Friday, October 05, 2012

Weekend Discussion: Leitmotifs and Love Themes; Novela Music


Ever since ancient times music has been important in theatrical entertainment to set moods and describe and comment on action. Musicians were present in theatres during the time of Sophocles, the Caesars, and later Shakespeare. The composer Jean Baptitste Lully frequently collaborated with Molière during the time of Louis XIV. During the days of silent movies music was provided in theatres to accompany the action, either 





by a full orchestra in New York or a pianist in Peoria. Special effects organs like “The Mighty Wurlitzer” were designed to also simulate other instruments and were installed in large movie theatres. Classical music that was in the public domain was often used and music cue sheets were provided to conductors, organists, and pianists. As films became more sophisticated they had scores uniquely composed for them and now we almost feel cheated when the odd film is released that has no music. It feels unfinished; artistically incomplete.

Television is no different and its later entry into the entertainment world allowed it to start at a greater level of sophistication than films had in their early days. For some time this was less true of serialized drama on daytime television which was more cheaply produced. Some of us are old enough to remember the corny, melodramatic organ chords that must have been a holdover from the days when such dramas were presented live on radio. Thankfully, we've come a long way since then.

Television composers probably don't get enough credit for this, but they have learned much from the opera world. Novela composers like Jorge Avendaño (Mariana de la Noche, Corazón Salvaje ['93], Alborada, Yo Compro Esa Mujer, Gitanas) and Carlos Paramo (El Manantial, La Otra, Corazón Salvaje [09]) deliver atmosphere, suspense, and romance with every note. They and their colleagues who work on Mexican novelas are the obvious heirs of Richard Wagner and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.  Although this isn't the best version of any of them, this clip contains some of Avendaño's best :

Mariana de la Noche Finale Part 1

One of the greatest love themes of any series is at the 6th minute.  Those of you who also know the score of CS 93 will recognize the music that starts at the 9th minute.

The prime time novelas in the last few years have had excellent music and the current line-up have some of the best opening themes in the last year. We have some new voices in them in addition to our old favorites and even one of the galans provides his own voice to the effort. The current songs are also incredibly appropriate to the programs they introduce. Sadly, this is not always the case with novelas de epoca where a contemporary pop song really doesn't belong.

For all its controversy and faults, the 2009 version of Corazón Salvaje had excellent incidental music and made very intelligent use of music of the story's period, much like the 1991 Yo Compro Esa Mujer. The only flaw in the music for CS 09 was the use of contemporary pop songs as love themes for the couples. To me this is a violation of the series' atmosphere, especially of one where the costumes and props were so meticulously correct. Fuego en la Sangre also had excellent music with character leitmotifs – we always knew when Juan was galloping in on Capriccio – and signature songs, even though some of the latter are usually overused; who can sing the lyrics to “Bonbon Asesino”?. We'll never think that it's inappropriate to have a Vicente Fernandez song leading in a novela with a rural setting. The jungle sounds and native instruments used in Abismo de Pasión add an air of mystery and danger because of the jungle of raw human emotions in this tale.

Which is your favorite of the current prime-time themes? Which novelas you have seen have had great music? Do you have a favorite novela composer or singer of novela themes?

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Comments:
I love the drum and cello dramatic suspense music in AdP. It's perfect.

I seem to recall that En Nombre del Amor had really good music, but now I can't remember exactly how it was.
 

I also liked the vocals-only version of Cuando Me Enamoro.
 

Pepe Aguilar did Destilando Amor, which is my very favorite TN soundtrack. I think he was involved in FELS later on, too, though I'm not sure.

My all time favorite TN theme song was Antes de que Te Vayas from Mundo de Fieras. Terrible TN, but great song.
 

The theme song of ENDA was En Cambio No by Laura Pausini whose voice I can't stand. She's too screamy. The incidental music for this series had lots of excellent creep factor. The composer was Xavier Asali whose previous credits include Duelo de Pasiones and Peregrina. Here is the scene with the murder of Macarena for a good example.
 

