"Music is a treasure hunt. You dig and dig and sometimes you find something."(Ry Cooder, 1999) I had heard of Buena Vista Social Club for many years but only recently I dug out this treasure and started to appreciate it. Sometime ago I saw the documentary film about Buena Vista Social Club on FilmFour; I was so captured by the music in the film that I ordered the CD album straight away from Internet.
Ry Cooder, the producer of the CD, said in the introduction, "In Cuba the music flows like a river. It takes care of you and rebuilds you from inside out." I could not agree more. Ry Cooder was a popular American guitarist who took a keen interest in world and folk music; in 1997 he went to Havana and hunted down a number of old age musicians to record this fabulous album. Just look at their age (at the time of recording), e.g., Compay Segundo (vocal), aged 89; Rubén Gonzalez (pianist), aged 77; and a younger man Ibrahim Ferrer (vocal) at the age of 70! They may be old, but
the performances of these elderly gentlemen were just amazing. The music in this album is actually quite funky and jazzy with typical Latino rhythms. Music instruments like guitars, piano, trumpet and drums had played an essential part of the recording. The end products are very enjoyable pieces of music that are perfect for a layback Sunday afternoon.
I found some of the lyrics quite erotic and amusing; some extracts in English translation are included in this review. The number of stars (out of 5) beside the track titles indicates my rating for each of them: -
1) Chan Chan * * * * *
What a beautiful love song about Juanika and Chan Chan, it's so subtle, yet so loveable.
♪ I'm going from Alto Cedro to Marcané ♪ Then from Cueto I'm going to Mayari
♪ The love I have for you ♪ I cannot deny…
2) De Camino a La Vereda * * * *
Don't stray when you're in love, so says the song.
♪ Listen, friend, don't stray from the path… ♪ Because your time of reckoning is yet to come…
3) El Cuarto de Tula * * * *
A cheeky song performed in high tempo. Come dancing!
♪ It's Tula's bedroom, it's gone up in flames ♪ She fell asleep and didn't blow out the candle…
Piano played by the pianist Rubén González who was regarded as a national treasure in Cuba. Excelente!
5) Dos Gardenias * * * *
This sentimental love song reminds me of ballroom dancing.
♪ Two Gardenias for you… ♪ I love, I adore you, my life…
6) Y Tú Qué Has Hecho * * *
A little song about a tree (it's got feeling) and a girl.
♪ On the trunk of a tree ♪ A young girl filled with joy ♪ Carved out her name…
7) Veinte Años * * * *
A sad song sung by the only female vocal (another elderly singer called Omara Portuondo) on this album, it would bring tears in your eyes.
♪ How mournfully we watch our love ebb away ♪ Heartlessly a part of the soul is torn away…
8) El Carretero * * * *
A hard working peasant is going to work.
♪ Ride on up the mountain… ♪ Work the mountain, cultivate the plain ♪ Reap the fruits of your labour…
9) Candela * * * * *
How a hot babe turns the whole town on fire! This amazing song is very intense, and it will make you shake your arse before you know it. Absolutely brilliant!
♪ Oh fire, fire, fire, I'm burning… ♪ I like it, I can't stop ♪ The fire is taking me with it…
10) Amor de Loca Juventud * * * *
A gospel-like song with a hint of jazz.
♪ Lost are the dreams of my deluded youth ♪ Dream I fulfilled with overwhelming passion…
11) Orgullecida * * *
A rather upbeat song in the style of 1930s jazz.
♪ I'm proud to be divine… ♪ Perhaps I'm made of marble ♪ And my love is the purest love of all…
12) Murumllo * * * *
A slow song with a taste of blues that would send you to dreamland fast!
♪ There is a soft whisper… ♪ And life laughs and says, ahh ahh ♪ And the moon laughs and says, umm umm...
13) Buena Vista Social Club * * * * *
Believe me, this jazzy piano piece really flows like river. I loved it!
14) La Bayamesa * * *
A patriotic song about a woman who burnt down her house to prevent the enemy taking over.
♪ But she can hear her homeland crying out… ♪ She has left everything, she has burnt everything…
The CD is sold with a 48-page booklet describing the background of the tracks, plus the lyrics in Spanish with English translation, and some photographs of the studio shots. I paid £9.99 for the CD from Amazon online site (as I had some Amazon gift vouchers). Whatever your taste of music is, I think that any music fan should consider including this excellent CD in their collections.
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Ry Cooder's name has helped bring attention to this session, but it's the veteran Cuban ... more
son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism,Buena Vista Social Clubis that rare meld of ...
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Ry Cooder's name has helped bring attention to this session, but it's the veteran Cuban ... more
son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism,Buena Vista Social Clubis that rare meld of ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Ry Cooder's name has helped bring attention to this session, but it's the veteran Cuban ... more
son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism, Buena Vista Social Club is that rare meld o...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Ry Cooder's name has helped bring attention to this session, but it's the veteran Cuban ... more
son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism, Buena Vista Social Club is that rare meld o...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
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