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.
Magic Is the Moonlight
Esquivel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On this lover's dream night
As I see the moonlight
Shining in your eyes
Can't resist their power
In this moon lit hour
Love being any flower
Living in the splendor
Of your kiss so tender
Makes my heart surrender
To your love divine
Magic is the moonlight
More than any dream night
Magic is the moonlight
For it made you mine
Living in the splendor
Of your kiss so tender
Makes my heart surrender
To your love divine
Magic is the moonlight
More than any dream night
Magic is the moonlight
For it made you mine
Magic is the moonlight
For it made you mine
The song "Magic Is The Moonlight" by Esquivel and His Orchestra is a romantic ballad that celebrates the power of love under the mystical light of the moon. The lyrics describe the joy and ecstasy that the singer feels as he gazes into the eyes of his beloved and is captivated by the spell of the moonlight. The moon's magic is symbolized by the enchanting and dreamlike atmosphere that pervades the night and sets the stage for the lovers to connect on a deep emotional level. The singer is overwhelmed by the intensity of his feelings and cannot resist the power of the moment, as the love between the two blossoms like a flower in paradise.
The lyrics reflect a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty and power of nature, as embodied by the moon. The moon is a potent symbol of mystery and transformation, and the song suggests that it can work wonders in the realm of love as well. The singer's surrender to his beloved's kiss is a symbol of his willingness to open his heart and soul to the transformative power of love, which is the ultimate expression of the moon's magic.
Line by Line Meaning
Magic is the moonlight
The light of the moon is enchanting and mystical, with a power that cannot be explained.
On this lover's dream night
On this special night of romance and passion, the moonlight feels even more magical.
As I see the moonlight
The singer is mesmerized by the sight of the moonlight and its effect on his lover.
Shining in your eyes
The moonlight is reflected in the eyes of the artist's lover, adding to the enchantment.
Can't resist their power
The irresistible and alluring power of the moonlight cannot be denied.
In this moon lit hour
During this hour of moonlight, the singer is overwhelmed with emotion and passion.
Love being any flower
Love is a beautiful and delicate thing, much like a flower that needs to be nurtured and cared for.
This is paradise
The artist feels as though he has been transported to paradise due to the magical effect of the moonlight.
Living in the splendor
The artist is basking in the beauty and wonder of his lover's embrace.
Of your kiss so tender
The tenderness of his lover's kiss is so exquisite and sweet, he cannot resist.
Makes my heart surrender
The singer's heart is overflowing with emotion and love, and he willingly surrenders to his lover's embrace.
To your love divine
The love of his lover feels like a divine gift from the universe and the artist is grateful for it.
More than any dream night
The magic of the moonlight and his lover's embrace is beyond anything he has ever dreamed of.
For it made you mine
The singer feels blessed and grateful that the magic of the moonlight brought his lover into his life.
Magic is the moonlight
The power and enchantment of the moonlight cannot be denied.
For it made you mine
The artist feels that the magic of the moonlight is responsible for bringing his lover into his life, and is deeply grateful for it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHARLES PASCUALE, MARIA GREVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind