Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

March 10, 2008

Consider this…I live in the land of crappy reggaeton. It has taken over Chilean eardrums. Even the ballads in this country are reggaeton. See exhibit A:

This is currently the most popular song in Chile. People drive by blasting it out of car windows. The workers remodeling the inside of the building in front of us listen to it all day long. At the gym the guy on the treadmill next to me yesterday was actually singing, as he jogged. He mumbled, “Mami, I’m lonely” and I was about to flip out. I was like oh no this guy did NOT just call me mami. Then he continued, “te lo hago toda noche tambien in the morning,” (morning pronounced muurning in case you were wondering), and I realized he was just singing that stupid song. That’s life in Chile, just a constant stream of reggaeton beats.

So tonight, I was sitting on my couch with the balcony sliding door opening like usual. I was watching t.v./working on the computer like the good little multi tasker I am. I’m pretty good about blocking out the noises that come from outside. So as I was inside doing my thing, I barely even realized that I had started humming along to She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy….wait…WHAT?!? Oh. My. Gosh. Somebody had Kenny Chesney on at full blast. I ran out on my balcony and looked around frantically trying to figure out where the song was coming from. And then just as abruptly as it started, it stopped. I waited to see if they would play another country song, but that was about a half hour ago and I have heard another peep from that direction. I even went so far as to stand out on my balcony and shout, “Who is playing country?!?” The only reaction I got was from a few old men who looked up, saw me and started whistling. Damn it!

Before you go abroad you think you’ll miss your family and your friends the most. You don’t realize that what can really trigger a bout of deep homesickness is a song, a genre of music that you haven’t heard outside of your own iPod in years, the smell of teriyaki chicken or any food you used to eat back home, even just reading an old book can take you back to wherever you were the first time around that you picked it up.

Whenever I get hit with that homesick feelings it’s always a surprise to me. I go about my day to day life here and there’s normally not too much that I miss. And just so you don’t go thinking I’m a cold hearted wench, it’s not that I don’t love my family, I’m just used to being away from them. Even if I lived in the U.S. I wouldn’t be in Michigan anyways so it’s not like I’d see them more than I do now. We talk all the time. And I do wish I could see my friends more, but all my true friends have been good about staying in touch. I’ve learned to value their emails and phone calls so much.

It’s those little things that get to me. Like Kenny Chesney.

AHHHH, I want to go line dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There, the secret is out. I’m a Democrat and I love country music. That’s practically an oxymoron.

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24 Comments

I heart you and miss you!

Comment by EvilJoy — March 10, 2008 @ 10:11 pm

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Ahhhh girl, I hear ya. I know if I ever come across someone playing ManÃ¡ here I’m likely to go up to them and kiss them smack on the lips. LOL

Fned.

Comment by Fned — March 11, 2008 @ 4:06 am

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funny post! sorry you are feeling a bit homesick…

that Chilean song is really catchy (yet annoying at the same time).

Comment by feistyMNgirl — March 11, 2008 @ 7:46 am

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I hate Reggeaton. It’s the only thing they played on the Latin radio channels at home- that or salsa. What about Julieta Venegas or something GOOD?

And here’s the that “Te Quiero-o-o-o” song by Nigga (who the hell names themselves that?) that’s being played everywhere.

101 Good country stations was the best part about driving through Texas, too. I hear ya!

P.S. I’m a democrat who likes country too, so you’re not alone!

Comment by mexpat — March 11, 2008 @ 8:35 am

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Uh- I should really proof read. That was supposed to say:

Here it’s that “Te Quiero-o-o-o” song …

Comment by mexpat — March 11, 2008 @ 8:36 am

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I knew there was a reason I liked your blog…and now I know. You like country music, too!

And hopefully you’ll find out whose tractor is sexy soon…and make a new Chilean music friend.

Jayna

Comment by Anonymous — March 11, 2008 @ 9:19 am

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Kenny Chesney? Really? Really? Dear God…

Since I like your blog I feel I must attempt to throw something your way to eliminate the Kenny Chesney influence in your life… A simple scattershot technique might work:

http://youtube.com/user/corporatecountrysuck

It’s not all that great and I would agree with certain detractors that some of it doesn’t exactly qualify as country but there is some cool and contemporary stuff out there… If you can keep from gagging during their self-important, third generation ideological whining…

Comment by Blaark — March 11, 2008 @ 10:41 am

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Oh…well, if you’re listening to or singing country music, you probably ARE homesick. I think as a sort of therapy for yourself, you should write your own Country Homesick song…Then they will blast you from their car stereos and mumble your lyrics under their breath at the gym! (Don’t forget to post your music video on YouTube…)

Comment by Chickenbells — March 11, 2008 @ 11:12 am

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YOu know, I have to admit, I actually liked that song. It was really catchy, BUT with that said, they don’t really play that type of music here in Las Vegas. It’s funny though, music does the exact same thing for me. Every time I listen to Blink 182, I think of my ex-boyfriend, Bush (Gavin Rossdale) I think of snowboarding, Mana I think of my husband, the list goes on. It’s really weird how it takes you back. If I hear an old favorite from high school, I feel like I”m 16 again. Anyway, hope you can find some music to uplift you, and soothe your homesickness!!!