Julie, Pepe Aguilar wasn't involved with FELS; that was Vicente Fernandez for the opening theme and Vicente Fernandez Jr acted in the series. All three lead actors sang from time to time although the song list was very short. That is a general problem.

Pepe Aguilar also sang for Atrévete a olvidarme.

Mundo de Fieras had a great title cut. I'm a big fan of Marco Antonio Solis. He's one of the few composers who actually has a great voice.
 

I thought Pepe Ag had written some of the songs that came along later in FELS, but now I'm not sure where I got that idea because I can find no proof. Some of the musical arrangements in FELS are very similar to those in Destilando, though.

I liked the Fuerza del Destino song a lot. I didn't watch the show (too burnt out after two hours of Familia per night), but I would always stay tuned to hear the song!
 

Of the current songs I like "Abismo de Pasion" the best. The music is beautiful and the two singers harmonize perfectly. "La Fuerza del Destino" was also fabulous.

Salvador Mejia will make a mess of a script for LHDM's remake, but I'm hoping for good music.
 

Great topic Urban! What a treat to get your expert take on the music in our telenovela. Let's see, I can't remember a lot of specifics, but:

- I find/found myself belting out these theme songs each time they came on: Teresa; Dinero; Refugio; Amor Bravio; Atrevete a Sonar; Abismo; Cuando Me Enamoro.
- CME is the only telenovela where I would have bought the whole soundtrack and listened to it on my Ipod if I could. Great beautiful pop love songs.
- I also found the incindental music in ENDA to be haunting, beautiful, and a great fit for the tn. The incindental music for Abismo is good, but can get a bit loud many times. Also enjoying the incidental music for Amore Bravio.
-Loved all the songs the galan and heroine sang in Dinero. Fun, romantic and great traditional Mexican songs.
 

- I love ~ALL~ the music from the CS93.
- The theme song for Amor Real has always appealed to me. It was contemporary in contrast to AR being a period telenovela, but it worked for me.
- Theme song and incidental music for FELS are some of my favorites.
 

I love Vicente Fernandez; I've attended three of his concerts and I'm so sorry he's retiring. Here's hoping his songs are still used in novelas.

His son also needs to do a US tour. His concerts are amazing.

The problem of music being too loud doesn't seem to be such an issue anymore although it does happen from time to time. On the few occasions it does now I give myself three attempts at being able to hear the dialogue if I'm translating a conversation it's interfering with. It's too frustrating to spend an hour on two lines of dialogue no matter how important they seem at the time.

 

Those Vicente Fernandez songs certainly are catchy. I often hum the theme from Amor Bravío at work and I can still sing the chorus from the La Mentira theme from 1998:

Si me dejas no me olvides, por favor, nunca me olvides
Tú sabes cuanto te quiero, que desde siempre te quise
Si me dejas no me olvides, por favor, nunca me olvides
Me voy a quitar de en medio, ¿qué más quieres, qué más quieres?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQk7smFgk6A&feature=relmfu
 

UA - What a wonderful introduction and excellent comments.

I liked the theme (Reyli) in LQNPA a lot, s well as the character and relationship themes.

And, I'm a sucker for the Vicente Fernandez music, so right for the novelas de campo. I sing the theme to Amor Bravio to my poor little dog, who gets that goofy confused puppy look when I start.

But my all time favorite -- went out and bought the CD that included it -- is the Alejandro Fernandez song from La Esposa Virgin, Que voy hascer con este amor. Beautiful. I liked Nina amada mia by AF also. He has a beautiful voice if not quite the soul of his father.
 

What Alejandro Fernandez has more than any other singer is sex appeal. If that were a weapon, he'd have to be classified as "nuclear." I showed the music video of "Tantita Pena" to a friend who hates Latin music and even she admitted he was seriously dangerous.

I've been to three of his concerts and scored a backstage pass to the one in 2004. Incredible.
 

UA -- Agree, agree, agree about AF. Lucky you to have seen him in person. Tantita pena is the nuclear option at its most explosive.
 

