recommend spanish music

[pillowcase]

hi, total beginner Spanish learner here and I'd like to buy some music to listen to Spanish/sing along. Any recommended singers/bands? I tend to like female solo singers but anything remotely modern with lyrics that are clear enough to try to decipher and understand.

Amaral is good because her accent is so clear. She comes from Zaragoza, so every word is pronounced as it should be.

I can't stand La Oreja de Van Gogh, but if you like them, they can be good as well for this purpose.

Not modern, but 'Spanish songs with translations' on Amazon should give you something useful to sing along to.
As for places to visit in Spain, it is such a fantastically varied place ...
Central Spain is hot and full of history - Salamanca, Segovia, Avila, Toledo etc..
The north coast is a bit like Cornwall but with mountains behind. The pilgrim's route across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela would be a great trip.
(Santillana del mar is a lovely place to stay in Cantabria - near the beach, historical caves, Santander, and the Picos de Europa.)
In the south, a good driving trip could include Sevilla, Cordoba, Malaga, Granada, the Ronda Valley and a bit of the coast ..
For a bit of Spanish luxury maybe investigate a night in a PARADOR - they are castles or old buildings which have been converted into hotels.
I would also investigate dates for local festivals and try to go to one or two to soak up the atmosphere.
I have left so much out, but I hope this helps a bit.

Has anyone mentioned Rosana yet? A singer from the Canary Islands, lovely voice.

Novia - NEVER would have expected to read about Extremoduro on mumsnet, LOL!!! Are they still around? Reminds me of my youth, sniff!! Are they still around?

Also - but male voices, Fito & Fitipaldis and Jarabe de Palo, I found them very good for learning Spanish.

Agree with spanish11, Alejandro sanz is brilliant.I love No es lo mismo and I recommend watching the video for La Tortura with Shakira!!

Julieta Venegas. Love her stuff.

still noting all your ideas and slowly investigating on youtube. thanks again. met a real spanish person yesterday and nearly had the courage to address them in spanish, but didn't!!! maybe next time

www.ver-taal.com/

This site is fantastic, there are a few songs to listen to, then exercises to fill in the missing words.

We have listened to a few in our class lately doing some revision on the subjunctivo tense.

A dios le pido by Juanes and Ojala que te vaya bonito by Chavela Vargas.

I go to the state language school in Spain and I have found this site to be excellent.

Valencia, where I live, will have Las Fallas soon, 16th to 19th March. The best festival ever!!

If you're wanting to get the kids involved as well try Uno, Dos, Tres, My First Spanish Rhymes by Yanitzia Canetti, book with CD ... otherwise Alejandro Sanz has a wonderful gravelly voice who cares what he's singing

These songs from a group called Canta Juegos are fun for kinds if you want them to join in too.

Also this one is fun, Habia una vez...

ooohhh Chica31 I've just been doing parts of the body on ver-taal, now I need a cold shower!!! www.ver-taal.com/voc_cuerpo1.htm

I didn't see anyone suggesting the spanish group Mecano, sorry if somebody did already. I love their stuff, IMO they sing in perfect spanish although sometimes their lyrics are a bit difficult though.

My fab songs by them are: "hijo de la luna", "me cuesta tanto olvidarte" y "el 7 de septiembre"

Good luck!