Los Ocho de Colombia

Artist: Los Ocho de Colombia

LP: De Costa a Costa Con Los Ocho de Colombia

Song: "La Danza del Diablo" 
[ listen ]

Song: "Shunga Marunga (Cuca Maruca)" 
[ listen ]

Happy Halloween! A spider just dropped onto my head while I was typing this. How appropriate. Have you seen this costume for a TV weather news person? What about this one that turns out like this? Anyway, "La Danza del Diablo" by Los Ocho de Colombia was the best I was able to come up with to commemorate the holiday. It's not very scary. There isn't much info about these eight handsome fellows on the web; according to this page they began making music in 1974, but I also found a discography that includes an album from 1972 and I have a feeling this "De Costa a Costa" LP is from even earlier than that. The group is still around, though according to the photo header on this Facebook page, Los Ocho de Colombia have now grown into Los Quince! I feel it's also important to point out that the male members of this group are not averse to posing shirtless...as long as they can continue to wear a tuxedo. 

In English, via Google Translate: 

1. Where has pace and party have to be The 8 of Colombia

2. Reminding the county that they are guilty of domestic happiness which

3. Members and instruments are at the top of the modern creation

4. Manufacturing

5. Only for crowds

6. The best list of successes that 

7. Located as precursors and absolute owners of musical truth of the nation

8. These are the seven critical highlights and notes in the dance music of Colombia

Otto Serge and Rafael Ricardo

Artist: Otto Serge and Rafael Ricardo

LP: Muy Nuestros
Song: "Señora"
[ listen ]

Here's a light little ditty from Colombia to help get your weekend off to a pleasant start. That's Rafael Ricardo playing accordion, with Otto Serge handling the vocals. and here's a pretty incredible music video of Otto Serge singing to his... daughter?

Otto Serge on YouTube:
[ "Dejame Amarte" ]

Siganme Los Buenos, Bailables

Artist: M.C. Miker "G" & Deejay Sven

LP: Siganme Los Buenos, Bailables - Volumen 11
Song: "Holiday Rap (La Cotorra En Vacaciones)"
[ listen ]

Artist: Stop

LP: Siganme Los Buenos, Bailables - Volumen 11
Song: "Wake Up (Despiértate)"
[ listen ]

This 1987 various artists LP, made in Colombia, is filled with great '80s Spanish-language dance music. for some reason it also includes "Holiday Rap" from the Dutch duo M.C. Miker "G" and Deejay Sven, which was evidently a hit in Europe 20 years ago, but didn't fare as well in the USA. maybe it topped the charts in Colombia too. anyway, here's an extra little treat, though "treat" might be too strong a word:

M.C. Miker "G" & Deejay Sven on YouTube:
[ "Holiday Rap" ]

I've also included an instrumental number by the group Stop from the same LP. I'm no exercise fanatic, but whenever I play this song my body automatically begins to aerobicize.