After graduation, Alvarez visited a friend in Texas, where she discovered the Deep Ellum music scene in Dallas. She became active in the local club scene and signed a record deal with Brando Records. She recorded her debut album Ruleta in Spanish with producer Javier Willis. She wrote and performed all the songs on the album. A few months later, Kevin Lawrie at Sony Norte heard the tracks and signed her to the Miami-based label. Alvarez continued to work in the Latin music scene, getting airplay for her debut single "Hoy" on stations throughout Puerto Rico and the US. Picky Talarico directed the video for "Hoy", which was shot on location in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The program director for Entravision Communications "Super Estrella" network happened upon her while she was performing at the Grove in Los Angeles. The following week "Hoy" was added to the playlist for all of the "Super Estrella" network across the US. This led Sony Norte to release a second single "Cada Momento". The video was directed by Nory Niven.
While touring and performing in Texas, Alvarez became close friends with her Brando Records label mates Blue October, who invited her to sing on two songs: "Come in Closer" off of their album History for Sale and "Into the Ocean" from their platinum-selling album Foiled.
Alvarez also starred in the independent film "Lycanthrope". The movie features one of her original songs, "This Is Love", which can be found on the re-release of her album "Ruleta".
Alvarez landed a spot on the CBS TV show Rockstar: Supernova in 2006. Her outrageous costumes and creative spin on the songs she performed were both praised and derided by the media. Los Angeles Times pop music critic Ann Powers stated that "Rockstar's most intriguing contestant, the Puerto Rican punk chanteuse Zayra Alvarez"while her hometown paper, the Dallas Observer, referred to her "serious, possibly fatal, pitch deficiency".] During her tenure, she covered many well-known songs, including "Call Me", "867-5309/Jenny", and "Everybody Hurts". On week 7, Alvarez took a huge risk by singing her own original song, ""Lluvia de Mar,"" in Spanish on Prime Time TV, and while Supernova (Tommy Lee, Gilby Clarke and Jason Newstead) could not help but like it they still wanted her to sing a more traditional rock song. She was eliminated from the show on August 16. Shortly after her departure from Rockstar:Supernova, the Los Angeles Times ran a feature article on her. In it, the writer Josh Kun stated, "Zayra Alvarez, an aspiring arena goddess born and raised in Puerto Rico, makes it deep into the prime-time CBS-TV competition of "Rock Star: Supernova." She prances around ... in peekaboo cosmic blue cat suits like she's Ziggy Stardust's long lost Caribbean cousin."
After the show Alvarez returned to Texas and moved to Austin. She decided it was time for her to record her songs in English in a style that took her far beyond traditional Latin music. She also dropped her last name and became known simply as Zayra. Her latest album, Baby Likes To Bang, was released on September 14, 2010 by Brando Records. This album represents Zayra's transition into dance music, featuring remixes by top DJs from around the world. Two singles have been released from the album, "V.I.P." and "Baby Likes To Bang."
"V.I.P.", the first single from the album and a Top 5 Billboard Dance Club Hit, was remixed by Dave Audé, Mike Rizzo, DJ Paulo & Alain Jackinsky, Steph Seroussi, and Adrian Benavides. After the release of the single, the blogger Arjan wrote "every summer needs a dance queen and Zayra is turning out to be this season's club royalty."
The second single "Baby Likes To Bang" was released November 8, 2010. It was declared the #1 Dance Breakout by Billboard and was the #3 most added song by DJ's behind Katy Perry and Rihanna. The single features remixes from DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio, Razor N Guido, Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda and Steph Seroussi & Nam. The music videos for "Baby Likes to Bang" and "V.I.P." were composed by Merritt Fields of Rainmaker Artists.
Zayra has been performing around the country in support of the record, including Austin Fashion Week, Atlanta Pride 2010, TigerHeat, and multiple performances in Los Angeles and New York.
All the young dudes
Zayra Álvarez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How he'd kick it in the head when he was 25
Don't wanna stay alive when you're 25
The television man is crazy
Saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks
Man I need a TV when I've got T. Rex
Hey brother you guessed
All the young dudes
Carry the news
Boogaloo dudes
Carry the news
All the young dudes
Carry the news
Boogaloo dudes
Carry the news
Now Jimmy looking sweet,
though he dresses like a queen
He can kick like a mule
It's a real mean team
We can love
Oh we can love
Well I drunk a lot of wine
And I'm feeling fine
Gonna race some cat to bed
Is this concrete all around
Or is it in my head
Oh brother you guessed
I'm a dude
All the young dudes
Carry the news
Boogaloo dudes
Carry the news
All the young dudes
Carry the news
Boogaloo dudes
Carry the news
The song "All The Young Dudes" by Zayra Alvarez is a cover of the well-known song originally performed by Mott the Hoople. The lyrics depict a sense of rebellion and non-conformity among young people in society. The singer, Billy, is described as rapping all night about his own suicide, expressing a disillusionment and lack of desire to live past the age of 25. This reflects a feeling of hopelessness and a desire to escape the pressures and constraints of adult life.
The second verse introduces the idea of the influence of media on young individuals. The "television man" is described as crazy for labeling them as juvenile delinquents, but the singer argues that he doesn't need a television when he has the music of T. Rex. This suggests that they find solace and meaning in their own subculture and music, which provides an escape from societal norms and expectations.
The chorus, "All the young dudes, carry the news," suggests that the young generation is the one spreading an alternative message or news, one that challenges the status quo. The term "boogaloo dudes" could refer to the counterculture movement of the time, which rejected mainstream society and embraced a more rebellious and free-spirited lifestyle.
Overall, "All The Young Dudes" captures the spirit of youthful rebellion, disillusionment with society, and the search for freedom and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy rapped all night about his suicide
Billy talked incessantly throughout the night about his plans to take his own life
How he'd kick it in the head when he was 25
He described his intention to abruptly end his life by hitting his head when he reached the age of 25
Don't wanna stay alive when you're 25
Expressing a desire to not continue living beyond the age of 25
The television man is crazy
The person on television is deemed irrational or mentally unstable
Saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks
Claiming that we are reckless and troubled young individuals
Man I need a TV when I've got T. Rex
I don't require a television when I can listen to the music of T. Rex instead
Hey brother you guessed
Hey brother, you guessed correctly
I'm a dude
I am a man
All the young dudes
All the young men
Carry the news
Spread the message
Boogaloo dudes
Exciting and lively men
Now Jimmy looking sweet, though he dresses like a queen
Jimmy appears charming despite his flamboyant attire
He can kick like a mule
He possesses strong physical strength and power
It's a real mean team
They are a formidable and tough group
We can love
We are capable of experiencing love and affection
Oh we can love
Indeed, we are capable of love
Well I drunk a lot of wine
I have consumed a significant amount of wine
And I'm feeling fine
As a result, I am currently feeling good
Gonna race some cat to bed
I am eager to quickly go to bed
Is this concrete all around
Are the surroundings made entirely of concrete
Or is it in my head
Or is it all just in my mind
Oh brother you guessed
Oh brother, you guessed correctly
I'm a dude
I am a man
All the young dudes
All the young men
Carry the news
Spread the message
Boogaloo dudes
Exciting and lively men
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Najah Todd
as a performer and musician and composer ...she isnt flat.....this girls vocals are just too complex for these guys.... still one of my covers of this song.
Lance37a
@Checkered Life it like she doesn't really know the melody of the song. The outfit is great!
Checkered Life
It wasnt a good performance but she she smoked in that outfit and I even became a fan and bought her CD which is actually pretty decent.
justo316
this performance made me like this song.... Yup wasn't sung the best, but I'd put this on my playlist.
Leslie Price
I still watch this video occasionally, and still love it!
Leslie Price
Week after week I could not understand why they did not send Zayra packing.... I'm so glad they didn't. Everytime I watch this video I smile all the way through it, just like the little young blond in the audience. Flat in a few places, so what. What a preformance! I think Bowie would (or does) like her version. I love it!
tabharris
Watched this the night it aired many years ago and Z became my favorite letter of the alphabet... Just watched again and she still is.
happyface2012
Love her!!!!!
debhig
Great performance, Z!
Lynn Garrow
Why do so many people hate her? SHe's great entertainment! You all knew she couldn't win, theey were just keeping her around while they weeded out the weak contestants. I thought she was awesome! She was great fun to watch, you never knew what she was going to next, and she made the show worth watching. I'm going to miss her.