Comment by Marta — March 11, 2008 @ 1:04 pm

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Wow, country music in Chile? I can’t say I’ve ever come across that. Even though I’m not a big country fan, one of my favorite songs when I was little was “Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks. When I think about the lyrics now, I wonder just how disturbed I’m going to end up later in life.

I actually enjoy reggaeton in small doses and in specific contexts (when exercise, dancing or pisco are involved). Still, I also start to go crazy after hearing too many of those ship horn blasts that always seem to work their way in between extremely sexual lyrics.

My most recent Chilean music dilemma had nothing to do with reggaeton but rather with that “Rains Down in Africa” song. A few months back, one of my neighbors blasted it about five times each morning for two weeks.

Comment by Leigh — March 11, 2008 @ 1:39 pm

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I guess I should clarify, to everyone who wished me well and wanted me not to feel homesick, I don’t and I didn’t! I think nostalgic might be a better term to describe my feelings…but thank you all for your concern

Comment by Mamacita Chilena — March 11, 2008 @ 4:10 pm

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I do want to beat people over the head with a bat when they put on that song. And really, I am non-violent, I am a social worker. But I do want to beat them with a bat.

Comment by Clare — March 11, 2008 @ 9:21 pm

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It is alright to feel a bit homesick/nostalgic once in awhile. As the feeling usually passes in a short time, enjoy it while it is there.

Comment by Reb — March 12, 2008 @ 11:41 am

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Dude! I just went line dancing on Monday! Of course, it was at my parents’ retirement village, and while some of it was to country other dances were to N*Sync and oldies, it was still line dancing. And it was FUUUUN!

Comment by Kristen — March 12, 2008 @ 12:42 pm

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Democrat. Love country. Live in Chile. Clearly we were meant to meet! Speaking of which, letÂ´s get together soon. Although I will admit that since moving here I have zero idea of new country artists and therefore havenÂ´t heard of anyone whoÂ´s currently big…but talk to me about country 5 years ago and I know my stuff.

Comment by Emily — March 12, 2008 @ 1:15 pm

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I love country music! I listen to it on my computer when I’m sewing and the music from the beer store across the street isn’t too loud. I don’t think Mexican stereo systems come with a volume control, it’s “Â¡todo la maquina!” or nothing! That was actually is the slogan of a Spanish music station in California where I used to live, that phrase in relation to music has a whole new meaning to me now!
regards,
Theresa

Comment by Theresa — March 13, 2008 @ 12:26 am

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not a big county music lover but who can resist that man! he is HOT!

Comment by TD — March 14, 2008 @ 2:33 pm

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I hate reggeaton! I mean, 1 song I can resist (if someone plays it on his radio and that “someone” will never be me), but more than 1 or 2… too much!
Maybe I hate it also because of its lyrics, its so senseless… not my kind.
Now, country music? Mmmm… I never really heard it, and you heard it LIVE here in Chile! How lucky are you?…

Comment by Irantzu — March 14, 2008 @ 9:35 pm

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(By “live” I mean, not on tv… but outside your house….)

Comment by Irantzu — March 14, 2008 @ 9:36 pm

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I prefer Brad Paisley to Kenny Chesney

I was in Honduras once and some workmen were listening to loud country music nearby–but it was older classic country. It was a bit of cognitive dissonance for me.

And I’m convinced that reggaeton is taking over the world. I hear it a lot here in North Carolina (we have a growing Latino community) and although now and then I hear something I like, mostly I think it’s monotonous and boring. That song in the video you posted is rather heinous.

Comment by Lisa B. — March 15, 2008 @ 5:34 am

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I love country…and Kenny Chesney especially. And Toby Keith, and Brad Paisley, and…

How about you download a bunch of country music and turn in on full blast?

That’ll have people lookin

Comment by That girl — March 16, 2008 @ 10:54 am

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Oh dear… next post you’ll be telling us about how wonderful Luis Miguel is. I’m yet to meet a chilena who does not like him.

Anyway, I thought you didn’t like dancing? Well, Line Dancing is not quite “dancing” after all.

Comment by Carlos — March 17, 2008 @ 11:19 am

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THAT was hilarious. both videos.

xoxo

Comment by Marina — March 19, 2008 @ 3:47 am

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A bunch of Edgard’s friends were emailing around to outlaw Reggaeton. Unfortunately it didn’t work.
But to be perfectly honest I can’t stand country. My dad was a rock drummer and so is Edgard…so it was inevitable that country would not be a part of my life.
I do secretly like shakira, though. SSSEEECCCRRREEETTTLLLYYY…!!! Please don’t tell anyone!

Comment by Rachel — March 22, 2008 @ 12:54 am

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