The people have clamored for more interactive lesson-planning. You are bored of reading my writing. It’s okay. I’m not offended. Not in the slightest. I had a good cry or two, but I’m over it. You, the student-consumer are always right. Plus I also found some fantastic supporters videos courtesy of Miguel of El Batallon, a Houston Dynamo fan group.

In South America, the name for a fanatical group of supporters is “La barra brava.” Usually, this collection of fans brings drums and flags to the games, singing and dancing away the game. Drums in Spanish are “batterias” and flags are “banderas.” “Brava” means brave, courageous, audacious. But be careful when wandering the streets of Latin Amerca – a “barrio bravo” is a rough neighborhood. Also, some barras bravas toss objects onto the field. Toilet paper is “papel higienico.” And as for those little bags full of yellow substance? Let´s just call them “bolsitas.”

This first song is set to the tune of “Llamado de Emergencia”, a single by Daddy Yankee. The word for hit single in Spanish is “exito.” And yes, this is a brass version of a reggaeton song. In theory, the combination puzzles and repulses you. In practice, the sound echoes sweetly in the eardrum. Listen and try to catch the lyrics.

Did you catch all that? I didn’t think so. But at least it’s catchy.

The song lyrics reflect South American Spanish. “Hinchada” means a collection of fans in South America, and comes from the verb “hinchar” which means to swell. Presumably, it comes from “to swell with pride.” In Spain you could say “aficionado” or “fanatico”, and in Mexico you would simply say “un fan.” Yes. “Un fan.” It’s that easy! Your highschool Spanish teacher also lied when he taught you that ¨centro commercial¨means mall. In Mexico we say un mall.¨ Notice the pattern developing…the pattern of lies? Back to the lesson…

The song itself mirrors the structure of several classic Argentine soccer songs what with the repeated use of “dale dale” and “yo te quiero ver campeon.” The last line means “I want to see you as champion.” South Americans also say “aca” for “right here,” whereas Mexicans and Spaniards say “aqui.”

Here is a slightly complex River Plate song from my days in Argentina. The lyrics are” vamos vamos vamos Millonario.” Vamos means “let’s go.”

This may blow your mind, but millonario means “millionaire.” However, Boca fans call River fans “gallinas” (chicken), in addition to a host of undesirable names. If you ever find yourself in Boca´s home, La Bombonera, you will see lots of people jumping and shouting “el que no salta es una gallina.” Basically, “jump if you´re not a chicken/River fan.” My advice is to jump as if your life depended on it. And try to avoid the flying bolsitas.

That concludes today´s lesson and expect more videos. Your homework is to refine your flag-waving.

Mil gracias a Miguel de El Batallon por encontrar y mandarnos el enlace. Visita a la pagina de los fanaticos del Dinamo a www.elbatallon.com

No related posts.