It doesn’t get as much attention as Cuba or Brazil, but this country of many cultures and two coasts—Pacific and Caribbean—is a musical powerhouse.
Once you’ve read our November 2015 article on the sounds of Colombia, you’ll definitely want to check out the related tracks in our Hear the Music playlist. After that, you can explore our Extended Play section and find five extra tracks. And just in case you still want more, here are three videos by notable Colombian musicians. First up, the country’s most famous pop artist, and one of the planet’s biggest stars: Shakira. She made her first major impression on North American audiences with this breakout performance of “Ojos Asi” at the 2000 Latin Grammys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVSX05ROyqU
Next, another Colombian superstar: Juanes. This is the official video for the dynamic “La Luz,” which appears on his latest album Loco de Amor. The album was produced by Steve Lillywhite, who’s previously worked with such rock heavyweights as U2, the Dave Matthews Band, and the Rolling Stones.
Finally, a taste of slightly more traditional Caribbean cumbia, courtesy of the revered singer Totó la Momposina, performing at a 2012 folk festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The song she’s singing, “El Pescador,” is the same one she sings in our November Hear the Music playlist. But note the very different arrangement here, featuring electric instruments, saxophone, and more than a hint of another famous Caribbean music style: reggae. (We said it was only slightly more traditional!)