David Bisbal
Posts Tagged ‘Spanish Culture’
I think I may be in trouble in San Francisco
February 28th, 2010
gay village in Madrid
I did this little interview for a magazine in Mexico. I complemented Madrid for its vitality and nightlife, something that San Francisco is definitely declining in. Oy. Oh well, I told the truth as far as I see it, and as my friend Natacha said, “you are a bit of both cities now.”
Una encuesta publicada por el diario mexicano “Excelsior” sitúa a Madrid, y más concretamente a Chueca, como el mejor destino para el colectivo gay a nivel internacional.
Si hasta ahora San Francisco era considerada la ciudad preferida por los homosexuales, ahora es Madrid quien le quita el puesto a la ciudad americana y se pone por delante de otras como Barcelona, Berlín o Sydney.
El propio director del Centro de la Comunidad Lesbiana, Gay, Bisexual y Transexual de San Francisco, Thom Lynch, reconoce que Madrid le ha quitado el puesto a San Francisco porque es una ciudad muy abierta y muy plural, sin olvidar que la población de San Francisco tiende a envejecer. “El barrio gay, Chueca, ofrece de todo, de la discoteca a café y terrazas, pasando por restaurantes y cines. Los derechos de los homosexuales son mayores que los que tenemos en Estados Unidos”, agrega Lynch.
Así, Chueca sigue siendo uno de los mayores reclamos turísticos de Madrid.
Still, one of the most remarkable speeches ever given
February 4th, 2010This speech by Premier Zapatero in the Spanish Cortes is one of the most remarkable speeches I have ever heard by a straight politician in a legal setting. This was the day same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain. I remember years later having dinner with many of the leaders of the LGBT movement in Spain and one of them said to me:
He said he would do it, and he did it. That’s why we love him
Always pretty remarkable when that happens.
Enrique at G.A.Y. in London
January 17th, 2010I really wish I could explain to people how comfortable and open Spaniards have become about LGBT people, especially in the cities. The influence that Spain could and does have on the Spanish speaking world is immense. And the countries to our south are bit by bit going beyond us in the US. I would love to work on a way to strengthen this amazing connection.
I’m sure I’ve posted this before probably, but it always moves me.
Summer trip to Madrid for Gay Pride (first week in July)?
January 8th, 2010I am thinking of leading a trip to Madrid this year for Gay Pride, which is the biggest in Europe. Madrid has become the most progressive and fabulously gay city in Western Europe right now and Pride is a blast. I would get us back stage passes to special events during pride, the Mr Gay Spain contest, get us on a float, and show you around the city. As you know I’ve been to Spain many times over the last eight years, and lived there recently. I’m trying to get a feel for the level of interest. It could be expensive (first rate hotels) or cheaper (some great hostals (which are like pensiones. Anyone have any interest? I can promise you a very good time with the chance to meet real Spaniards and see some amazing sights. El Prado, Reina Sofia, Palacio de communicaciones, Gran Via, and of course Chueca, a great great gay neighborhood.
Because Spain has such great high speed rail systems, cities like Barcelona, Sevilla, Toledo, Segovia, and much more are only a couple hours a way.
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- The largest royal palace in Western Europe
Noche Viejo en Madrid 2010. At the Puerto del Sol. Lots of grapes to eat
January 5th, 2010I have to admit I missed Madrid for the holidays this year. Wigs and all.
Paco, Paco, Paco Beyonce?
September 14th, 2009Let me start by saying that I think Beyonce was really classy last night in response to Kanye’s bizarre behavior. What was up with that?
So, I like Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) a lot. It was a very big hit in Spain too. But the joke is Spain is that perhaps it is not as original as you might think. A song from 1969 by Encarnita Polo called Paco, Paco, Paco has a frightfully similar sound. So all of a sudden that song became a huge hit last year in Spain. At the office where I worked, the staff kept singing Paco all the time!
A video wiz updated the Beyonce video with the song and the fit is amazing. No people are not really saying it is stolen, just that it works so well with the video. What do you think?
So even worse, it became a youtube sensation in Spain. Here, on a nightly talk show called Buenafuente is one of the stars of a version of the youtube video. The host is yelling out compliments to the dancer’s body in jest.
As they say in Spain, joder!
Sergio Lara, nuevo Mister Gay Europa 2009
August 27th, 2009
El Mister Gay Spain y yo
How did I miss this news!? Sergio ha ganado! Enhorabuena. I was back stage in Madrid when Sergio won Mr Gay Spain. Here is a terrible picture of the two of us. He is adorable. And Spain has won two years in a row. Here’s some news about the contest and winner for you Spanish speakers from my friend Natacha Nazar:
El pasado 22 de agosto, Sergio Lara, valenciano de 26 años, residente en Barcelona consiguió el titulo de Mister Gay Europa 2009. España se alzó por segundo año consecutivo con el titulo de dicho certamen internacional de belleza.
Oslo ha sido la ciudad anfitriona este año del certamen en el que, durante cuatro días, veintitrés candidatos procedentes de todo el continente han dado lo mejor de sí en las diferentes pruebas de la competición.
El certamen ha contado con el apoyo total de las principales instituciones de la ciudad de Oslo, prueba de ello, es el apoyo que el propio alcalde de la ciudad, demostró al inaugurar oficialmente la competición, en un acto en el que se colocó una bandera gigantesca en una de las fachadas del hotel donde todos los delegados se hospedaban.
Ya desde el primer día, Sergio Lara, Mister Gay España 2009, cautivó al jurado con su interpretación a la guitarra de una “malagueña” que, en palabras de los organizadores, resultó “sencilla, intimista a la vez que pasional y con verdadero encanto”.
Tras haber ganado el desfile en bañador de la firma barcelonesa ES Collection consiguió una de las diez plazas en la Gran Final. Sergio también destacó en el resto de pruebas como la competición de supervivencia.
Sin embargo, fue la entrevista personal con el jurado donde Sergio demostró su naturalidad, sencillez y compromiso. Su carrera en psicología y su labor en un centro de asesoramiento a homosexuales sobre VIH y Sífilis le demostró la necesidad de educar e informar a los jóvenes, como también luchar para que en países como Rusia y Palestina deje de ser imposible pasear de la mano con su pareja o, en algunos casos, sea incluso un crimen.
La Gala Final del certamen tuvo lugar en el teatro Scentrum Scene donde Sergio deslumbró al público asistente presentando en exclusiva la nueva colección de Frankie Morello para Unikum Madrid con complementos de Men to Men. Junto a los finalistas de Irlanda e Islandia, Sergio fue coronado Mr. Gay Europa 2009.
En febrero de 2010 Sergio competirá en el certamen Mister Gay World, para alzarse con dicho titulo.
Más información en www.mrgaypride.es
The original of Todos es de color: H/T Carlitos
August 24th, 2009Thanks to one of the readers in the comments, we see the original version of the Alejandro Sanz song I put up the other day. The singers are Lole and Manuel. Gracias muchisimas Carlos. La version perfecta.
Another Bulería style song
August 24th, 2009This time from David Bisbal.
