Juan García Esquivel (January 20, 1918 – January 3, 2002) was a Mexican band leader, pianist, and composer for television and films. He is recognized today as one of the foremost exponents of a sophisticated style of largely instrumental music that combines elements of lounge music and jazz with Latin flavors. Esquivel is sometimes called "The King of Space Age Pop" and "The Busby Berkeley of Cocktail Music." Esquivel is considered one of the foremost exponents of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop that became known (in retrospect) as "Space Age Bachelor Pad Music".
He was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, and his family moved to Mexico City in 1928 where he studied at the UNAM.
Esquivel is considered the king of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop known today as lounge music. Esquivel's musical style was highly idiosyncratic, and although elements sound like his contemporaries, many stylistic traits distinguished his music and made it instantly recognizable, including exotic percussion, wordless vocals, virtuoso piano runs, and exaggerated dynamic shifts. He used many jazz-like elements; however, other than his piano solos, there is no improvisation, and the works are tightly, meticulously arranged by Esquivel himself, who considered himself a perfectionist as a composer, performer, and recording artist.
His orchestration tended toward the very lush, employing novel instrumental combinations, such as Chinese bells, mariachi bands, whistling, and numerous percussion instruments, blended with orchestra, mixed chorus, and his own heavily-ornamented piano style. The chorus was often called upon to sing only nonsense syllables, most famously "zu-zu" and "pow!" A survey of Esquivel's recordings reveals a fondness for glissandi, sometimes on a half-valved trumpet, sometimes on a kettle drum, but most frequently on pitched percussion instruments and slide guitars.
Esquivel's use of stereo recording was legendary, occasionally featuring two bands recording simultaneously in separate studios, such as on his album Latin-Esque (1962). The song "Mucha Muchacha" makes particularly mind-bending use of the separation, with the chorus and brass rapidly alternating stereo sides.
He arranged many traditional Mexican songs like "Bésame Mucho", "La Bamba", "El Manisero" (Cuban/Mexican) and "La Bikina"; covered Brazilian songs like "Aquarela do Brasil" (also known simply as "Brazil") by Ary Barroso, "Surfboard" and "Agua de Beber" by Tom Jobim, and composed spicy lounge-like novelties such as "Mini Skirt", "Yeyo", "Latin-Esque", "Mucha Muchacha" and "Whatchamacallit". He was commissioned to compose the music of a Mexican children's TV show Odisea Burbujas.
His concerts also featured elaborate light shows years before effects like that became popular in live music. He performed in Las Vegas on several occasions, often as the opening act for Frank Sinatra.
Several compilations of Esquivel's music were issued starting with Space Age Bachelor Pad Music in 1994. The apparent success of these releases led to reissues of several of Esquivel's albums. The first reissues were compiled by Irwin Chusid, who also produced the first CD reissues of Raymond Scott and The Langley Schools Music Project.
The last recording on which Esquivel worked was Merry Christmas from the Space-Age Bachelor Pad in 1996, for which he did a voiceover on a track by the band Combustible Edison. This album also included several obscure tracks from his past sessions. The last CD released during his lifetime, See It In Sound, was actually recorded in 1960, but was not released at the time because the record company believed it would not be commercially successful. When finally released in 1998, it exhibited very unusual and introspective stylings absent from his other works, including a version of "Brazil", played as a musical soundscape of a man bar-hopping where the band plays different renditions of "Brazil" at each bar.
Esquivel also worked as a composer for Revue Productions/Universal Television; where he scored the TV western series "The Tall Man," and wrote the familiar Revue/Universal TV logo fanfare.
Tribute performances (current)
Jan 14, 2011 Boston - Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica - CD Release for "The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel"
Mar 18, 2011 New York City - Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica - CD Release for "The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel" (first-ever live performance of Esquivel's big band studio orchestra music in NYC)
Influences
Kronos Quartet recorded a string quartet arrangement of Esquivel's song "Mini Skirt" for their album Nuevo.
Amor
Esquivel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nunca sabemos cuando parar
Un te amo se, que no nos basta
Para describir
Lo que tú y yo
Queremos ser...
Pero yo, te querré
Ahí estaré, para ti
Me niego a estar sin ti
Contigo en verdad que soy feliz
Notificaciones que sacan sonrisas
Te respondo deprisa por que te quiero ver
Te quiero conocer
Conocer tu linda mirada implica arriesgar
Arriesguémonos, nada saldrá mal
Me niego a estar sin ti
Contigo en verdad que soy feliz
Me imagino a nosotros viéndonos a los ojos
Matarnos con la misma mirada
Lo eres todo para mi
Créeme que por ti, sigo aquí
The song "Amor" by Esquivel and His Orchestra is a beautiful declaration of love. The lyrics revolve around the word "amor," which means love in Spanish. The word is repeated throughout the song and is used to express the depth of the singer's feelings for his lover. The song begins with the singer stating that "amor" is a sweet word that he repeats because he adores his lover.
The song then delves into the singer's desire for his lover to accept his heart, which he has placed before her. He tells her that he cannot find another word that expresses his feelings so clearly. The singer wants his lover to know that nothing would make him happier than if she were to say she would be his and love him only. The idea of loneliness when his lover is away is also expressed in the song.
The beauty of the song lies in its simplicity. The word "amor" is repeated throughout the song, but each time, it expresses a different emotion related to love. The song is a classic example of how a simple word can convey so much depth of feeling. The soft, romantic melody complements the lyrics perfectly, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Amor, amor, amor
Love, love, love
This word so sweet, that I repeat, means I adore you
This sweet word, that I repeat, expresses my adoration for you
Amor, amor, my love
Love, love, my beloved
Would you deny this heart that I have placed before you
Will you reject the heart that I have offered to you
I can't find another word with meaning so clear
I cannot find another word with such a clear definition
My lips try to whisper sweeter things in your ear
I attempt to whisper even sweeter words into your ear
But somehow or other nothing sounds quite so dear
However, nothing sounds as beloved
As this soft caressing word I know
As this tender, fond word that I know
When you're away there is no day and nights are lonely
When you are gone, there is no daylight and the nights are lonesome
Make life divine, say you'll be mine and love me only
Make life heavenly, say that you will be mine and love only me
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Arturo Esquivel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind