Guantanamera

The song Guantanamera goes into its today's widespread version return to a Guajira melody. This, in turn, refers to some verses from the poem cycle Versos Sencillos ( "simple verses ") of the Cuban national hero José Martí. In the years 1929-35 José Fernández Díaz improvised on the radio to current day events called decimas and sang as a chorus Guantanamera, Guajira Guantanamera. Therefore, he used the " Guajira " model, which can still be heard on La Palma today when they improvise in the Punto Cubano. The chorus text became world famous in the 1930s in Cuba has become synonymous with " bad news ", the improvisation of Fernández Díaz later.

History

After a few detours, it was Pete Seeger, who in 1963 used the Martí - text in the Carnegie Hall in New York. There are also recordings by, José Fernández Díaz on which sings the Martí text. Shortly before his death sang Fernández Díaz in 1976, Lenin park Havana still a Guantanamera version, where he, as usual, the Décima text improvised, so did not use the well-known Martí text. 1985 received his heirs the rights to the text awarded by a Cuban court. In 1993, the Supreme Court of Cuba Fernández Díaz ( 1908-1979 ) for the sole originator of the composition.

Pete Seeger's 1963 performance in New York at the same time made ​​the song but known to a greater extent beyond Cuba. It became a song by American trade union movement. In the summer of 1966 a version of the song by the group " The Sandpipers ", which was made ​​available mainly by British pirate radio station to a large audience in Europe appeared.

The text

Chorus

The chorus is, Guantanamera, Guantanamera guajira and is a pun:

Guantanamera is the feminine form of the adjective to Guantánamo and means " to arise from Guantánamo ".

Guajira is in Cuba on the one hand for one style of music or a dance, on the other hand also for a woman from the country or peasant. Guajira Guantanamera means both " Guajira song from Guantánamo " and " farmer from Guantánamo ".

Stanzas

Yo soy un hombre sincero, de donde crece la palma, y antes de morirme quiero echar mis versos del alma.

I am a sincere person from where the palm tree grows, and before I die, I want me singing my verses of the soul.

Mi it verso de un claro verde y de un carmine encendido. Mi it verso un ciervo herido que busca en el monte amparo.

My verse is light green and entflammtem Red My verse is a wounded deer seeking refuge in the mountains

Cultivo una rosa blanca, En julio como en enero, Para el amigo sincero Que me da su mano franca.

I prefer a white rose approach, in July as in January, for the honest friend of me his open hand ranges.

Con los pobres de la tierra yo quiero mi suerte echar. El arroyo de la sierra más que el mar complace me.

With the poorest of the earth I want to throw my fate. The creek in the mountains pleased me more than the sea.

Other interpretations

Was a result of time and Guantanamera is interpreted by many artists, both political songwriters and producers of popular music:

  • James Last
  • Los paraguayos
  • Manuela
  • Dean Reed
  • The Sandpipers
  • Pete Seeger ( since the early 1960s), The Weavers (once in 1963 ), Pete Seeger with his grandson Tao Rodriguez -Seeger (since early 1990s )
  • Bernd Stelter ( " A beer in the basement " )
  • Die Toten Hosen ( with abgeändertem text )
  • Willy Astor and Mike Krüger ( " G'wand to ham era," with abgeändertem text )
  • Richard Stallman ( " Guantanamero " with abgeändertem text )
  • Buena Vista Social Club
  • The Pozo Seco Singers ( feat. Don Williams)
  • Pitbull
  • Helmut Lotti

2002 embossed Rudi Völler already active periods football chant was revived, the tune of Guantanamera with the text There is only one ' Rudi Völler connects. Furthermore, several comedy songs based umgedichtetem with lyrics sung to the tune of Guantanamera. In Sweden there was a commercial in which to tune Panta mera! (about: " Pfände more !") is sung. In many Protestant churches in Germany a text by Jürgen value of all time is sung to the melody.

The song Guantanamera also comes in an instrumental version in Harry Gregson -Williams ' soundtrack prior to the film Antz.

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