Buika: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Concha Buika's voice doesn't come from inside her petite body: It comes from Africa, and from the past. There are obvious traces of flamenco, itself a historical mash-up of the Moors and various transitory cultures in southern Spain and north Africa.
During her flights of improvisation, we also hear the influence of Cuban vocalist Celia Cruz, a product of Afro-Cuban culture, mixed in with Ella Fitzgerald, who was the pinnacle of African-American jazz vocal expression.
In these two performances, we hear Buika interpret her own lyrics after a handful of albums in which she's interpreted others' words. With her eyes closed tightly, she inhabits these poems of love and heartache as if she were reliving them again before our eyes.
Buika's singular voice has attracted a cadre of fans who've become enchanted by her voice and her leave-it-all-on-the-stage performances in clubs and theaters around the world. Watch this video and join the club. --FELIX CONTRERAS
Set List
"La Noche Mas Larga"
"La Nave Del Olvido"
Credits
Producers: Felix Contreras, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Parker Miles Blohm, Denise DeBelius, Gabriella Demczuk

[@thekaochan]

It's a complete shame that they didn't! Here are the credits: Piano: Ivan "Melon" Lewis Percussion: Ramon Porrina

[@republiccooper]

Where is Ivan from?

[@samuelcoronel6650]

Ellos acompañan, pero no son protagonistas. Concha es la protagonista. Pero mal por no mencionarlos

[@mirthaarce3347]

@@republiccooper Cuban, but lives in Spain.

[@republiccooper]

@@mirthaarce3347 thank you. He's very good.

[@tritone3284]

@@republiccooper Cuba

[@artisfu9]

Buika has one of the most passionate, soulful voices I have ever heard! I can't speak a word of Spanish but I have 3 of her albums. I just love her voice and sound!

[@noavgjoe]

LMAO! Im the same way and I have all of her albums too. Her voice is amazing.

[@victorarvizu5122]

So I am so lucky because I can heard her in Spanish. Buika is amazing!

[@JuanGabinoMusica]

becouse you are listening whit your heart !

[@built4speed101]

Lol! Same here...Just like Prince said, "Real music by real musicians!"

[@JavierMendez-kl1op]

Gerald McCarter i

[@Faridale]

So Nina Simone and Diego el Cigala had a baby girl.

[@MidwestMoe]

After reading this comment; I went to check out Diego el Cigala's music. Thank you, my brother. I am building a serious music library from Tiny Desk & these comments. LoL!

[@niasonani4893]

Let me 🏃🏾‍♀️ check who’s Diego el Cigala Thanks

[@willifti]

acertado!

[@aglaehebe6816]

Please share your music library with us

[@zahraaesmael342]

@@niasonani4893 the ultimate living king of Flamenco.

[@myshanamakisi6063]

I have no clue, what this sista is saying. But her passion is beyond language. Love it. Thx for the introduction.

[@virgiljjacas1229]

Well ... You need to learn Spanish language and also a little familiar with the " lingo ". DALE LIMOSNA MUJE. !!!

[@mariahernandez419]

Part of 1st song(la noche mas larga) Could it be that my new moon has been swallowed by the night, It will be that my love is not worth because I no longer shut up in front of your reproach. It will be because in you, in a long, long time, there has been no water. What will it be? What will it be? It will be another very long night, it will be another very long night.

[@mariahernandez419]

2nd song(La nave del olvido): Wait I still have joys to give you I have a thousand nights of love to give you I give you my life in exchange for staying. Wait i wouldn't understand my tomorrow If you were And I even admit that your love You lied to me I would love you even if you didn't want it.

[@houseofzuma1033]

She is no sister...spanish through and through

[@myshanamakisi6063]

@@houseofzuma1033 She's clearly Afro/African descent...so, what are you talking about. She's an "African" who speaks Spanish. Stop the foolishness.

