Influences
Jimena Fama, “Melodia De Vivir”
Kraftwerk, “Radioland”
Story
Because my singer, Lili Aqvq, is from Chile, I wanted to make a song that combined all our interests. In particular, it was an excuse for me to try urban Argentinian tango, but with a bunch of dark cinematics leading up to it. The seemingly random noises I add to the ends of measures come back at the end to create a tango out of seemingly nowhere.
But it was also a chance to upend convention in an understated way. Have you ever met that sort of person who thinks the grass is greener in another country? They want you to be somber and reflective on your country’s holidays, but they get excited at other countries’ holidays, basically because the food and flags are more colorful. There’s this stereotype that Latin songs are all made by Shakiras and Iglesiases (Iglesiai?), that everyone wants to have all these sensory, sensual experiences dancing or something – as if there aren’t nerds in South America.
So this is a shoutout to the nerds of South America while being social commentary intended to go completely over the head of those being commented on. “A La Cara Amarilla” – “To the Yellow Face” – is some lyrics I wrote in 30 minutes (translated by Lili) that are double entendres to the yellow happy face of Minesweeper (her topic suggestion), all of which refer to various game parts (like how the high scores are called Best Times and are originally held by Anonymous). Like many good double entendres, they only take on a romantic meaning in context – like in Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science.” They just sound way too specifically creepy.
There’s also a pun that doesn’t translate about mines and being mine, and I refer to the 808 State song “10 x 10” in the final couplet for no obvious reason (only here “love squared, raise the feeling, 10 x 10” substitutes “8 x 8” because that’s the size of the Beginner board). Nobody will notice unless they translate, but those we’re commenting on won’t bother to translate. Win!
Also, Lili smashed these vocals, giving them an understated, near-creepy vibe that enhances the meaning.
Also also, this song’s scale doesn’t have a name. That wasn’t the intent, but it’s certainly a me thing to do. Nothing like using a pop-length song to introduce a new scale. (By the way, when I use an existing song to solve a problem, I use the song title as a verb in solving. Here, I was trying to solve getting all these things into a radio-friendly song length, and so I ended up “Blue Bell Knoll”ing it, referring to the Cocteau Twins song that sticks two verses and choruses together before a coda.)
This is my most-streamed song, thanks to it getting on a bodybuilders Spotify playlist, where its Spanish vocals made it popular in Spanish-speaking countries.
(The Bandcamp album package features a psytrance remix by the Coherent Alliance. It appears to be the last song he made before quitting music. It is a superb high note to end on, if one must end.)
Lyrics
Estás feliz de verme (You are happy to see me)
Pero te sorprendes cuando te toco (But are shocked when I touch you)
Espero no arruinarte esta vez (I hope I do not mess you up this time)
Ya no soy anónima para ti (I am no longer anonymous to you)
Todos mis mejores tiempos son contigo (All my best times are with you)
Plantaré mis banderas sobre ti (I will plant my flags all over you)
No habrá signos de interrogación cuando esté contigo (There will be no question marks when I am with you)
Déjame recorrerte de arriba a abajo mientras el reloj hace tictac (Let me sweep up and down you while the clock ticks)
Déjame abrir tu espacio en blanco y tus secretos (Let me open up your blank space and your secrets)
Solo te conozco como una principiante (I only know you as a beginner)
Pero quiero ser una experta (But I want to be an expert)
CHORUS 2x
Quiero elevar el sentimiento, amor al cuadrado, 8 por 8 (I want to raise the feeling, love squared, 8 x 8)
Sé que no solo tratas sobre minas, pero eres todo mío (I know you are not all mines, but you are all mine)
Some press about it
“A thin, bandpassed beat prickles in the background as vocalist Lili Aqvq delivers a poetic amalgamation of spoken word and sung lines in her native Spanish. The Chilean singer’s lines ebb and flow like an elvish spell as dark synth pads and an enticingly mysterious accordion intertwine. The opener ‘A La Cara Amarilla’ lends an esoteric sheen to the proceedings even though the subject matter is simply the vocalist’s “love for the Minesweeper happy face”.” – Jon Ireson, music-news.com
“Opener “A La Cara Amarilla”, featuring Chilean singer Lili Aqvq, sees Isleib build a foreboding atmosphere through siren-like hits and his unconventional approach to rhythm. Lili Aqvq is terrific here, quickly shifting from sharp spoken word to moody and alluringly melodic refrains. After the opener, Isleib guides the listener through an instrumental landscape marked by an appreciation of peculiarity that leads to moments of genuine beauty.” – Jay Honeycomb, notransmission.com
“The tango-esque track makes you want to get up and do a dramatic dance of love, it makes you feel something as soon as it starts. All you can think is wow, this is just the first song of the album, it makes you wonder how much more amazing it will get.” – Jaye Maverick, Rising Artists
Next song: Sandbags on the Flood of My Insecurities
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