365 Days #204 - Magic Oranges From Spain (mp3s)

MP3:
1. Magic Oranges From Spain (6:14)
2. Magic Oranges From Spain (5:49)

This is a weird one. It appears to be a mini musical about the wonders of oranges with narration, stirring orchestral musical, operatic singing and flamenco guitar. There is no date but it sounds as though it was recorded in the 1950s and it's probably the soundtrack from an advertising film. There are no artists or writers credited although the label text indicates that it was made in Spain for a South African company called Iberofon.

I love the deliciously over-the-top style of the narrator who is, after all, only talking about oranges. You have to admire the many ways he manages to describe the spherical fruits: "The daughters of the sun", "Golden orbs", "Symbols of virtue and love", "A fruit only equalled in paradise", etc. Thank God no one showed him a pomegranate or he might have had a multi orgasm!

Some of the language is very pompous and over-blown and reminds me of those '50s travelogues with its flowery, descriptive style. "Spain cradles her oranges among gardens, and rocks them in the gentle breezes blowing from the rippling Mediterranean, whose glinting waves once felt the prows of Greek and Roman vessels." The next time you have marmalade for breakfast think of this record and smile.

- Contributed by: David Noades

Images: Record

Media: Single
Label: Ediphone
Credits: Fabrico En Espana Por Iberofon SA (Made in Spain for Iberofon S.A.)

Comments

[El lapis]

Yo soy,... naranja! Numero dos! Much like the oranges, I too bleed for freedom.

[Kip W]

If you're ever in Houston, go see the Orange Show. It's a big, crazed construction by some tetched fellow who wanted to make a monument in praise of the orange. He built the place himself, which meant that it took some hard work to keep it from falling apart when the Orange Show Foundation took over in (I think) the 80s. Outside, it has theatres with rows of tractor seats for the audience. Inside, it has bizarro dioramas with illiterate and confusing signs trying to make sense of it all.

[Cwaraban]

I was wondering why on earth South Africa would import oranges from Spain, until I realised what was going on. "S.A." is Spanish for "Co." (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.A. , click on English) - I'm pretty sure that's a Spanish company trying to sell oranges (to the British? - because again, all other English-speaking people can pretty much grow them in their own countries).

[Richard Brandt]

So that's what it means when I hear someone say "S.A."

Anyway, I now have the name for my next band.

[LEO]

S.A. (SOCIEDAD ANONIMA) IS THE SAME THAT ".INC" (INCORPORATED).

It would be terrific if someone could translate the lyrics of the song on side two.

[Asombrado]

S.A. in Spanish music is also Soziedad Alkohólika ("Int[oxicated]."?), a punk band.

"por Iberofón" means "by Iberofon", apparently a Spanish ("Iberia") recording studio ("phon").

[Scott Bateman]

This MP3 is now a short animated film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n50mIk0EH0w

[David]

Scott, that animation is just sooo cool. I don't understand it but it's great, and not at all what you would expect. I can't believe that a record I rescued from being thrown away at the end of a car boot sale has ended up being the soundtrack to a cartoon.