16 min
10 - Los Nikis: Balada triste de Sing Sing QUÉ PASA, RAÚL
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- Language Learning
In this episode we learn about Los Nikis, an 80’s band from Madrid, and their song from 1986 Diez años en Sing Sing.
The song title and chorus reference a classic prison drama from 1932, 20000 Years in Sing Sing, starring Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis. It was not unusual for Spanish bands of that period to quote old books and movies in their lyrics or even in their album covers.
In a letter to his sweetheart Margaret, the narrator reminisces nostalgically about his past life as a baseball star with the Detroit Tigers and imagines a blissful future playing banjo at a farm in Colorado, both vignettes set in harsh contrast against his present-day reality as a convict in the infamous New York prison.
This set-up is ideal for a useful examination of the imperfect, future and present tenses. Expect also a brief essay on that Swiss knife of a verb, if there ever was one: llevar.
*****
Sign up here for the show's free Newsletter.
You can give us some love with a one-off donation at Buy Me a Coffee. Your support is much appreciated and will help me keep creating new episodes.
Check out also my Instagram for comments, news and to see some of my artwork. (Yes, I do that too).
Finally, follow and rate us on Spotify (press that button!) or whichever platform you use to listen to the show.
In this episode we learn about Los Nikis, an 80’s band from Madrid, and their song from 1986 Diez años en Sing Sing.
The song title and chorus reference a classic prison drama from 1932, 20000 Years in Sing Sing, starring Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis. It was not unusual for Spanish bands of that period to quote old books and movies in their lyrics or even in their album covers.
In a letter to his sweetheart Margaret, the narrator reminisces nostalgically about his past life as a baseball star with the Detroit Tigers and imagines a blissful future playing banjo at a farm in Colorado, both vignettes set in harsh contrast against his present-day reality as a convict in the infamous New York prison.
This set-up is ideal for a useful examination of the imperfect, future and present tenses. Expect also a brief essay on that Swiss knife of a verb, if there ever was one: llevar.
*****
Sign up here for the show's free Newsletter.
You can give us some love with a one-off donation at Buy Me a Coffee. Your support is much appreciated and will help me keep creating new episodes.
Check out also my Instagram for comments, news and to see some of my artwork. (Yes, I do that too).
Finally, follow and rate us on Spotify (press that button!) or whichever platform you use to listen to the show.
16 min