Thanks for coming up with another rousing weekend topic UA. When my husband and I lived in London one year, we got to attend a number of silent movies where an excellent pianist accompanied the action. Great memories.

Like Julie, I loved Antes de que te vayas by Marc Antonio Solis (never watched the show) the Vicente Fernandez theme for FELS, the Luis Miguel song for TdA (never watched the show), Solamente Tu by Pablo Alboron for LQNPA (seldom watched the show), all the songs from CME (loved the show) Esa Hembra Es Mala from Teresa (sometimes watched), and Junto a Ti by Alex Sirvent from Abismo (and often wonder WHY I watch the show.)

Thanks for once again proposing an interesting topic for us all to enjoy.
 

Thanks for this topic UA. I definitely want to increase my knowledge of TN and Latin music. I got the single from DA by Pep Aguilar and have enjoyed the songs from VF from FELS and now AB. And yes Mundo had a great theme song.

Wow, Tantita Pena by Alejandro Fernandez was great. I think I've seen AF before but hadn't hear his music. Again thanks!
 

Urban-what a great topic. I loved all the music from Destilando Amor, which is still my all time favorite TN. Also loved all the music from CS 2009 especially the guitar in a lot of the scenes with Regina and Juan. Liked the theme song to LVO, Si te Perdiera by Luci Miguel, the theme to PVAA Para Volver a Amar by Kany Garcia, the theme song to MEPS by AF, the theme song to El Talisman, yeah I know, but it had a GREAT theme song by Rosana Arbelo, with Vivi about the songs from Dinero by the hero and heroine. I also love the music from Por Ella Soy Eva the opening one especially by Jaime Camil and of course the Paquita la de Barrio song they used in Por Ella Rata de dos patas, lol. Also like the theme song of AB by Vicente Fernandez. Also really like the them for Refugio.
 

Sorry for the typo, I meant Luis Miguel, lol.
 

Great idea--hard to contribute with so many favorites. And each new tn has it's own special qualities.

We just HAVE to add Sortilegio with Il Divo singing the main theme. Also Daniela Romo sings at least one of her songs.

CME has already been mentioned. I've got most of Manuel Carrasco's songs, even some that weren't in the tn, and listen to them frequently.

I have to admit getting soppy over LQNPA's main theme and Corre-Corre and Solamente Tu.

Here's an interesting thing to share about those two songs from LQNPA. I started watching a Chilean novela called Dama y Obrero and low and behold, both songs are featured as couple themes. The main theme is pretty catchy, but not memorable.

Forget the story, if you want to listen to the music. (Just an aside, a pololo is a novio in Chile. The blonde is married--he's not, but he's in a formal compromiso with the girl in the wheel chair. If you watch the whole episode, you will have met almost all the characters, but no real spoilers).

Put this in the search box for Youtube. This works.

"Dama y Obrero" Cap. 61 03/09/2012 - TVN

UA was talking about the symphonic arrangement in Mariana de la Noche. This has a very similar, gorgeous, emotionally charged passage beginning at min. 5:14 - 6:40; there are also others.

I like the fact they don't over-ride the dialog with very loud music.

Enjoy!
Anita


 

I forgot to mention the theme song by David Bolzoni called Yo Soy Aquel from Montecristo (Diego Olivera and Silvia Navarro). It's also on YouTube.
 

Well, I for one -- and I realize I may be the only one -- thought El Tal had the most smokin' theme EVER. The telenovela cat liked it, too.

I also have the themes from Teresa and CME on my iPod, along with "Tantita Pena." That last has the best choreography ever, I think.
 

BLass--El Tal sticks in my mind, too. I liked it. After all, think of all the times we heard it over and over since we were recapping it!
 

And it came in handy so often:
me voy me voy me voy al mercado
me voy me voy me voy al gimnasio
me voy me voy me voy al trabajo

I'm with Julia about LOVING to pieces the vocals-only version of CME. I also loved the Andrea Bocelli slower version and who can't help but smile at Enrique's version.

LQNPA had cute songs.

The best thing about AdeP is the music, right Judy?

