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Beck — Qué Onda Guero
Album: Guero
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2145









Released: 2005
Length: 3:28
Plays (last 30 days): 1
''Que onda Jose?''
''Que onda Jose?''

See the vegetable man in the vegetable van with a horn that's honking like a mariachi band.
In the middle of the street, people gather around, put the dollar-dollar-dollar in the can.
Ay wey, que onda?
T.J. cowboys hang around, sleeping in the sidewalk with a Burger King crown,
Never wake 'em up -- mas cerveza -- til the rooster crows, vatos vergallos.

Que onda guero?
Que onda guero?
Que onda guero?
Que onda guero?

Mano blancos roll with crowbars, sing rancheras on cheap guitars,
Abuelitas with plastic bags walking to the church with the Spanish candles.
Dirty borracho says 'que putas!', ondele, Joto, your popsicle is melting,
Run, better run, da-doo, run, run... in the midnight sun...

Guero, where are you going?
Que onda guero?
Guero, where are you going?
Que onda guero?

Rampart boys with loaded rifles, Guatemalan soccer ball instant replays,
Mango ladies, vendedoras at a bus stop sing a banda macho chorus.

Que onda guero?
A donde vayas.
Que onda guero?
A donde vayas.

''Que ??? es ese?
Alla en la en Pico, la Pico y Vermont
Hey vamos a jugar futbol hay en el Griffith park...
Hey, Lacoro...
Yeah, now I'm going to LACC, man... I'm taking a ceramics class.
See the vegetable man...
James Joyce, Michael Bolton!''

Que onda guero?
Hey, where are you going?
Que onda guero?
Hey, where are you going?

''Hey, what's up, guero? You doing pushups?
No te veo guero! El guero!
Que pasa, otra vero guero?
I dunno, I saw a puppet at Tang's with a mullet and a popsicle.''

''Hey, guero, que locura! Chico...''

''Hey, guero? Yeah, Bro?
Hehehe, footlong?
Let's go to Cap'n Cork. They have the new Yanni cassette.''
Comments (262)add comment
Chingón 
 black321 wrote:

Apparently title is slang for, what's up white boy?

Not sure if this is true, but read Beck grew up in East LA and the song followed a trip through his old neighborhoods, and samples sounds of these neighborhoods.




From a Beck interview in American Songwriter:

"The title track [is] an autobiographical account of growing up in the melting pot of Los Angeles, with a hefty chunk of Spanglish in the lyrics. “It’s a sort of a watercolor, pen and ink drawing, with a little bit of oil stick portrait of where I grew up. I was raised around Spanish-speaking people, billboards and radio stations, so it relates to that. If you go to that neighborhood, you’ll see the song…the popsicle guys, the vendoras, the ladies with the shopping carts, the peeled mangos.” His friend Paulo supplies the voices, whistles and catcalls that can be heard throughout, including a great crack about checking out 'the new Yanni cassette.'"

I kept expecting to hear "bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yay" 
Geeze this song is just so kool.
 BCarn wrote:

The more I listen to Beck the more I like his music. His exploration of all genres is excellent and entertaining. A great talent.



Indeed, he's more than meets the eye. 
hey man....

do the humpty
 dingleberry wrote:

>>Whoever wrote them: he's in bad need of a crash course in basic Spanglish.

Not really. It works. Don't know how I missed this one. And if you can't find something to get out of those lyrics, hay que relajarse guero,



Por cierto: guero o güero? Y qué quiere decir, a todo eso? Algo así como dude?
Beck is the jellybean jar of musicians.
Just heard this in the past year; very cool! The guy is super creative & diverse.  9
Apparently title is slang for, what's up white boy?

Not sure if this is true, but read Beck grew up in East LA and the song followed a trip through his old neighborhoods, and samples sounds of these neighborhoods.



The more I listen to Beck the more I like his music. His exploration of all genres is excellent and entertaining. A great talent.
 Jelani wrote:

This is just so funny. How can anyone not like this? 



this is okay
he has worse and some a bit better
most of his stuff is well overrated to me
This is just so funny. How can anyone not like this? 
 Rockit9 wrote:

Try Colors
 Nope do not want to hear any other of beck’s crap

 misterbearbaby wrote:
This was when Beck was GOOD, and didn't take himself too seriously. 
 

