Here's a recent video of one of my favorite artists, Chilean singer Mon Laferte, apparently making very good use of her time in quarantine:
Lyrics here.
Laferte is an extremely versatile musician whose wide-ranging work includes songs rooted in cumbia and other Latin rhythms, whispery folk, foot-stomping rock, even heavy metal. "Biutiful" finds her in a playful mood, a little naughty and a little nasty, mugging for the camera and showcasing her full formidable vocal range -- going from languid wisp to full-throated roar. She's joyous, but not without an edge of defiance and desperation. Halfway through, a faint radio announcer's voice makes a winking reference to 4:20, and Laferte follows with a verse about bodily self-pleasure -- both concentrated and infinite -- like songs intermingling and circuits interconnecting, as the world falls apart. Mientras el mundo se derrumba: a beautifully alliterative phrase, even if its meaning is foreboding. And hey, when the world is running down (as the Police sang), might as well get your kicks if you can. There are worse ways to spend your time.
BONUS: Laferte is also a master of high drama who knows how to milk a moment for all that it's worth. Here are videos of her delivering her anguished, fiery torch songs "Vuelve Por Favor" and "Tormento" in full chanteuse mode: silk-clad and satin-gloved, oozing charisma, bestowing roses on an adoring audience that hangs on every gesture and note and tantalizing silence. I don't think musical catharsis gets much better than this.
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Listen to the Spotify playlist here.
Watch the YouTube playlist here.
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