Stuck on finding a Father’s Day gift? Give him this playlist
Hov’s greatest creation was her.
By ANGIE ROMERO
The special bond between a father-daughter or a father-son is something not easily put into words. That’s why I’m turning to music.
My suggestion: Forget a last-minute gift. Make him a mixtape with these and other songs instead, for nostalgia’s sake. No one does that anymore. Trust me: he’ll be moved.
And to all the dads out there: Happy Father’s Day from all of us over here at Univision News!
“Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross
Oh, Luther. No one put it quite like you — the devastating loss of one’s old man, and that aching longing to get just one more chance, one more dance. And now that you’re not even here it makes it all the more heartbreaking. But timeless. So timeless.
“Daughters” by Nas
Nas hasn’t sounded this good in years, and it took his 17-year-old daughter Destiny Jones posting a scandalous pic of assorted condoms on Twitter for him to really get back to his essence. Here, he opens up about the plight of a father raising a little girl in this dangerous world over a No I.D.- track. Cannot wait for his new album, Life is Good, out July 17.
“¿Y Cómo Es El?” by Jose Luis Perales
I can’t imagine what it feels like as a father to be the main man in your daughter’s life, and then have some guy step in and take over. But that’s the way it goes, and this song depicts that experience beautifully. Marc Anthony covered Jose Luis Perales’ classic ballad on his recent tribute album, Iconos. Dare I say I almost like it better than the original?
“Mi Niña Bonita” by Lucho Barrios
The most classic father-daughter song of all time. No one is immune to the emotion with which the veteran Peruvian vocalist sings (in Spanish): “I think this happens to all men when they’re going to become fathers/They dream of having a son/Then you give birth to a daughter/you suffer disappointment/but then you love her so much, you have a change of heart/she’s my pretty little girl/her face like a rose…”
In Latin America, when your dad gets up there to sing this song at your quinceañera, graduation, or wedding in his best voice, you already know what time it is: Time to hug your old man and sob uncontrollably before you head to the bathroom to re-do your entire eye make-up.
“Father & Son” by Cat Stevens
Has there ever been a song that illustrates the complicated father-son relationship in more honest terms? A throwback to vintage Cat Stevens, before he became Yusuf Islam, barred from the U.S. for suspected ties to terrorists.
“Glory” by Jay-Z feat. B.I.C.
Jay likes to play tough, but we all know he’s a big softie inside. He really poured his heart out on this, the sweet, Pharrell-produced lullaby for Blue Ivy Carter, born in January from the womb of the Queen Bey. At one point, he even talks about a painful miscarriage: “Last time the miscarriage was so tragic/we was afraid you’d disappear, but nah, baby, you magic.”
Jay went as far as featuring his baby girl’s cooing and crying on the track, making Blue Ivy the youngest person ever to appear on a Billboard chart. I’m guessing this child might have a shot at superstardom. Might.
As Hov himself puts it: “You’re my child with the child from Destiny’s Child/that’s one hell of a recipe.”
“Luna” by Juanes
A delightfully happy, upbeat song with Juanes’ traditional folkloric guitar sound, this is an ode to his firstborn, Luna, now 8. You couldn’t paint a picture of a more beautiful family with wife Karen, daughter Paloma, and youngest son, Dante, whose full head of red hair can only be described as amazing. I love it every time Juanes shares pics of his fam on Twitter.
“Mujeres” by Silvio Rodriguez
One of the most respected singer-songwriters of Latin America, Silvio was part of the Nueva Trova movement in Cuba during the 60’s and 70’s. Silvio is known for his staunchly pro-Revolution political compositions, as well as for his passionate, suggestive songs. In “Mujeres,” however, Silvio softens up, confessing his greatest love of all: his daughter.
I know I forgot a ton! Let me know which ones in the comments!
(Photo: helloblueivycarter.tumblr.com)