[@anastasiarose4482]

Listening to this during the quarantine in the UK - 2020...and my anger and sadness are being transmuted by this beautiful music. Thank you

[@Laura-sg6ss]

🤗

[@yanairemedranobustam]

2023 🤍

[@Jesusafriend4sinners]

Her performances are so powerful because that's the rule of flamenco music. This is definitely a jazz and flamenco mixture like red and blue make purple.

[@attaliacamillejefferies3299]

❤💙💜💜💜💜💜💜YES!!!!

[@kevinthomas522]

Like Miles Davis Solea?

[@lionessofjudah1403]

BEAUTIFUL! I cried when hearing the passion in her song. Her voice leads you to the stories in which she tells....SALUTE from America of the diaspora.

[@joninehritamusic]

Just whoa. Don't know what she's saying but I believe every word.

[@sierradillard9803]

I'm tearing up, her voice is breathtaking!

[@shahryarshon3880]

I'm completely in love with her. Thank gods for creating Concha Buika.

[@samheikell7632]

9 years later and still giving me chills

[@gabrielchavarria760]

I see everybody talking about Buika for obvious reasons haha she´s amazing. But very well played by the other 2 muscicians as well!!

[@rcfreaks6281]

Thank you Lord for allowing me to know Spanish. Spanish songs are unmatched. Bravo Buika.

[@2ancient2define97]

She leaves you digging for words to Express how her essence has affected you....no words have been created to explain the depth of sheer BLISS 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙏🏽

[@jadesanchezway]

esta mujer en vivo es pura magia...she is amazing!!!!!!!

[@jgonzalez372]

One of the best singer on 21 century she is amazing

[@oscaraudiffred1289]

HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING HER PERFORM IN CHICAGO A FEW YEARS BACK- ALONG SIDE OF LILA DOWNS (MEXICAN/AMERICAN MODERN FOLK SINGER)... UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCE!!

[@fulanodetal9102]

OMG Buika and Lila together? I would have died right there and happily

[@dantekorinto7581]

Omg! That’s my dream

[@blackfairchild2155]

To not understand one word and be in tears and filled with love and happiness is incredible! This is the embodiment of SOUL MUSIC❤

[@danankahjones9532]

She is PHENOMINAL!! I was mesmerized!!

[@pengirl1526]

🔥🔥🔥🔥 Although she sings in Spanish and her voice is beautifully and uniquely raspy, you can still hear the African essences in her singing voice. It's a mixture of amazining-ness that can never be replicated.

[@Alfonso-es6ze]

Its the perfect combination of Spanish and African folklore. Truly unique

[@MsSoFruity]

I swear this is the first time in so many years I have heard an incredible voice like hers. She’s incredible ! Her voice is so naked ! Just breath taking ❤️

[@zackkingston4158]

I dig her...thanks tiny desk...NPR killing the game with music /live performance...

[@Jenmag1]

Beautiful! The love and passion in her voice and the rhythm in her body!!

[@musingsandmusic]

O Buika, wrap my soul in your songs and my heart is carried by your voice...everything becomes so much lighter with the distance by your music!

[@alya1607]

Hate to compare ppl but Ms. Nina would be proud! 👌

[@RavenMoonChild00]

A. Sago she reminds me so much of Nina Simone

[@RHCPfreak98]

Was thinking ms. Fitzgerald haha but Nina is more accurate

[@rosine2]

She doesn't need to be somebody else (even the queens Nina or Ella). She is herself.. divin Concha Buika. Yes, also her..

[@samuelcoronel6650]

@@rosine2 exactamente!

[@ariadnamg1737]

cuando la música te atraviesa el alma... escalofríos

[@annelledespaignes2876]

My heart is so in love with her right now. She makes me feel like I am back home ( CUBA).

[@stephenmarsh7391]

+Annelle Despaignes I need to get myself over to Cuba if that's the regular standard of music over there! I'm in Valencia, closest thing I've heard to really good Latin music here was Ana Tijoux a few months ago. Cuba libre hermana!

