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.
Street of Dreams
Esquivel Lyrics
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Come on and trade in your old dreams for new
Your new dreams for old
I know where they're bought
I know where they're sold
Midnight, you've got to get there at midnight
And you'll be met there by others like you
Brothers as blue
Love laughs at a king
Kings don't mean a thing
On the street of dreams
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
On the street of dreams
Gold, sliver and gold
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
Poor, no one is poor
Long as love is sure
On the street of dreams
Midnight, look at the steeple, it's midnight
Unhappy people, it's ringing with joy
It's ringing with cheer
'Cause yesterday's gone
Tomorrow is near
Midnight, the heart is lighter at midnight
Things will be brighter the moment you find
More of your kind
Smiling on the street of dreams
Love laughs at a king
Kings don't mean a thing
On the street of dreams
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
On the street of dreams
Gold, sliver and gold
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
Poor, no one is poor
Long as love is sure
On the street of dreams
Esquivel's song "Street of Dreams" is a soothing and wistful tune that focuses on midnight and the revelation that it's a time for change. The lyrics welcome the listener to trade in their old dreams for new ones on the "street of dreams" where they will be met by others who are also searching for something more. The song highlights the emotional release that comes with change, as reflected in lines such as, "Midnight, the heart is lighter at midnight, Things will be brighter the moment you find, More of your kind Smiling on the street of dreams."
The song also touches on the fact that love is the great equalizer, and that it exists even for those who have nothing else. It notes that "Gold, silver and gold, all you can hold is in the moonbeam," meaning that material possessions ultimately pale in comparison to the value of love. This is also reflected in lines such as, "Poor, no one is poor, long as love is sure, On the street of dreams." The song is ultimately a reminder that despite hardships, and setbacks, there is a path to be found if we keep moving towards the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight
It's late at night and you are burdened with old dreams and worries.
Come on and trade in your old dreams for new
Let go of your old dreams and take on new ones.
Your new dreams for old
Exchange your new dreams for the old ones you held onto.
I know where they're bought
I know where to find the place to exchange dreams.
I know where they're sold
I know where new dreams are sold.
Midnight, you've got to get there at midnight
You have to arrive at the place of dreams at midnight.
And you'll be met there by others like you
You will meet other people who also want new dreams like you.
Brothers as blue
People feeling down and sad like you.
Smiling on the street of dreams
Everyone's always happy once they get new dreams here.
Love laughs at a king
Love is more powerful than royalty.
Kings don't mean a thing
Royalty is unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
On the street of dreams
This is particularly true in the place where new dreams are sold.
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
It's possible to repair dreams that have been shattered.
Gold, silver and gold
All the riches in the world.
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
But the most important things cannot be held.
Poor, no one is poor
Even the poorest person can be happy with love.
Long as love is sure
As long as love is present in someone's life, they are not truly poor.
Midnight, look at the steeple, it's midnight
The clock tower indicates that it's midnight.
Unhappy people, it's ringing with joy
Even those who were unhappy are now filled with joy.
It's ringing with cheer
The bell ringing signifies the arrival of new dreams and joy.
'Cause yesterday's gone
The past is over, and it's time to move on to the new dreams of tomorrow.
Tomorrow is near
The future is close and full of promise.
Midnight, the heart is lighter at midnight
At midnight, people's hearts feel lighter and more hopeful.
Things will be brighter the moment you find
As soon as you find new dreams, everything will become brighter.
More of your kind
More people like you who want new dreams.
Smiling on the street of dreams
Everyone's always happy once they get new dreams here.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sam Lewis, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind