How is the summer going for you? Hot, isn't? Way too hot for my taste.
I was thinking about how to re-activate my blog. Sure... another post would do it, and I have several songs in mind. But then I started thinking that maybe the best way would be remembering why I started the blog in the first place.
There is only one reason... I have the idea which has become more of a core belief, that culture is the most important thing humans have to offer. Culture is affected by history and geography, and it also changes them.
Culture is everything and it influences or even determines everything else.
Food is culture, language is culture, philosophical and political ideas are culture, and of course, music is culture as well. And I love music.
So, this blog allows me to present cultural background and information relative to popular and traditional music from Spain and Latin America; from my perspective, obviously.
I have continued sharing music with my students and I always remind them why. Music is a window to culture, and culture is the frame of language.
With those thoughts in mind, today I am sharing a song that is a true jewel. "Latinoamerica" By Calle 13.
Maybe some of you know it or have used before for your classes. It is five years old.
This song talks about everything that characterizes the essence of Latin America and its diversity. The geography: valleys, rivers, coasts, deserts, mountains, and the beautiful Andes mountain range. It describes some aspects of the weather and the many colors of all of those landforms, the fauna, and the flora.
The lyrics refers to the physical and historic resilience of the Latin American peoples, the sacking during the period of colonization, and the political corruption that many of these countries have to deal with.
It mentions the food, the crops, soccer, literature, traditions, religion, and finally it talks about some of the characteristics of the Latin Americans, such as their hardworking spirit and dedication; their generosity and hospitable nature as well as their ability to overcome difficulties.
"Latinoamérica" reminds us of the importance of feeling proud of who you are and where you come from, and how crucial it is to know your own history so you won't have to repeat the unpleasant periods.
Calle 13 is a band from Puerto Rico that plays urban music, fusion, and alternative rap. Their songs often refer to social, economic, or political injustices. For this song, they invited 3 folkloric singers to collaborate with them: Totó "La Momposina" from Colombia, Susana Baca from Perú, and Maria Rita from Brazil.
A little gift from me to you...
The lyrics with the translation.
_______________________
Latinoamérica
By Calle 13
By Calle 13
Soy,
I am
Soy lo que dejaron,
I am what they left behind
soy toda la sobra de lo que se robaron.
I am all that is left over after they stole everything
Un pueblo escondido en la cima,
A village hidden on the top of the mountain
mi piel es de cuero por eso aguanta cualquier clima.
my skin is made of leather and that is why I can tolerate any climate
Soy una fábrica de humo,
I am a factory belching smoke
mano de obra campesina para tu consumo
peasant labor to produce what you consume
Frente de frio en el medio del verano,
A cold front moving in in the middle of the summer
“el amor en los tiempos del cólera”, mi hermano.
“Love in the times of cholera”, mi brother.
El sol que nace y el día que muere,
The sun rising and the day ending
con los mejores atardeceres.
with the best possible sunsets.
Soy el desarrollo en carne viva,
I am the living image of development
un discurso político sin saliva.
a vacuous political speech.
Las caras más bonitas que he conocido,
The most beautiful faces I have ever seen
soy la fotografía de un desaparecido.
The photograph of a missing person
La sangre dentro de tus venas,
I am the blood flowing through your veins
soy un pedazo de tierra que vale la pena.
I am a piece of land that has incalculable value
soy una canasta con frijoles,
I am a basket full of beans
soy Maradona contra Inglaterra anotándote dos goles.
I am Maradona vs. England scoring 2 goals.
Soy lo que sostiene mi bandera,
I am the flag pole revealing my flag
la espina dorsal del planeta es mi cordillera.
The back bone of the planet is my mountain range
Soy lo que me enseñó mi padre,
I am what my father taught me
el que no quiere a su patria no quiere a su madre.
Whoever does not love his homeland cannot love his mother
Soy América latina,
I am Latin America
un pueblo sin piernas pero que camina.
a people who can overcome obstacles and still carry on
Tú no puedes comprar al viento.
No one can buy our wind
Tú no puedes comprar al sol.
No one can buy our sun
Tú no puedes comprar la lluvia.
No one can buy our rain
Tú no puedes comprar el calor.
No one can buy our heat
Tú no puedes comprar las nubes.
No one can buy our clouds
Tú no puedes comprar los colores.
No one can buy our colors
Tú no puedes comprar mi alegría.
No one can buy my happiness
Tú no puedes comprar mis dolores.
No one can buy my sorrows. (twice)
Tengo los lagos, tengo los ríos.
I have lakes, I have rivers.
Tengo mis dientes pa’ cuando me sonrío.
and I have teeth for whenever I want to smile
La nieve que maquilla mis montañas.
And also the snow that adorns the mountains.
Tengo el sol que me seca y la lluvia que me baña.
I have the sun that dries me out and the rain that bathes me
Un desierto embriagado con peyote,
and a desert ecstatic with peyote,
un trago de pulque para cantar con los coyotes,
and a drink of pulque in order to sing along with the coyotes,
todo lo que necesito.
I have all I need.
Tengo a mis pulmones respirando azul clarito.
My lungs breathe in only the pure air of heaven
La altura que sofoca.
The hights that quicken breathing
Soy las muelas de mi boca mascando coca.
I am the molars in my mouth chewing coca leave.
El otoño con sus hojas desmalladas.
The autum with its falling leaves
Los versos escritos bajo la noche estrellada.
Verses written under starry skies
Una viña repleta de uvas.
A vineyard with vines loaded with clusters of grapes
Un cañaveral bajo el sol en Cuba.
A cane field feeling the warmth of the cuban sun.
Soy el mar Caribe que vigila las casitas,
I am the Caribean sea watching over small houses
Haciendo rituales de agua bendita.
performing the rituals of holy water.
El viento que peina mi cabello.
The wind that combs my hair
Soy todos los santos que cuelgan de mi cuello.
I am each and everyone of the saints that hang from around my neck.
El jugo de mi lucha no es artificial,
The inspiration for my struggle is not imaginary
Porque el abono de mi tierra es natural.
because it finds its strength from deep down in the earth.
Tú no puedes comprar al viento.
No one can buy our wind
Tú no puedes comprar al sol.
No one can buy our sun
Tú no puedes comprar la lluvia.
No one can buy our rain
Tú no puedes comprar el calor.
No one can buy our heat
Tú no puedes comprar las nubes.
No one can buy our clouds
Tú no puedes comprar los colores.
No one can buy our colors
Tú no puedes comprar mi alegría.
No one can buy my happiness
Tú no puedes comprar mis dolores.
No one can buy my sorrows
I am
Soy lo que dejaron,
I am what they left behind
soy toda la sobra de lo que se robaron.
I am all that is left over after they stole everything
Un pueblo escondido en la cima,
A village hidden on the top of the mountain
mi piel es de cuero por eso aguanta cualquier clima.
my skin is made of leather and that is why I can tolerate any climate
Soy una fábrica de humo,
I am a factory belching smoke
mano de obra campesina para tu consumo
peasant labor to produce what you consume
Frente de frio en el medio del verano,
A cold front moving in in the middle of the summer
“el amor en los tiempos del cólera”, mi hermano.
“Love in the times of cholera”, mi brother.
El sol que nace y el día que muere,
The sun rising and the day ending
con los mejores atardeceres.
with the best possible sunsets.
Soy el desarrollo en carne viva,
I am the living image of development
un discurso político sin saliva.
a vacuous political speech.
Las caras más bonitas que he conocido,
The most beautiful faces I have ever seen
soy la fotografía de un desaparecido.
The photograph of a missing person
La sangre dentro de tus venas,
I am the blood flowing through your veins
soy un pedazo de tierra que vale la pena.
I am a piece of land that has incalculable value
soy una canasta con frijoles,
I am a basket full of beans
soy Maradona contra Inglaterra anotándote dos goles.
I am Maradona vs. England scoring 2 goals.
Soy lo que sostiene mi bandera,
I am the flag pole revealing my flag
la espina dorsal del planeta es mi cordillera.
The back bone of the planet is my mountain range
Soy lo que me enseñó mi padre,
I am what my father taught me
el que no quiere a su patria no quiere a su madre.
Whoever does not love his homeland cannot love his mother
Soy América latina,
I am Latin America
un pueblo sin piernas pero que camina.
a people who can overcome obstacles and still carry on
Tú no puedes comprar al viento.
No one can buy our wind
Tú no puedes comprar al sol.
No one can buy our sun
Tú no puedes comprar la lluvia.
No one can buy our rain
Tú no puedes comprar el calor.
No one can buy our heat
Tú no puedes comprar las nubes.
No one can buy our clouds
Tú no puedes comprar los colores.
No one can buy our colors
Tú no puedes comprar mi alegría.
No one can buy my happiness
Tú no puedes comprar mis dolores.
No one can buy my sorrows. (twice)
Tengo los lagos, tengo los ríos.
I have lakes, I have rivers.
Tengo mis dientes pa’ cuando me sonrío.
and I have teeth for whenever I want to smile
La nieve que maquilla mis montañas.
And also the snow that adorns the mountains.
Tengo el sol que me seca y la lluvia que me baña.
I have the sun that dries me out and the rain that bathes me
Un desierto embriagado con peyote,
and a desert ecstatic with peyote,
un trago de pulque para cantar con los coyotes,
and a drink of pulque in order to sing along with the coyotes,
todo lo que necesito.
I have all I need.
Tengo a mis pulmones respirando azul clarito.
My lungs breathe in only the pure air of heaven
La altura que sofoca.
The hights that quicken breathing
Soy las muelas de mi boca mascando coca.
I am the molars in my mouth chewing coca leave.
El otoño con sus hojas desmalladas.
The autum with its falling leaves
Los versos escritos bajo la noche estrellada.
Verses written under starry skies
Una viña repleta de uvas.
A vineyard with vines loaded with clusters of grapes
Un cañaveral bajo el sol en Cuba.
A cane field feeling the warmth of the cuban sun.
Soy el mar Caribe que vigila las casitas,
I am the Caribean sea watching over small houses
Haciendo rituales de agua bendita.
performing the rituals of holy water.
El viento que peina mi cabello.
The wind that combs my hair
Soy todos los santos que cuelgan de mi cuello.
I am each and everyone of the saints that hang from around my neck.
El jugo de mi lucha no es artificial,
The inspiration for my struggle is not imaginary
Porque el abono de mi tierra es natural.
because it finds its strength from deep down in the earth.
Tú no puedes comprar al viento.
No one can buy our wind
Tú no puedes comprar al sol.
No one can buy our sun
Tú no puedes comprar la lluvia.
No one can buy our rain
Tú no puedes comprar el calor.
No one can buy our heat
Tú no puedes comprar las nubes.
No one can buy our clouds
Tú no puedes comprar los colores.
No one can buy our colors
Tú no puedes comprar mi alegría.
No one can buy my happiness
Tú no puedes comprar mis dolores.
No one can buy my sorrows
Não
se pode comprar o vento
No one can buy our wind
Não se pode comprar o sol
No one can buy our sun
Não se pode comprar a chuva
No one can buy our rain
Não se pode comprar o calor
No one can buy our heat
Não se pode comprar as nuvens
No one can buy our clouds
Não se pode comprar as cores
No one can buy our colors
Não se pode comprar minha alegria
No one can buy my happiness
Não se pode comprar as minhas dores
No one can buy my sorrows
No puedes comprar al sol.
No one can buy the sun
No puedes comprar la lluvia.
No one can buy the rain
Vamos caminando, No riso e no amor,
No one can buy our wind
Não se pode comprar o sol
No one can buy our sun
Não se pode comprar a chuva
No one can buy our rain
Não se pode comprar o calor
No one can buy our heat
Não se pode comprar as nuvens
No one can buy our clouds
Não se pode comprar as cores
No one can buy our colors
Não se pode comprar minha alegria
No one can buy my happiness
Não se pode comprar as minhas dores
No one can buy my sorrows
No puedes comprar al sol.
No one can buy the sun
No puedes comprar la lluvia.
No one can buy the rain
Vamos caminando, No riso e no amor,
we keep moving
forward
vamos caminando, No pranto e na dor,
we keep moving
forward
vamos dibujando el camino, El sol...
We keep drawing our own path in life,
No puedes comprar mi vida.
No one can buy my life
LA TIERRA NO SE VENDE.
And my land is not for sale
Trabajo en bruto pero con orgullo,
I work in manual labor jobs but I do it with pride
Aquí se comparte, “lo mío es tuyo”
Here you share what you have, “what is mine is yours”
Este pueblo no se ahoga con marullos,
Our people do not make mountains out of mole hills
Y si se derrumba yo lo reconstruyo.
If my town falls apart I would rebuild it
Tampoco pestañeo cuando te miro,
I would never blink when I look at you
Para que te recuerdes de mi apellido.
just so that you would remember my name
La “Operación Cóndor” invadiendo mi nido,
“Operation Condor” invaded my nest
¡Perdono pero nunca olvido!
I forgive but I never forget.
(Vamos caminando)
Let’s keep moving forward
Aquí se respira lucha.
Here we breathe both conflict and courage
(Vamos caminando)
Let’s keep moving forward
Yo canto porque se escucha
I sing because I know you are listening
(Vamos dibujando el camino)
We keep drawing our own path in life
We keep drawing our own path in life,
No puedes comprar mi vida.
No one can buy my life
LA TIERRA NO SE VENDE.
And my land is not for sale
Trabajo en bruto pero con orgullo,
I work in manual labor jobs but I do it with pride
Aquí se comparte, “lo mío es tuyo”
Here you share what you have, “what is mine is yours”
Este pueblo no se ahoga con marullos,
Our people do not make mountains out of mole hills
Y si se derrumba yo lo reconstruyo.
If my town falls apart I would rebuild it
Tampoco pestañeo cuando te miro,
I would never blink when I look at you
Para que te recuerdes de mi apellido.
just so that you would remember my name
La “Operación Cóndor” invadiendo mi nido,
“Operation Condor” invaded my nest
¡Perdono pero nunca olvido!
I forgive but I never forget.
(Vamos caminando)
Let’s keep moving forward
Aquí se respira lucha.
Here we breathe both conflict and courage
(Vamos caminando)
Let’s keep moving forward
Yo canto porque se escucha
I sing because I know you are listening
(Vamos dibujando el camino)
We keep drawing our own path in life
(Vozes de um só coração)
The voices from one heart
Aquí estamos de pie
Here we stand,
¡Que viva la América!
Long life to The Americas.
No puedes comprar mi vida.
No one can buy my life.
Aquí estamos de pie
Here we stand,
¡Que viva la América!
Long life to The Americas.
No puedes comprar mi vida.
No one can buy my life.
_____________
And a bonus...
Here is a special version from the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards with the Simón Bolívar Youth Symphony Orchestra from Venezuela, conducted by their director Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel, who also happens to be the director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Here is a special version from the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards with the Simón Bolívar Youth Symphony Orchestra from Venezuela, conducted by their director Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel, who also happens to be the director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
It is very moving and exciting, I always get goose bumps.
I hope you find this song interesting and useful.
PS: If you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask or comment here or to my email.