[@ralfrhonda2935]

por que Cuba? Concha es española de nacimiento, descendiente de Guinea Ecuatorial

[@sarabruxada]

Porqué quien comentó es de Cuba, lo escribió clarete.

[@phumzilewheeler6646]

She in talking music to the highest level. When she sings,she sings with all she is got. She sings what she is feeling Her music is real!!!! She makes sense. Im loving her madness

[@angeldelgado6299]

Phumzile Wheeler you know she was way better before drugs right?

[@indelaxiom]

This...this performance...makes me wanna learn spanish!! Amazing soul!!

[@juanmonsalvat2734]

anímate, vale la pena

[@juanmonsalvat2734]

Anímate

[@stephenmarsh7391]

Never heard of her before today, but she's amazing.

[@nkwakutoure]

+Stephen Marsh Here is some more you may have not heard of. If you like, it support it. Please listen to and purchase the following songs from Itunes. They will make a great playlist which will appeal to all: Asa "Eyo" Ayo "Down On My Knees" Buika "La Falsa Moneda" Bi Kidude "Jua Toka" Cynthia Gentle "Ndega" Cecila Kayirebwa "Tarihinda" Cesaria Evora "Tiempo y Silencio" and "Sodade" Elida Almeida "Lebam Ku Bo" Eneida Marta "Kabalindadi" and "Mindjer Doce Mel" Emeline Michel "Mesi Lavi" and "Pran Men M.." Faytinga "Numey" Gigi "Semena Worck" Imany "Slow Down" and "You Will Never Know" Iyeoka "Simply Falling" and "Say Yes" and "Between the Lines" and "Sometimes It Rains" Miriam Makeba "Pata Pata" Nneka "My Love, My Love" and "The Uncomfortable Truth" Noora Noor "Forget What I Said" and "Dedication" Oumou Sangare "Djorolen" Rasha "Aguis Mahasnik Biman" Rokia Traore "Tu Voles" Susan Baca "Negro Presentuosa" and "De Los Amores" Skye "Boo Hoo" and "Not Broken" Soha "Mil Pasos" and "Tourbillon" and "Le Cafe Bleu" Sol-Akishi "Ori Tana Iwo" Yvonne Chaka Chaka "Umqombothi" Waaberi "Cidlaan Dareemaya"

[@NatashaDiMarco]

THANK YOU, NPR. Thank you again and again and again.

[@AntonioJesusYT]

That pianist killing it

[@mimi69810]

When I was in high school, my Spanish teacher played Se Me Hizo Facil not knowing what is was then. Once she crooned out the first verse, I said she black. She said "'How'd you know?". I was like all that soul she has to be, I can just tell. Been in love ever since. En mi Piel always makes me cry. Love Buika

[@skyjuiceification]

Kamira Johnson ..indeed. culturally she is a real fine mix of Africa and everything else. But I recall thinking the same when I was told she was gypsie. Didn't need to see a pic to know it was a sista. I really believe that modern Hispanic culture would have no music (or sultry passion)if not for africa.

[@germyw]

the EQUATION Of course it wouldn't. We are responsible for almost all styles of well-known latino music styles. Facts. It justs gets stolen like Salsa or Punta. Hell, "gypsies" the creators of flamenco were northern African -gypsie short for Egyptians. Africa has this on lock. Lol.

[@fddjdmjm]

How dare you say Latinos have 'stolen' African rhythms? The first European settlement in the Western hemisphere was the Spanish settlement that took place in what today is the Dominican Republic. Therefore, African slaves have been in the Caribbean islands (including the Spanish speaking ones) WAY before they brought slaves into the U.S. African rhythms in Latino cultures are a product of cultural inheritance from Africa, not "stolen".

[@fddjdmjm]

And let me add since there isn't a homogenous 'Latino culture' the degree to which some countries have African influence in them varies. Take Mexico, for example, Spanish culture mixed with Mayan and Aztec cultres and very little African influence. But move to the Caribbean, and things change. Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban cultures are the product of Spanish and African cultures mixed together with taíno. Specifically Yoruba culture from Nigeria.

[@magiciansalchemist3693]

fddjdmjm Exactly your response was beautiful it was not "Stolen" but beautiful woven cultural music like the ocean or wind

[@queenjai813]

I don't know what she's saying but she can sing! I love these songs!

[@maxjaramillo3873]

Madre de mi Dios. Aquella canción "Nave del Olvido"! Me muero. Bravo mujer.

[@LuminisaLifestyle]

she is forever one of my favorites.

[@WapajeaWalksOnWater]

I have loved her voice for years, you can feel every breath, that makes every color of each note. It's so comforting, and natural.

[@CATiiIIXX]

She is everything.

[@rowenaacross]

Yasssss! Goosebumps! She is so passionate and I love that her eyes are closed throughout the performance. She is in the moment. Feeling each word before she sings it. Genuine emotion that builds and builds with each bar.

[@patrickcavins3231]

She just amazes more and more an each listen!

[@miguelmelorosa]

Me has arrancado una lágrimas que hoy no tenían previsto salir. A tus pies.

[@reatilekoketsomolatlhegi1068]

Still such a good listen after the many times I've played and repeated the vid over the years 😁

[@OddWomanOut_Pi81]

Almost never opens her eyes while singing... That's PASSION. That soulful rasp... UGH! I love it! Her musicians were amaaaazing. How they managed to make 2 instruments sound like an entire orchestra is beyond me, but I'm in fuckin' awe. 👏👏👏

[@yjadalyn1]

She reminds me alot of La Lupe. Full of passion.

[@jsmiles3942]

Seeing her perform LIVE takes you to a whole other world💫🌎💫

[@pearlbarkley1019]

I saw this beautiful powerful Sista a few years ago.... I do not speak Spanish.. yet like now... I feel her words!!!

[@sergiolobato1798]

I love Buika!

[@marianafreitas4357]

This is TOO short. Buika is amazing!

[@duket.8598]

I feel punished by the Gods that I'm just now finding out about Dama Buika's music. Acabado de enterar a su música de una amiga en el metro que me dijo que ella va a cantar aca en washington in Avril. guaaaau. q No puedo esperar uuffff. Su voz parece Fado en algunas canciones... un smoky Jazz... Blues... pero Flamenco. Tremendo! Tot la setmana engullendo a su musica y todavia mi alma tiene hambre, sabesss!! #isleñosunidos

[@sachagranger1772]

Wowwwwwww!!! Chills all over!!! If I’m not mistaken, this is the same beautiful voice in the movie The Skin I Live In!

[@sulbeyadrianapinate3309]

Yes, that's her! :)

[@Lalairu]

yes :D

[@rayarthey3706]

Yes she is... Buika is a goddess!

[@essiees3151]

Amazing voice , beautiful smile 🥺😍😍

[@sharonsvi]

She's strong and confident

[@marjanim.3579]

Saw The Skin I Live in years ago and I still remember her performance

[@LGnLA]

Wait, I had to pause the video... I have never heard of her... omgosh studying spanish too, yassss new fan alert!!! BIG THANKS Tiny Desk! ❤

[@sarabruxada]

I often came back to that performance, I watch at the views and I can't get it... But maybe this is too much for people. Esto es arte mi gente, hay que tener corazón con orejas para que te llegue.

[@elwellington]

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! bring her back.

[@nkwakutoure]

+elwellington Please purchase a couple of her songs from itunes.

[@jeannettefranco5487]

I've seen her perform live and she is just thrilling and passionate. What a great performer.

[@dannyhughes4889]

Unbelievable musicians. Concha is always brilliant.

