LOURDES SAVARESE

My babe is currently on a three month scholarship studying historia at the Universidad de Sevilla and as such I am missing the lucky one very much. Apparently it is colder there than it is here so staying in the UK is probably for the best. Still, its nice to play a bit of Spanish pop to warm the cockles of the heart. So, as the winter hits home I've decided to throw caution to the wind and celebrate the brilliant Europop that comes out of Spain. I cannot understate how much I miss my partner. So I am surrounding myself with fat Spanish pop anthems. No zeitgeist here just pure dollops of big popdust.

The hardcore pop provided by Lourdes Savarese (myspace) is keeping me well insulated at the moment. No attempt at tapping into the zeitgeist. For this, she therefore must be worshiped. Its all about flamenco and livin da vida disco. That's what she's about. Lourdes (the sister of Karina Savarese), sounds like a cross between Soraya, Roser and Rebeca. In other words, she's incredibly camp. My favourite track she did was Chachi Que Si (released under Bonita-her previous girlgroup).

It was so cute it hurt. It was one of those songs that would get into your head and stay there. But it was NEVER EVER annoying. It EVEN had a great key change. You can get the album anywhere. Digitally speaking. Physically it might be a bit harder to find but not that difficult as the girls graced much of the summer beaches with the song and its following disco hits.

The success of the girlband ensured a number of trashy cover versions and secured Lourdes positions on the yearly Caribe releases. In short, the girl done well out of disco. My favourite of her solo work is Mi Bruja De Oro. The video sees Lourdes holding a golden ball in the middle of a forrest. Its amazing. She walks about the forest picking up great little tidbits like a yellow man affixed to a tree. There's a sweet Blair Witch Project feel to it (I've got a feeling the song is dedicated to a kids cartoon character). As she sings to the yellow man she also sets up four candles and a mirror. In the middle of the forest. It also looks like its freezing while recording the video. Its strangely similar to Soraya's video for Sin Miedo. These Spanish disco belles love hanging around bushes.

As you can see here she gives Dannii for her great Pool/beach side pop promos. And here she poses with the icon that is Rebeca. Perhaps most interesting....is the fact that Lourdes appeared in a Kylie video. The pop promo for Slow which of course was shot in Spain. Kylie wasn't the only pop diva in that video. In 2007, despite being born in Argentina she tried to represent Spain with a wonderful tribute to the ultimate Spanish duo Baccara titled A Quien Le Importa. However, as the track already appeared on the Mexican pop princess Thalia's 2003 album, and became a big hit, Lourdes never really had a chance. Indeed it breaks Eurovision rules. By the by, Thalia's video for A Quien Le Importa featured Amanda Lapore, Cazwell and some great fiddling (See here).

Anyway. she's trying again to represent Spain in this years Eurovision but the attempt-Tu Corazon-isn't her usual high voltage pop I've come to expect out of Lourdes. Her best mate Rebeca has equally let me down with her Eurovision attempt this time round too. Soraya has it in the bag methinks. Still, Lourdes is a Spanish europop princess to celebrate and one day she'll feature enough songs on compilation releases to have her very own debut solo album. Alternatively, she could actually release an album rather than have us wait each year for every Caribe/Disco Estrella Cd.

Tomorrow, and perhaps for the rest of the week, more Spanish europop!