It's called, "growing as a musician".
Does the diversity of Beck know no bounds !!??
Or...
¿La diversidad de Beck no tiene límites?
 jp33442 wrote:
Just like every other beck song. bORING
 
Try Colors
Just like every other beck song. bORING
The new Yanni cassette- I love it!
This was when Beck was GOOD, and didn't take himself too seriously. 
 MJdub wrote:
Something weird is going on this morning:

10:22 am

Beck
Qué Onda Guero

 

10:17 am

Bob Marley
Positive Vibration (live)

 

10:14 am

Beck
Qué Onda Guero

 

10:09 am

Bob Marley
Positive Vibration (live)

 

 
It's a little early to be into the ganja.   Mon.
This is why I give money to RP.
Hey, Underwear-o.
Phew! Glad it's just not me.  For a minute there I thought I was going through some serious deja vu.

 
MJdub wrote:
Something weird is going on this morning:

10:22 am

Beck
Qué Onda Guero

 

10:17 am

Bob Marley
Positive Vibration (live)

 

10:14 am

Beck
Qué Onda Guero

 

10:09 am

Bob Marley
Positive Vibration (live)

 

 


Beck is MUY GUAY!!! 
Second that, but not complaining!

PS Grizzly Bear was inbetween, and now again after :)

MJdub wrote:
Something weird is going on this morning:

10:22 am

Beck
Qué Onda Guero

 

10:17 am

Bob Marley
Positive Vibration (live)

 

10:14 am

Beck
Qué Onda Guero

 

10:09 am

Bob Marley
Positive Vibration (live)

 

 

 Chrisjea wrote:

Great suggestion, I did.

 
Bravo.  It's just that simple. 

No tears, of sadness or rage, need be shed.
Something weird is going on this morning:

10:22 am

Beck
Qué Onda Guero

 

10:17 am

Bob Marley
Positive Vibration (live)

 

10:14 am

Beck
Qué Onda Guero

 

10:09 am

Bob Marley
Positive Vibration (live)

 
 h8rhater wrote:

Crying is for babies.  USE the PSD!!
Crying RP Baby

 
Great suggestion, I did.
This got me dancing around my kitchen {#Dancingbanana}
Such a sly, funny song, among my all-time faves. I really dig the funky beats, quirky rhythms & East LA slang that Beck grew up with.
I am pretty in the tank for Beck, but I do love Guero and still play it frequently.  This cut has a nice groove, but not nearly the best cut on the really excellent album.
This song makes me feel like I've driving down Long Beach Boulevard with my sunroof open heading to the bay house for a week of sun and margaritas! {#Sunny}
{#Devil_pimp}Beck? mero mero blanco!
Hey Beck? Sometimes {#Frustrated}
 BLADERUNNER wrote:
PLEASE make the bad music go away!!

 
Crying is for babies.  USE the PSD!!
Crying RP Baby
>>Whoever wrote them: he's in bad need of a crash course in basic Spanglish.

Not really. It works. Don't know how I missed this one. And if you can't find something to get out of those lyrics, hay que relajarse guero,

 marty88210 wrote:
I guess lyrics don't have to make sense to some of us....as long as they make sense to the lyricist!!! No? IMO it's a "HO HUM" 3.

 
Whoever wrote them: he's in bad need of a crash course in basic Spanglish.
Funny!
Horrible!
I want to think that Beck will turn me on to really cool stuff, like when I forced myself to listen to Odelay until I realized it was a fantastic album.

But now I think he's just not that good. 
PLEASE make the bad music go away!!
 kilroyjoe3 wrote:
PLEASE! MORE HIP-HOP/BREAK BEATS!{#Bananasplit}{#Clap}


PLEASE !!!   no..........
I guess lyrics don't have to make sense to some of us....as long as they make sense to the lyricist!!! No? IMO it's a "HO HUM" 3.
the only rap worthy of  RP....( just another wedo )
White boy hip hop must die in flames.
 Proclivities wrote:

The presence or absence of historical or archaeological evidence is irrelevant to religion: "Faith", by definition, does not require material proof or logical explanations.  What is this "evidence" that supports Judaism and Christianity anyhow; the artifacts left by people who practiced those religions in the past?  There is no more physical evidence to support their beliefs than there is to support those of any other religion.  Anyhow, Beck makes some music that I like and some that I do not like - his religion doesn't matter to me.

