May 2022 – Brian's Spain Domain

Spanish Songs that were International Hits

How much do you want to bet? I bet you never knew that the 1960s classic, Black is Black, was made famous worldwide by the Spanish rock group Los Bravos? Surprised? I sure was when I first learned about it. It was the first Spanish international hit and it wouldn’t be the last. Spain hasn’t had many, but some have been enormously successful. Listen and learn more. Enjoy!

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Spanish History 101, Ep. 14: Muslim Consolidation and the Dawn of the Reconquista

The Moors managed to conquer most of the Iberian Peninsula in a relatively short time. But for the first few decades, that dominance was more nominal than real, as constant infighting would hamper the efforts. At the same time, the people in the lands along the northern coast of Spain – which had resisted the Muslim onslaught – would almost immediately begin to take back lost territory. By 755, with the arrival of Abd Al Raman I, the Muslims would form their first state, the Emirate of Cordoba. The battle lines for centuries of warring had been drawn. Enjoy!

Spanish History 101. Ep. 13: The Muslim “Invasion”

More than an invasion, the arrival of the Muslims, popularly called the Moors in Spanish history, came about probably as a result of a number of circumstances that made it perfect for them to go in and take control of the Iberian Peninsula. Was it deceit? Betrayal? Ambition? A combination of the three? It’s not easy to know for sure, but scholars have got a pretty good idea of what might have happened. One thing is for sure, once they did appear, conquer and settle down, they were there for the long haul. This episode takes to when it all got started. Listen and enjoy!

Fiestas in Spain: Why do the People of Madrid Celebrate “2 de Mayo”?

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is a famous celebration associated with Mexico, but in the region of Madrid, the 2 de Mayo is an annual holiday. The painting in the podcast was done by Goya and it powerfully depicts the horror of the executions carried out during the famous uprising against Napoleon’s troops in 1808. And it all started in Madrid. Listen and learn more. Enjoy!