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.
Begin the Beguine
Esquivel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It brings back the sound of music so tender
It brings back a night of tropical splendor
It brings back a memory ever green
I'm with you once more under the stars
And down by the shore an orchestra's playing
And even the palms seem to be swaying
To live it again is past all endeavor
Except when that tune clutches my heart
And there we are, swearing to love forever
And promising never, never to part
What moments divine, what rapture serene
Till clouds came along to disperse the joys we had tasted
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted
I know but too well what they mean
So don't let them begin the beguine
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
When they begin the beguine
Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, please make them play
Till the stars that were there before return above you
Till you whisper to me once more, "Darling, I love you"
Then we suddenly know what heaven we're in
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
When they begin the beguine
The lyrics of Esquivel's song "Begin the Beguine" express the powerful nostalgia and longing that the tune evokes in the singer. The beguine is a Caribbean dance form that was popular in the 1930s and 40s, and in the song, the singer describes how the sound of the music brings them back to a time of tender memories and tropical splendor. They describe being with someone they love, listening to an orchestra play down by the shore, and feeling the palm trees sway along with the music. The nostalgia is so powerful that the singer feels as if they are living the moment over again, but also acknowledges that the moment has passed and cannot be fully recaptured.
The lyric continues, as the singer describes a moment of pure bliss, when they and their loved one swore to love forever and never be apart. However, this moment was eventually dispersed by the clouds that came along and represented an end to that happiness. The singer reflects upon the chance they had that may have been wasted but hopes to regain that again with the return of the music. In the final verse, the singer passionately calls for the music to begin and to bring them back to that moment when they were truly in heaven.
Overall, the lyrics of "Begin the Beguine" express powerful themes of nostalgia, love, and the fleeting nature of happiness. The singer longs to recapture a moment in time that has passed, but recognizes the impossibility of doing so. The beguine serves as a metaphor for the power of music to evoke deep feelings and memories and to transport us back in time.
Line by Line Meaning
When they begin the beguine
The start of the beguine ritual conjures up memories of romantic music and a tropical paradise.
It brings back the sound of music so tender
The beguine music triggers a flood of emotions and sensations, including a tender melody.
It brings back a night of tropical splendor
The sounds and sights of the beguine evoke the memory of a spectacular night in a tropical paradise.
It brings back a memory ever green
The beguine ritual calls to mind a vivid and evergreen memory of a cherished moment in the past.
I'm with you once more under the stars
The beguine music transports me back to a romantic moment spent under the stars with my beloved partner.
And down by the shore an orchestra's playing
The beautiful sound of the orchestra playing by the shore is a key aspect of the beguine ritual.
And even the palms seem to be swaying
The beguine is so powerful that even the palm trees are swaying to the rhythm of the music.
To live it again is past all endeavor
Recreating that magical moment in time is impossible and out of reach, except when experiencing the beguine ritual.
Except when that tune clutches my heart
The beguine tune has the power to grasp my heart and evoke intense emotions.
And there we are, swearing to love forever
As the beguine envelopes us, we renew our commitment to each other and promise our undying love forever.
And promising never, never to part
The beguine music inspires a deep and powerful commitment to never leave one another's side.
What moments divine, what rapture serene
The beguine music is divine, evoking deep feelings of serenity and immense pleasure in the mind and heart.
Till clouds came along to disperse the joys we had tasted
Unfortunately, like the devastation caused by dispersing clouds, this idealistic moment of passionate connection will ultimately come to an end.
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted
When I hear others lament lost opportunities and unhappy memories, it resonates with me and my own experiences of missed chances.
I know but too well what they mean
I understand all too well the feeling of regret and missed chances that others experience, as I have felt the same emotions myself.
So don't let them begin the beguine
To avoid the pain of this moment's eventual loss, I wish to resist the call of the beguine ritual.
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember
The passionate love we once experienced has faded and should be left smoldering, rather than reignited by the beguine's call.
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
The passionate desire for my partner has died, and the beguine should not be allowed to awaken those feelings.
Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, please make them play
Despite my resistance, I am still tempted by the powerful pull of the beguine and request that it be played after all.
Till the stars that were there before return above you
With the start of the beguine, the stars seem to reappear, just as they did during that memorable tropical night.
Till you whisper to me once more, 'Darling, I love you'
As the beguine plays on, we remember the days when our love was new and sweet, whispering sweet nothings like 'I love you.'
Then we suddenly know what heaven we're in
With the beguine's call, we are transported to a heavenly realm of love, passion, and beauty.
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
The repetition of 'begin the beguine' emphasizes the power and importance of the ritual, and its ability to unite us with our deepest memories and emotions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roberto Morales
Esta música es espectacular !es de cuando tenia entre los 9y 13años, este músico y arreglista estaba fuera de serie, creaba un estilo único con los matices que ponía en sus arreglos musicales,buenísimos!!!
William Pabón
Fue mi favorito para la epoca en que estudiaba ingenieria electrica. Siempre me pregunte como lograba sus efectos de sonido especial, en aquel tiempo que la tecnologia no estaba como ahora. Fue un genio musical en su tiempo.
David Garcia Ortega
ESQUIVEL. Único en hacer los arreglos de la música, mexclando los intrumentos para dar un sonido espectacular, era un músico muy TALENTOSO y el fue el quien por primera vez metio antes que nadie, los coros a su maravillosa orquesta. en México nunca apreciaron su música.
cad carlos
EL MAESTRO ESQUIVEL ES NACIDO EN TAMPICO EN 1918,,CREADOR DEL SONIDO SETEREOFONICO, EL LO DISEÑO , ESTUDIO ING ELECTRONICO EN EL POLITECNICO ..ADEMAS DE PIANISTA , ARREGLISTA Y DIRECTOR ,,,MURIO ABANDONADO EN CUERNAVACA A LA EDAD DE 84 AÑOS ,,,AUN RECIBEN REGALIAS SU FAMILIA POR 90 MIL DOLARES MENSUALES
LUIS EDUARDO VILLARROEL VACA
Música MARAVILLOSA con una Verdadera orquesta
Nelson Pardo Carrasco
Esquivel, extraordinario, sus efectos en estéreo, fabulosos.
Lane Crooks
Awesome music, would sure love to hear this on a great sound-system. They don't make recordings like this anymore. I was born in the wrong era!.
Juan Boucquez
Por favor qué orquesta! Gracias you tube por poder volver a escucharlas. Saludos de Argentina y Feliz Año Nuevo!
alvarockdavii
de México para el mundo!
Hewlett-Packard Lovecraft
This is where it at begins... Esquivel- some of the best music that ever began.