[@elenamu1979]

buika is pure magic ✨

[@charlesfaustino4029]

She has a very pure bold voice. I have never seen such a flamenco singers with such a complete combined voice, combined in a manner of divinity, passion and emotion. Only Concha Buika can do that😍😘😙

[@carloshenriqueoliveiraalve9593]

Uma das melhores interpretações que já assisti!!!! Buika 👏🏾

[@smashingpoop]

first song is like a prayer damn

[@Solastar]

Oh my God...chills everywhere

[@PalmBeachNative20]

wth did i just watch? my god was that amazing!

[@laurentsw1]

Bueno😉yo soy inglés, hablo español perfectamente y encima he visto buika en un concertó en Barcelona con Eryka badu. The relevance of this individual is her penetration into a market that's normally excludes artists who do have the same hue, layers and Depth of delivery as we people of colour do. She has been one to watch For a long time.

[@tiffaninghs]

Whoa!! Can u say blown away. Was not expecting that.

[@loiseaublagueur6550]

Magnifique Buika !!!!!!

[@Rachubolk]

Understanding a language I don't speak. Eternal gratefulness for such a divine gift.

[@Fogaata]

Speachless!!! Percussion piano. Timeless Classic!

[@suyay236]

muchas gracias*****

[@kimberlyshaw604]

She is amazing, her voice is🔥🔥🔥

[@bwe2272]

This is absolutely ridiculous Buika!!!! I loveeeeeee it!!!

[@micdavis6]

I love that passion so much!!

[@gigimc]

obvious traces?? this woman is a FLAMENKITA thru & thru... everything she's learned comes from the gypsies of Palma de Mallorca. Thankfully, Guinea does shine thru, but it's the meld that makes it all come together magically.

[@houseofzuma1033]

ah ok but she isn't from guinea...she is spanish

[@sirasy]

I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!! GREAT!

[@DrFunkensteinAQP]

Su voz, su estilo, su energía. Lo iluminan todo. Grande Buika.

[@noavgjoe]

She did 2 of my favorites!!!

[@faqu529]

She has such an amazing voice. I love Buika.

[@dragondriver69]

Que alguien le de un millón de dólares, no es suficiente para su talento, pero por algo se empieza. Maravillosa como siempre, música para el alma.

[@Olusegun10]

Love me some Buika! Amazing singer.

[@luzcalderon8326]

Marvelous artist and her beautiful songs I love it!

[@sebmejia]

I just noticed I've been smiling for 9:35 minutes. :)

[@Rosalita307]

I love Buika ❤

[@eldhugi]

Thank you. He is inspirational.

[@usmanovz]

That’s fantastically good! Thank you Concha!

[@shnootch]

love how relaxed and supportive the cajon is...

[@Gypsyman40]

Absolutely incredible.... One of the greatest of all time here... Smh... Wow

[@allofmusic6574]

I saw this video ten times it is really awesome I don't know lyrics but I can feel from her face

[@peersplayground150]

Who is the piano player please? Great playing !!!!

[@Moinel0]

Peers Playground Iván melon

[@RafaMontillaArt]

I love you Concha,. You’re amazing. It was a great pleasure to meet you personally, you are a great singer and an excellent person.

[@KentBey]

Awesome .... I love her music and artistic interpretations!

[@pmerkaba]

Holly shit! She's amazing! Incomparable!

[@pandacakeray]

such chills right now!!!!!! just discovered her while doing my spanish homework. she is one of the best vocalists I have ever heard

[@jgrc4588]

Check out señor del aire by Diego el cigala

[@rosine2]

Elle est fantastique, sa voix déchire les murs. J'adore cette femme.

[@santossuarez]

La Nave del Olvido. No me canso de escuchar esa. Obra maestra. Te amo, mi negra.

[@sinceOhSeven]

She is amazing!

[@alvindorfman]

Mindblowin!! Thank You!

[@bethanymicumusic]

beautiful

[@bPofDuluth]

WOW! Just WOW!

[@jeanpoueriet1147]

magnifico!!! brillante!!!! que voz!!!!

[@propolispropolis657]

Overwhelming 😍💋👍🎶