The Playlist: Barcelona songs
Barcelona is a city full of art. An art which has been an inspiration to both locals and visitors, and music is not an exception
By Fabiola Chirinos
02/03/2017
There are bands around the world that have taken the names of the city, such as Barcelona group or the Swedish musicians of I’m from Barcelona. More than one song was inspired by the city’s landscapes and the feelings awakened by them
If you are planning a visit to the city we suggest the following soundtrack, some of the themes are international classics, others composed by artists from different nationalities and a few by local bands. Catalan artists also have a lot to offer to your trip.
1. Qué bonita es Barcelona, by Jorge Sepulveda. The song was composed by Manuel Moreno in 1948 and it is the ideal song to prepare you for your trip. It narrates with its melody the unique scenarios of Barcelona, its plazas, lifestyle and mountains.
Its rhythm will without doubt make you feel nostalgia and make you want to listen to all those songs that your mother, grandmother or you used to play loudly. Do not stop here, one of the best trips of your life is yet to come!
2. Rumba de Barcelona, Manu Chao. The songwriter of this theme is a mixture of nationalities that make everything even more charming. It combines different languages in the lyrics and melts it all into a joyful melody. This is one of the most famous songs about the city of Barcelona, it always raises the spirit and makes you want to jump into adventures in the streets of the city. Manu Chao, also owns a bar in Barri Gótic: the quirky Bar Sincopa.
3. Barcelona, George Ezra. Barcelona is not the only city that has a song by this artist, but its youthful and relaxing melodies are the perfect choice for strolling through the lively streets of the city. It will give you strength even when idleness seems to overcome the adventurer spirit.
4. Blaumut - Les 7 i quarts. Barcelona is full of talented local artists and Blaumut is the evidence. All of the songs by this group will take you to summer days, good weather and joyful times, a combination that could very well describe the city. Blaumut is certainly a good option if you want to support local talent and learn a little bit of Catalan along the way, besides their melodies are perfect for road trips.
5. Barcelona – Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé. For ending an epic trip, this classic is the ideal choice. This song was created between 1987 and 1988 for the record Montserrat Caballé named after the city. The song was and is very popular and there are a lot of versions made by other artists. The regal combination of rhythms lead to it being selected as the theme of the 1992 Olympic Games, held in Barcelona.
Contemporary Bands from Barcelona
1. Anímic - Interesting post-rock band with lyrics in both Catalan and English. For fans of: Mogwai and post-rock
2. Mourn - A group of teenagers from a small town north of Barcelona, making indie, influenced by PJ Harvey etc. Lyrics in English. For fans of: PJ Harvey
3. Ojos de Brujo - Now defunct, but they were a leading light in a turn of the century “movement” of artists that mixed flamenco with hip-hop and other urban grooves. For fans of: Manu Chao
4. Obsidian Kingdom - Prog-metal with lyrics in English. Heavily influenced by Tool. For fans of: Tool.
5. Mandalas - Electro-folk. This band mixes cheesy electronic sounds with pop sensibility and folk elements. Entertaining. Lyrics in English. For fans of: Norwegian Datarock.