 
I would argue that the established religions play by the rules in the western world.  This is a human rights issue in my opinion, and Beck is de facto a role model for his church.  I do not know of any similar human rights issues in Christianity.  One might bring up the Catholic church and child abuse and ask why we don't hold Bono account for that (for example).  The difference is that those crimes can be pinned to certain individuals breaking laws, and they were held accountable.  Scientology works above and below and around the law and no one is ever held accountable for anything. 
Why does this song make me feel like I have a hangover - when I don't !
HAHAHAH. Is this a song or just a bunch of Apple Loops some 12 year old strung together? 
     Terrible. 
Make it stop.
 mojoman wrote:

This merely shows you know nothing about any of the religions mentioned. There's actual historical and archeological evidence supporting Judaism and Christianity. Scientology? Still haven't found any thetans or the volcanoes they were chained to a million years ago.

 
The presence or absence of historical or archaeological evidence is irrelevant to religion: "Faith", by definition, does not require material proof or logical explanations.  What is this "evidence" that supports Judaism and Christianity anyhow; the artifacts left by people who practiced those religions in the past?  There is no more physical evidence to support their beliefs than there is to support those of any other religion.  Anyhow, Beck makes some music that I like and some that I do not like - his religion doesn't matter to me.
I just love this song. But, then again, I'm a Central California girl...
 fitzworld wrote:
BTW, I'm weary of religious hypocrites complaining about Beck being a Scientologist. Why is Scientology any more or less credible than any of your mainstream religions? Just because Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have been around longer doesn't make them anymore real or defensible than Scientology. They're all a bunch of bunk!

Ever notice that the one thing all religions have in common is their offer of eternal life in exchange for obedience and money? Think that's a coincidence? Me thinks not! Religion is a convoluted fantasy designed to gain control of the masses by promising the sheeple eternal life in exchange for conforming to some bizarre ideology.

Most people are terrified of death (either consciously or subconsciously) and they'll jump at virtually any opportunity to cheat death, and charlatans (under the guise of religion) are always standing by, prepared to take advantage of them. And at the end of the day, would any of the mainstream religions be anything without the billions of dollars they receive from their mindless puppets?

Instead of criticizing Beck, why don't you challenge yourselves to become independent critical thinkers who dare to question the answers instead of obediently answering the questions in the way you were inculcated as children to answer them. Most of you are nothing more than trained seals who will sit up on your rump and bark on command.

 
This merely shows you know nothing about any of the religions mentioned. There's actual historical and archeological evidence supporting Judaism and Christianity. Scientology? Still haven't found any thetans or the volcanoes they were chained to a million years ago.
 fitzworld wrote:

I do the same thing for Republicans, religious wackadoodles, bigots, homophobes, misogynists, egotists, criminals, etc. Unfortunately, that means I only get to listen to five or six songs a day.

 
Ahh yes, but what a set it is! {#Wink}
Religion, politics and anything else aside....I am not enjoying the song.
Thats all, no big deal....
Liked that.
lousy foreign rap crap (is that a quadruple negative?)
Brilliant from the deep fjord!
 fitzworld wrote:
BTW, I'm weary of religious hypocrites complaining about Beck being a Scientologist. Why is Scientology any more or less credible than any of your mainstream religions? Just because Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have been around longer doesn't make them anymore real or defensible than Scientology. They're all a bunch of bunk!

Ever notice that the one thing all religions have in common is their offer of eternal life in exchange for obedience and money? Think that's a coincidence? Me thinks not! Religion is a convoluted fantasy designed to gain control of the masses by promising the sheeple eternal life in exchange for conforming to some bizarre ideology.

Most people are terrified of death (either consciously or subconsciously) and they'll jump at virtually any opportunity to cheat death, and charlatans (under the guise of religion) are always standing by, prepared to take advantage of them. And at the end of the day, would any of the mainstream religions be anything without the billions of dollars they receive from their mindless puppets?

Instead of criticizing Beck, why don't you challenge yourselves to become independent critical thinkers who dare to question the answers instead of obediently answering the questions in the way you were inculcated as children to answer them. Most of you are nothing more than trained seals who will sit up on your rump and bark on command.