I haven't fallen for any of the AB music yet.

Thanks, UA, for bringing this up. I will be youtubing the mentioned songs.
 

R la O, I'd forgotten all about the Me Voy song! I loved that one, too! (But the one I was thinking of was the initial theme, with the unsubtle beat and periodic squealing.)
 

UA, thanks for another lovely weekend topic....

Amor Real was my first novela and I was so taken with, " Me Voy a Quitar De En Medio" sung by Vincente Fernandez.....while riding his beautiful horse who seemed to be strutting like a Tennessee Walking Horse with the Mexican silver saddle and bridle.....I wanted the CD. This was before iTunes, and in my world, Internet sales. I went to our retail music store and of course, they had never heard of Vincente Fernandez and the music from Amor Real!!! As luck would have it we were going to Puerta Vallarta on a spring break trip and I think I spent an entire afternoon( while others were enjoying the beach) tracking down the CD, Enter el Amor y Yo. After all these days this beautiful CD is still in my car rotation. Sue445, I can sing the chorus as well, "Si me dejas no me olvides, por favor, nunca me olvides"........BEAUTIFUL!

The theme song from Abismo de Pasion, "Solo un Suspiro," is amazing too, and as UA just said, the singers, Óscar Cruz and Alejandro Orozo harmonize beautifully. The Mexican trumpets just in the beginning set just the right tone. I don't think the novela measures up to this beautiful theme song!!! Interestingly, there are several different interpretations of "Solo" by the same artists on YouTube, all are beautiful.
 

Thanks, everyone, for mentioning those others. I also liked the music from CME and even the theme from DA. I normally don't like Pepe Aguilar because he tries to be a tenor version of Alejandro Fernandez and it just doesn't work.

Abrazame Muy Fuerte had some great songs in it including the mega-hit title cut. Although Juan Gabriel doesn't have a great voice he delivers that one and he's a great showman; I saw him in concert in 2004 with Marco Antonio Solis. Unfortunately there is no recording that I know of of the song they did together. Both these guys are genius composers. AMF also had Pablo Montero's version of "Cruz de Olvido", which is played over his character's death scene. Nobody alive right now does this song justice but him (and possibly VF); Pepe Aguilar's recording is completely emotionless by comparison.

I'm not a fan of Luis Miguel but I loved the song for TdA. It fit the series look and setting very well. How is it that Mejia can pick good music but have such bad scripts?
 

I liked, Eres Tu from Mi Pecado as well.
 

UA, thank you for the tip about the Televisa remake of LHDM. Do you know whether the actors will be actually singing? Does Jorge Salinas have the chops for mariachi music? I've never heard him sing so I don't know. I just know that that music style is very demanding - not for lightweights!

As much as I liked the Colombian original LHDM, it was so irritating when all the songs were dubbed with different singers.

 

Blue - I forgot about that El Tal theme song. I loved it too! It was so kicky.
 

Paula, Jorge Salinas does sing, but I don't know whether he can truly do justice to rancheras. In my opinion Luis Miguel is not up to it despite having recorded a CD of it.

Rosemary,I didn't like the theme to El Talisman because of the sloppy articulation and dropped syllables.
 

UA--re El Tal--I think we were talking about the music for the main theme. Sometimes it's better that way.
 

UA - it's all sloppy articulation and dropped syllables to me. Hopefully soon I'll be able to understand what I'm actually singing. That's the point for me with the El Tal music...I loved to sing it! It put a smile on my face. Just like Enrique's CME. I never FF'd through those opening numbers.

I remember the first few times I watched CME (my first tn) thinking how odd it was that with every kiss, every look, every swordfight, there was a burst of song. Now I get how that is tn protocol. It seems empty on AB without as much of this.


 

Enrique's CME is still my ringtone, new phone and all. I'm such a loser that sometimes I let it "ring" a little longer before answering just to hear the song. lol
 

I love CME, too. My favorite song on my iPod, though, is "El Verdadero Amor Perdona" by Maná. THEY should do a theme song.
 

