Cubanocast

After 40,000 years, men still haven't learned to avoid that most venerable of professions (No, farming is next week.).

It's the same pattern: Men see a beautiful woman on the street (or on the internet):

Bossa Cubana

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Concerning my Cuban Valentine special, Eduardo Tavel wrote:

I believe you should have included "Nosotros' a beautiful love song.

I found several instances of the song. The first is from Elena Burke, a sixties singer whom I have to admit to not liking very much. It's not that she's a bad singer; I just don't find any of her songs particularly interesting- they have a sort of lounge-act feel to them. I'll put it here anyways in case that's the one Mr. Tavel was talking about.

100 Canciones Cubanas Del Milenio

Better is the Cha cha-bolero from Orquesta Aragon. Rival Cha cha group Fajardo has a live version.

Mambo Inspiracin

Fajardo:

The only albums my mother owned were by Lucho Gatica, a Chilean singer popular in the fifties. He sings in the hyper-romantic Latin-American style distinguishable by its breathiness. A nice, guitar-driven song called Nosotros showed up in my search.

Coleccion Suprema

Antologia de la Musica Cubana: La Musica de los Anos, Vol. 6

I don't know anything about the singer other than that she's Cuban and was alive in the sixties. Most of you probably won't like No Tengo Edad (It says "No Tego Edad" on the CD), but I found it interesting in that it's a strait romantic song with little to distinguish it as Cuban and no discernible African influence.

I especially like these songs recorded for CMQ radio in Havana. The sound quality is very good, and listening to the announcers and artists kid around is fun. Conjunto Casino was one of the top ten B.C. Cuban bands. In fact, in doing research, I noticed a few of their cds I'd like to purchase.

En Cumbanchoa

I promised more Trio la Rosa and here it is: Tamborilada.

This excellent CD is from 1959. In January of that year, optimism and uncertainty accompanied every Cuban as he walked along the beautiful countryside or teeming Havana. Fulgencio Batista had just decided that his position was no longer tenable as he lost support from the United States who had decided to refuse him any way of acquiring arms as well as most Cubans who wanted cleaner government. "Los Barbudos" or the "bearded ones" led by the suitably unshorn Fidel Castro easily filled the vacuum in the politically abandoned capital. It was only later that Castro declared his intention to "progress" Cuba to the state it's in now.

The songs on this album provide one with the optimism prevalent in the beginning of the revolution like the song here. Other songs are called things like "land reform." The Tumbao All-Stars was a group truly worthy of the name. It featured top-notch musicians like Orestes Lopez and R. Azpiazu. If you have any interest in Cuban music, Jazz, Swing, or anything related, this is a great album to have.

Cuban Big Band Sound: Tumbao Cubano

In keeping with the apolitical nature of this section of Asymmetric, I won't comment upon these songs too much except to explain that the first song Canto al Patriota by Orquesta Chepin, who once featured Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista Social Club fame, calls Castro an "Aurora," meaning that they consider him a gift from above, like a star. It was written during the early days of the revolution and demonstrates the hope that many Cubans felt during those heady days. Later songs praise Castro, but I can only count these early ones as having an independent opinion as the later ones were state sponsored.

For more early Ibrahim Ferrer, click here.

The next song, En cuba no Falta Nada, calls him a maricon. Mariquita means feminine. Since my readers are uniformly intelligent, I don't feel the need to describe further. It's by Hector Tricoche and is in the post-revolutionary Salsa style. the lyrics are below thanks to Babalu blog.

Mi Oriente

Oro Salsero/20 Exitos

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from http://www.adorama.com/

A lovely song from the early forties that I should have included in my Valentine's Day special. It's from the early forties. The album below is the best of its kind.

Cuban Trios (1940-1941)

George Rodez http://www.miartegallery.com/Rodezimages.html

Are Cubans romantic? Ha! Below are my favorite Cuban love songs. To qualify, the songs have to be of... 1. ...a caballero wooing a senorita (I'll give the young lady the benefit of the doubt.) or singing of his very special chica or... 2. ...a senorita's amorous rapture- no cheating, loveless lust, unrequited or lost love, just the powerful pull of that most delicious emotion. Warning: To avoid embarrassment (irresistible PDA urge), make sure you're not in a public place while listening:

1. Como Fue, Beny More: The song I chose for my wedding dance. Beautifull, molasses-thick melody and scorching, romantic singing.

The Very Best of Beny Moré, Vol. 1

2. Junto al palmar del bajio, Guillermo Portabales. Guajiro love. A picturesque song of a country boy preparing his choza or "hut" for his love.

AQUELLAS LINDAS MELODIAS

3. Amor en gua gua, Trio la Rosa. What do forward-looking women do as soon as they meet a suitable mate: Amor en gua gua is the plan. Trio la Rosa is one of the most romantic groups in Cuban music and choosing just one song caused me a fair amount of psychic pain. I'll put more from this wonderful trio later, but here's another one for now.

Esto Si Que Esta Gracioso

4. Piel canela, Bobby Capo. Probably the best ode to Caribbean beauty.

EPOCA DE ORO

5. Sabor a mi, Rolando Laserie. A lovely conceit: That no matter the eventual course of their lives, the love they shared will unite them forever.

18 EXITAZOS

6. Aunque me cuesta la vida, Alberto Beltran. This man would risk his life to find his true love.

12 Super Exitos

7. Loca pasion, Beny More. Another torch song from Beny.

8. Cita en el platanal, Celina y Reutilio. Quite a naughty song, actually, and I feel bad for corrupting you. No doubt disobeying her father, this young guajira is planning to sneak out to the banana fields to meet her guajiro.

Celina y Reutilio / Antologia Cubana

9. Bajo un palmar, Barbarito Diez. A man sits under a tree and composes a poem for his sweetheart.

Barbariot Diez. Joyas Musicales.

10. El solterito, Carlos Argentino. A man tired of the single life and looking for commitment. It happens all the time (ahem).

La Sonora Matancera Colleccion Oro Vol.3

OK, OK, Bonus songs:

11. De ti enamorado, Sonora Matancera. The reformed bad boy, a romance novel classic.

12. Adoracion, Machito featuring Graciela. A well sung ballad.

Cuban music and Mexican cinema made for a good partnership. Here's the greatest Cuban singer, Beny More in a rare movie appearance.