 
AMEN :)
BTW, I'm weary of religious hypocrites complaining about Beck being a Scientologist. Why is Scientology any more or less credible than any of your mainstream religions? Just because Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have been around longer doesn't make them anymore real or defensible than Scientology. They're all a bunch of bunk!

Ever notice that the one thing all religions have in common is their offer of eternal life in exchange for obedience and money? Think that's a coincidence? Me thinks not! Religion is a convoluted fantasy designed to gain control of the masses by promising the sheeple eternal life in exchange for conforming to some bizarre ideology.

Most people are terrified of death (either consciously or subconsciously) and they'll jump at virtually any opportunity to cheat death, and charlatans (under the guise of religion) are always standing by, prepared to take advantage of them. And at the end of the day, would any of the mainstream religions be anything without the billions of dollars they receive from their mindless puppets?

Instead of criticizing Beck, why don't you challenge yourselves to become independent critical thinkers who dare to question the answers instead of obediently answering the questions in the way you were inculcated as children to answer them. Most of you are nothing more than trained seals who will sit up on your rump and bark on command.
 Stingray wrote:

Switching off for a song:

SCIENTOLOGIST!



 
I do the same thing for Republicans, religious wackadoodles, bigots, homophobes, misogynists, egotists, criminals, etc. Unfortunately, that means I only get to listen to five or six songs a day.
I really like this song!!!!
@ Ballzak
DITO!!!! {#Yes}

F*** the scientologist!   
Hell yeah!  Kick it, Beck!
I gotta say it again....genius.

Switching off for a song:

SCIENTOLOGIST!


 mmoyer wrote:

This song is brilliant. It's like an aural painting of an L.A. neighborhood. It's also hilarious.
 
Last year I was visiting friends in Orange County, and decided to just drive straight up through the middle of LA from Long Beach to Pasadena without taking any highways.  There were times I felt I was in a foreign country.  I have to agree, the flavor of some of the neighborhoods is captured perfectly with this song.

Stop that! It's silly.
Love to the tiny man! 
Love it !!! {#Angel}

This song is brilliant. It's like an aural painting of an L.A. neighborhood. It's also hilarious.

Let's go to Cap'n Cork.
They have the new Yanni cassette!

Whitey likes this song.
 bobringer wrote:

Pretty much any time Beck comes on, I have the same reaction.

Hard to believe this is the goofball that everybody thought was a one hit wonder joke with Loser.

Not only does Loser hold up 15 years later, he turned out to be one of the best songwriters of this generation. 
 
Yeah. I admit I had written him off as a one hitter...I was wrong...this guy keeps surprising me, time and again.
Once again RP introduces me to something different, and completely unexpected...and I quite like it.
Ewwwww..  Not my taste at all...  Bleeeech.
Just cranked this luscious song up to "9". — Ese Guero
I love their innovative use of the Cloacoa instrumentals.

This is so bad I have to log off now.
PLEASE! MORE HIP-HOP/BREAK BEATS!{#Bananasplit}{#Clap}
Este niño no para de sorprenderme, coño.....

Guero...roughly translated = white boy accpeted by his neigboring latino homies...so "Where are you going white boy" seems to pay homage to his East LA neigborhood...plus it has agood beat.
 BluEyes wrote:

Not my guy...{#Stupid}

{#Wave}
 
Sorry, Blu. I meant the other Michelle. Hard to be specific without blowing folks' covers—if you dig.

 Segue wrote:
What planet is this guy from? Friggin genius.
 
Pretty much any time Beck comes on, I have the same reaction.

Hard to believe this is the goofball that everybody thought was a one hit wonder joke with Loser.

Not only does Loser hold up 15 years later, he turned out to be one of the best songwriters of this generation. 
 Geecheeboy wrote:
Picture this: retired Army intelligence officer, mid 60's, Brooks Brothers clothes, cruising in his Cadillac STS blaring this on the way to the golf course.  I know it for a fact.  He discovered this cd on Radio Paradise and loves it.
 
you fucking rock man... i hope to be you
 Segue wrote:

 
I like cake, I like beck... Beck owns the samples and great beats, cake owns the straight vocals. no comparison IMHO. 
 joanie wrote: Cake is so Beck. But you probably knew that. ;>)
This is so Cake.
 


