HI KANTARI—You’re a Basque Singer!

We don’t sing as much as we used to. That’s our reality. So we could call it quits but that’s really not an option for Basques who somehow against the odds have found ways to keep their traditions alive. So above are links to the lyrics (& audio clips) to some popular songs.

The use of Hi (instead of Zu) in the title for “you” is intentional, based on the informal, more intimate form of address  among good friends known as hika. Start singing together and you’ll see what that means.  You will soon begin to feel a  connection with these people: that’s what singing does for us humans—it bonds us at an intuitive, visceral level.

Thanks to Joseba Etxarri, Darrin Schuck, Begoña Echeverria, Andrea Bidart Oteiza, Genevieve Ysursa and especially Jean Flesher, none of whom however are responsible for the errors herein or for leaving out your favorite song this time around.  This modest booklet is just one way that NABO aims to continue promoting Basque song, as our hope is to hear you singing more! Then you will receive our biggest thanks for keeping our songs and language alive! We have come too far together to quit now. Hi Kantari—you are now the Basque singer!