Maná did do a theme song...for Juan Querondon...el Tiburón. It's very catchy ...more of a get-moving song than a beautiful love song, but I really liked it.
 

Thanks, JudyB -- I'll check that one out!
 

It's not the
"No pare, siga, siga" El Tiburon song, is it? That's our Mazatlan party song at Gringo Lingo.
 

QUE QUE QUE??? You party with people who are not us?
 

Urban Anthropologist, thank you for a lovely weekend topic! I have to say, though, that I am shocked, SHOCKED that you don't love my LuisMi (Luis Miguel)!!! I purchased the CD that has the theme from that circo known as Triunfo de Amor. It is just a beautiful song.

Like so many here, CME was and is an absolute fave for me. Juan Luis Guerra, who sings with Iglesias on the title song, is a highly accomplished musician in his own right. He is a graduate of the highly regarded Berklee School of Music in Boston. Berklee awarded Guerra an honorary Doctorate in Music for his many musical accomplishments and contributions.

EVERY time I hear the theme to CME, it just makes me smile. I can see Juan Soler's beautiful smile and pretend he's smiling right at me!

Also agree that Pepe Aguilar's DA theme was just beautiful. He does a second version of it which can also be found on one of his albums.

Thought this would be a good place to mention that Tony Bennett will be coming out with a new Duets Album (I LOVE Tony and his Duets) in about 2 weeks. While TB has done duets with other Latin artists, this next Duets album is strictly ALL Latin artists and features Don Chente (Vicente Fernandez), Marc Anthony, and Juan Luis Guerra, to name a few.

You can bet your bottom dollar that I will be buying this the day it comes out!

I agree that it is so sad that Don Chente is retiring. That man has retained his beautiful voice through all these years which tells me that not only does he have this gift from God in that beautiful voice, but that he knows how to take care of that voice.

Really appreciate all of your weekend topics Urban. Before I forget, LOVED that picture of the Mightly Wurlitzer with its gorgeous Art Deco style.

:))
 

I like the theme from CME.

My grandmother played the organ/piano in a little theater in my small home town during the silent movie days.

The building where the theater was has housed several retail stores over the years and still has the sloping floor.
 

Anonymous - let us know when the new Duets cd comes out. It sounds like something we'd all love.

Nanette - what a fun memory of your grandma and her organ playing. Hopefully no one will drop a bag of marbles in one of the stores.

Blue - I've told you we need to plan a big Caray meeting in Mazatlan. We would have such fun. We've been going since 1981 back when it was a thriving party town. Now it is a depressed spot with the only tourists being our age and older, and very few tourists at that. So, amigas, if you want a quiet beach/hotel/restaurants to yourself vacation, go to Mazatlan and infuse their economy with some dinero.
 

Rosemary la Otra--I love the "no pare, sigue sigue" song BY el Tiburon,(it's great for aerobics) but that is not the Juan Querendon song. In that case el Tiburon is the title and the group singing it is Maná
 

Judy- That "no pare, sigue sigue!" song brings back good memories of dancing my tail off into the wee hours in clubs in Quito in 1996. Ahh....memories!
 

That should be OUR theme music!
 

UA et al.

RE CME--I'd like to cut and paste all the comments related to CME music, etc. on our Plaza de Caray page on Google+. We have all kinds of things posted there--recipies, Youtube clips, comments etc.

I hope no one has an objection. I'll wait a couple of days before I tackle it.
Anita
 

Just confirmed the release date for Tony Bennett's new CD and it is 22. October 2012. It is called "Viva Duets".

I can't wait!!

Another Anon
 

An objection to ANYTHING CME? I think not. Vivi sent over a great YouTube CME music compilation way back when.
 

I'll try to find it, RLO and add it too.
 

CME is a favorite of mine. Anyone know where I can get the vocals only version?

Denise
 

So CME is a crowd favorite. I loved Llena de Amor and Al Diablo con Los Guapos.Cuidado has some sweet and eerie yet bursting into action BGM abd Querida Enemiga had its perks. STuD was kool and Atrevete a Sonar had me captivated so much.
 

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