What planet is this guy from? Friggin genius.

this guy is working with many different styles, so you never know, whats coming next! this tune, for me a 5!
Teehee.
{#Motor}{#Cowboy}
God, I love this song. Actually, I love this album.  Has anyone seen Beck's Musical Club?  I highly recommend going to the website- he and his friends recently did an improvised remake fo Skip Spence's Oar, which is unbelievable.
 WonderLizard wrote:
Here's your guy, Michelle. Vaya con dios. {#Wave}
 
Not my guy...{#Stupid}

{#Wave}
Here's your guy, Michelle. Vaya con dios. {#Wave}
 malmquna wrote:
This is essentially a guilty pleasure for me. I like this man's sound, and while this track may not be the best musically, it's just fun.
 
'Sactly.
 Droidac wrote:

What fresh hell is this?!?


 
One that is apparently 4066 kms east of Paradise

This is so Cake.
This is essentially a guilty pleasure for me. I like this man's sound, and while this track may not be the best musically, it's just fun.
Picture this: retired Army intelligence officer, mid 60's, Brooks Brothers clothes, cruising in his Cadillac STS blaring this on the way to the golf course.  I know it for a fact.  He discovered this cd on Radio Paradise and loves it.


 lmic wrote:

This crowd is surprisingly closed to rap. All it took was hanging around with some thinking kids in grad school for me to realize that, as with everything, there's the good and the bad of the genre. I love the intentful, hip-hop-shaded stuff, and despise the ridiculously adolescent gangsta/ho cr*p.

 
agree.  tons of cool rap.  lots of junk, too.
 le_colonel wrote:
What's with all the rap hate. Rap is great.
 
This crowd is surprisingly closed to rap. All it took was hanging around with some thinking kids in grad school for me to realize that, as with everything, there's the good and the bad of the genre. I love the intentful, hip-hop-shaded stuff, and despise the ridiculously adolescent gangsta/ho cr*p.

One of the coolest things about RP, to me, is that it helps keep me current with music, in my ever-advancing dotage. Some well-selected rap selections would round out the experience beautifully, but I suppose Bill has some well-reasoned logic for not including it. Oh well, RP is 99.99% perfect, I guess I can accept taking responsibility for managing the missing .01% myself.


Not as brilliant as I thought it was when I first bought the album but good nonetheless.
 le_colonel wrote:
 Rap is great.
 
{#Roflol}

Pure fun

What fresh hell is this?!?


What's with all the rap hate. Rap is great.

Secondly, this is lightyears away from rap.
I really love this album. I did notice that Bill has apparently stopped playing "My Sun Eyed Girl," which is for the better since its lyrics are so very, very, creepy. Beck is, nonetheless, the best!
 Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
most excellent
 
Except for the part between where it starts and when it finishes. {#No}

this is so good it blows my mind...
most excellent

Rips off a bunch of stuff, and cobbles it together.  I don't find it to be inspired or creative, although I give points for trying.


Oh man ... this song is about me.

I'm the guero playing futbol in Griffith Park with the vatos.  {#Whistle}
mfassett wrote:
quote from your mom: "STOP PLAYING THAT ROCK AND ROLL CRAP!!!" ...and the generation gap never ends...

{#Roflol}{#Roflol}{#Roflol}{#Roflol}
Reminds me of my time in Mexico. (going back in less than 2 weeks)

and it's spelled güero, just for the record. :)
possibly one of the funniest songs ever
for anyone who has ever had Hispanic friends
Beck nails the zeitgeist, for sure, this is the new US
hmmm...lots of folks ain't getting this one...  too bad, it's loaded with zingers!
Hey, guero!
Andele, joto, your popsicle is melting...
heh-heh, James Joyce!
Yeah, I'm gonna go to Capricorn records, buy the new Yanni cassette...
Yeah, I'm takin' a ceramics class...
Andele, joto, your popsicle is melting...
—dig it!

This is such a fun song. I just have to stop what I'm doing when I hear it and boogie!

{#Dance} 

J'ai mis 1, car on ne peut pas mettre 0 !
More of the closer to average songs for Beck. The album has much better stuff in there.