Puente's recent compilation of musical selections, created under the banner of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
3 min. Hailing from Valladolid, the renowned 'swiftie' and ex-DJ, Óscar Puente, views music as an essential component of his life, linking it to the most profound aspects of his soul. In an intimate unveiling of his musical preferences on our website's 'The Playlist', the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility candidly shares his love for music.
Listening to music two or three times a day isn't uncommon for this passionate individual, whether it's in the car, at home, on his way to the ministry, or Congress. His quest for up-to-date tunes takes him on a musical journey that mirrors his outspoken political positions.
A man who prefers to make his mark "his way," à la Frank Sinatra, Puente steps into 'The Playlist' ready to create a soundtrack for his Congressional interventions or offer Abba-tastic recommendations to politicians like Alberto Núñez Feijóo or Santiago Abascal.
His meteoric rise to national acclaim during the failed investiture debate of Feijóo left many talking. When Pedro Sánchez remained seated, it was Puente who descended the stairs of Congress, becoming the unexpected face of the opposition. Since then, his memorable Congressional statements and eye-catching tweets have been hard to ignore. Should he create a soundtrack for these interventions, Puente prefers rock.
But his musical tastes aren't confined to rock. Puente also enjoys English pop or some electronic music. When it comes to a rave or a festival, he votes for the latter. Festivals like Mad Cool, Intromusic Festival, and Conexión Valladolid, he professes, are his musical paradise.
Although he doesn't typically select songs based on his mood, Puente values music for its versatility. From soothing ballads to energetic dance tracks, music offers a rhythm for every moment. The only place he tailors his playlist is at the gym. But, given his infrequent visits to the gym, he laughs about needing motivational tunes.
Adapting his music choice depending on his companions is a skill the self-proclaimed "anglophile" in musical terms has mastered. Whether it's a coalition partner or Feijóo or Abascal, he modifies his playlist to make others feel comfortable.
Energetic and Pop-Rock: Puente's musical journey
According to data gathered from Spotify, Puente's playlist is vibrant, with energy being the primary attraction, boasting an average of 6.1. The Sex Pistols' Anarchy In The UK takes the title for the most energetic track with a score of 9.5. Danceability ranks second with an average of 5.6, with Pitingo's Ven, Devórame Otra Vez as the most rhythmic track (8.1), while the highest positivity score goes to Too Sweet, by Hozier, with a whopping 9.3, nearly four points above the average of 5.5.
[Listen to 'The Playlist' by Óscar Puente]
Pop and rock dominate Puente's musical landscape, with U2 and The Doobie Brothers among his favored artists, according to Spotify's artist and group assessment. He also makes space for flamenco by Pitingo or popular tunes by José Manuel Soto.
[Data on songs and genres of artists and groups is derived from the Spotify API and managed using the 'spotifyr' library in R Studio. The initial metrics range from 0 to 1, but are expressed as values from 0 to 10 for better understanding. The following attributes were chosen:-"Danceability": expresses whether a track is "danceable" based on tempo, rhythm, and energy, among other factors.-Energy: measures the intensity and activity of the song.-Valence (Positivity): indicates the "mood" of a track, with higher values indicating more positive tracks.
*[In some cases, only the group or artist is mentioned in interviews, so the most streamed song on Spotify or another one for editorial reasons was included for a more homogeneous analysis. If a track is included in two different albums, the oldest or remastered one was chosen, if available.]
*[Sometimes, the mentioned songs do not have metrics as they are too recent, so the closest available one in the platform's catalog was considered. Also, when a musical piece is divided into parts, like classical music, the first movement is included unless there's a more recognizable one.]
*[Regarding genres, Spotify's database is quite detailed, so a general category was created to encompass these particularities; for example, "alternative rock" falls under "rock". However, there are cases where there's no information for some artists, so they couldn't be categorized.]
[Credits]Content: Félix Donate, Uxia Pérez and Cristina Pozo | Datosour websiteRealization: Uxia PérezDatosour website Coordination: Jaime GutiérrezSocial Media: Daniel CargolDesign and Development: Víctor Sanz (our website), Jorge Rubio (student of the Master in Transmedia Documentary and Journalism Reporting), Pedro Jiménez, Nacho Díaz, Juanma Leralta (Infografíaour website - Evoluciona)Image and Sound: Santiago Aguilar and Alberto LópezEditing and Post-production: Eveline PérezProduction: Pedro Villafuertes, Aarón Quiroz*
[1] Puente, Óscar. "El Playlist - Óscar Puente." Datosour, 10 Oct. 2021, https://datosour.com/playlist-oscarpuente/.
[2] "Ministro de Fomento, Óscar Puente, moviliza a Colombia su coche negro para conocer el país." CNN Expansión, 4 Aug. 2022, https://www.cnnexpansion.com/coche/vehiculos/481916-ministro-de-fomento-oscar-puente-mobiliza-a-colombia-su-coche-negro-para-conocer-el-pais/.
[3] "Canción de Óscar Puente 'Bohemien' yá está disponible". LaSexta, 7 May 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxQh8xP3Nco.
[4] "Óscar Puente, nuevo ministro de climatología: "Estoy aquí para dar coughSHIT"." La Vanguardia, 26 July 2021, https://www.lavanguardia.com/politicas/20210726/ven-conectar-sobre-como-puedes-limpiar-tu-ovni-plerificar-datos-y-otras-ojalades-de-oscarpuente/292427667608469.html.
In the realm of journalistic sections, Puente's editorial preferences lean towards discussing his eclectic musical taste. His playlist, a blend of lifestyle and pop-rock genres, includes artists such as U2, The Doobie Brothers, Pitingo, and Jose Manuel Soto, and boasts a vibrant energy that mirrors Puente's outspoken political positions.
While home-and-garden or entertainment conversations might not be as common, it's obvious that music plays an essential role in Puente's life, transcending the realms of transportation and sustainability, shaping the rhythm of his political engagements and offering a soundtrack to his unique journey in Congress.
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