Last week, our Saturday evening practice group transcribed this song Mangginen Manu by Daniel De Leon Guerrero, where he sings about contemporary problems facing the island of Guam at the time of the song’s release. It’s an excellent example of how Chamorro music is much deeper than simply creating “good island vibes.” While creating nice, feel-good tunes is definitely part of Chamorro songwriting, being able to speak to the current moment with wit, rhythm, and rhyme is also significant. In this song we get a sampling of some sharp social commentary and criticism of the institutions and behaviors that are responsible for the welfare of the island and its people. This post includes Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for Mangginen Manu sung by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Mangginen Manu”Tag: Intermediate Songs
Kåntan Chamoru: Masi
Our Saturday evening practice group is still making our way through some of Siñot Danny’s songs, and last night we listened to Masi, which is about how when times were hard on Guam, people would be collecting scrap metal for money. Jay actually remembered what it was like in the 2000s on the island, and he especially remembered when brass plaques would be stolen off of the monuments. You may also recognize the tune, as it is very similar to his song Kåddon Pika. In this post we have included Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for Masi by Daniel Deleon Guerrero. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Masi”Kåntan Chamoru: Manmenhalom
This past Saturday our evening practice group welcomed a new member, so we made him choose the song. He ended up choosing Manmenhalom by Daniel De Leon Guerrero, which is an energetic song conveying deep pride in being Chamorro. This one is on the slightly faster side, but everyone did such a great job when it was their turn to listen and transcribe the lyrics. This more recent recording from Dåndan Marianas is a really nice acoustic version, which makes it great for learners. So here are the Chamorro lyrics and and English translation for the song Manmenhalom by Daniel De Leon Guerrerro. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Manmenhalom”Kåntan Chamoru: Otro
I am so excited to share this song titled Otro by my friend Dabit Taitingfong! Some of you may know Dabit from his work on @dihan.dabit on Tiktok and Instagram, where he makes videos and mini Chamorro language lessons – entirely in Chamorro! These past few months Dabit has been caught by a music muse, composing song after song in Chamorro – and this is his first release! If you’ve been wanting more original Chamorro music that’s both contemporary and fresh, his songs won’t disappoint. With romantic lyrics and soft vibes, his songs are a welcome addition to my Chamorro music library. This post includes the Chamorro lyrics, an English translation and footnotes to help us understand some of the language usage in the song. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Otro”Kåntan Chamoru: Fahåni Hit Flores
As we kick off this new ‘season’ of our Saturday evening practice sessions, we’ll be focusing exclusively on the works of Chamorro singer-songwriter Daniel DeLeon Guerrero. His songs are invaluable for learners, rich in language and themes that span a wide range of topics. Known for his prolific output, Daniel’s music offers endless opportunities to deepen our understanding of the Chamorro language. Last Saturday, we transcribed the song Fahåhi Hit Flores by Daniel De Leon Guerrero, which is his Chamorro translation of an English original titled “Buy Me a Rose.” Below, you’ll find the Chamorro lyrics alongside an English translation. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Fahåni Hit Flores”
Lengguahi-ta 