesn't get smeared by the excess cheese of "Living Da Vida Ricky."

And just what the heck does that infectious chorus mean? It goes "Asereje ja de je de jebe tu de jebere sebiunouva majabi an de bugui an de buididipi"? Well, it's clearly nonsenspanol, but the lyrics probably mean "just have fun." The song's not cheesy or silly, but pleasingly upbeat. The Hey Hah is part of the "...je ja" of "Asereje ja..."

The next song, "Kusha Las Payas" is a mid-paced guitar number that goes electric at times and ends with a quick finish. This may be evidence that Las Ketchup is the missing link between mustard and guacamole... I mean Selena and Shakira. Excuse the condiment references--see what this CD has done to me?

The acoustic guitar/clapping rhythm "Un De Vez En Cuando" veers towards the Selena side of the Latin spectrum. The girls all sing in unison as they do on the song. It's goes up a notch with the catchy chorus, which contains the words "bugy bugy" Probably boogey boogey, right?

"Sevillanas Pink" is a slow acoustic cafe jazz number that allows a break from the initial Hey Hah song, but look out, because right after this breather is the Hippy version of Hey Hah. More acoustic than the original and it's totally in Spanish.

No, "Krapuleo" is the name of a song, NOT what this CD is. It plays more on the flamenco side, heavily laced with ketchup pop. And "Me Persigue Un Chulo" has rap verses with a silly music pop playing. The chorus is sung in unison and has electric guitars.

Upon hearing "Tengo Un Novio Tantriko," I thought, hey, with practice, they could be the Andrews Sisters of Latin pop. With the boogying swing and unison vocals, well, it could be.

So, is having four different versions of the Hey Hah song worth it? Well, it is infectiously cool, and yes, it does mask the fact that there are only seven other songs, but with this song, it's worth it. There's a karaoke version for those who want to make a fool of themselves on Karaoke Fridays, and the Spanish version, which is better than the Spanglish version.

So send Paulina Rubio and Ricky Martin packing. Las Ketchup is a better deal and hey hah, it'll make your fries... I mean CD player taste better. I mean, your CD player will love you. To use my last food analogy, if you're going to have flan for dessert, it should be sweet and leave you feeling warm inside, right?

It's a mixture of hip-hop, flamenco, ska, and several other styles, which are mixed very intelligently and the result is just good music. All of the songs are good not just "Acereje". I really don't see the point of all the efforts that try to label Las Ketchup music and then guided by the person's opinion for the style as a whole, to determine what they "should" think of this CD. In any style there is a good and bad music. This one happens to be of the good kind.

If you're looking for deep or 'meaningful' music skip this one.
The ketchup Song isn't deep or meaningful but it IS fun.The beat of the music and the lyrics go together well and are easy to listen to (and dance to as well).
With 4 versions of the same song (the ketchup song) it truly isn't the best value for your money (as far as the number of songs for the dollar), but the other 7 songs are good ones.
All the songs are upbeat, fast paced, 'feel good' songs that are easy on the ears and fun to lsten to. For simple, easy listening fun I recommend it.

...because they're VERY catchy! I should even say "sexy" -not obscene at all, but actually VERY sexy! The fact is that I'm tempted to give to this CD four or five stars, while I feel that it wouldn't be fair, really. But well... every people I know (male or female), once they have seen the "Aserejé" clip, they're caught! Why? Well... These three girls are likeable. They laugh and transmit a lot of joyful energy. They're liberal, feminist, ironical, humorous and glamorous -a perfect hook for nowadays' women ;-). On the other hand, there's something sinful and at the same time innocent in their music and image -a perfect hook for men :-) That's why I think some people are even saying that the tomato with the leg is like a 6, and that they're therefore agreeing with the Devil (666, you know). Well... it's up to you believing on that or not, but that they're catchy, they ARE. :-)

In any case, this album is pretty enjoyable. Although the target market is the world of teens, their music and lyrics are rather good than bad -I guess that Britney Spears would feel some jealousy faced to this trio of Spanish girls (not because of their money, of course ;-)). The flamenco, hip-hop, pop, salsa and jazzy influences make of this CD a pretty decent piece of blended (or eclectic?) music, in spite of the puerile and superficial air of it all.

"Aserejé", even if it took for their clip the same formula than "La Macarena" (and event if it somewhat reminds me Papa Levante's "Me Pongo Colorada"), is a sparkling song and an instant hit. After that song, they use a lot of other tricks to cacth their audience: making fun of stupid and ridicule guys ("Krapuleo"), using a lot of irony in "Lanzame Los Trastos, Baby", and even being clever and musically audacious in "Sevillanas Pink" (what a song! a bluesly flamenco! The best on this CD, men!). If you don't understand Spanish, it would certainly be a problem to get into this album, but I'd recommend it anyway to anybody as a breeze of fresh air.

But I warn you: there's nothing transcendent here, just some catchy stuff that will last some few months, and that's it that's all! Enjoy it while the fury lasts. But again, maybe "Sevillanas Pink" deserves some more attention as the very good song it is.

Final score: three stars. Like a room in a hotel where you'll comfortably rest for one night -and have nothing extra. :-)

Pop music is just that. It has an appeal. I heard this song playing in the Musee D'lerotic in Paris last week and a ten second clip woke me this morning and has me on the net looking for where I can buy it. I don't know if it's the next Macarena (which was pop and became extremely annoying due to overplaying) and I hope it doesn't, because I enjoy it. It is easy to listen to and requires no thought. It inspires emotions. I have been telling people about it for a week. That is unusual for listening to a song once, at least for me. If I were you I would spend whatever it took to get a copy to enjoy before the POP-Culture industry ruins it.

The entire album of this Spanish sensation is worth listening.
The songs although different and similar make a statement. They exude happiness, determination. The girls' voices are not amateurish/first album.
"Aserejé" is definetely the best song of this summer.
Also don't miss "Kusha las payas".

Just two months ago, I was driving in my car and I heard "The Ketchup Song (Asereje)"... I almost ran off the road the song was so good!!! I found myself two weeks ago to be on Amazon.com buying their CD. I received it and discovered that it is the single most amazing thing since... I don't know what! I then saw the music video on MTV! When I tell you I was doing that dance until my socks melted right off my feet, I'm telling the truth! The dance is absolutely genius!!! Get this CD. It is WORTH IT!!!

If you want to spend the money to have the song - to listen to whenever you want - then get this CD. I think it's worth it.

However the rest of the songs are not quite as catchy.

And even though there are four (4) versions of the Las Ketchup Song on this CD - there may be only one version that you really like.

I think it's worth it, but be forwarned, you may not like the rest of the CD. And that's okay. It's okay with me if it's okay with you - but if that's not going to be okay with you, than think twice before purchasing this. (Hey Ha!)