Llegó a ser un popular compositor e intérprete, muy conocido entre los amantes de la música cubana. Comenzó tocando la guitarra, el clarinete y el bongó. Fue el inventor del armónico, un instrumento de siete cuerdas, entre la guitarra española y el tres cubano. También tocó la tumbadora.
Comenzó su carrera musical muy joven cuando compuso sus primeras canciones y tocaba en grupos de Santiago con su conocido armónico. Pero su fama internacional le llegó en 1997 con su participación en el disco Buena Vista Social Club, el cual ganó varios premios Grammy. Compay Segundo apareció también en la película del mismo nombre realizada posteriormente por Wim Wenders.
En los últimos años actuó ante millones de espectadores y grabó nueve discos. No pudo cumplir su sueño de llegar a la edad de 116 años, en la cual murió su abuela. Falleció en La Habana debido a una insuficiencia renal con 95 años.
La canción más importante de Compay Segundo es "Chan Chan".
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Compay Segundo (November 18, 1907 – July 13, 2003), was a Cuban musician and songwriter.
Segundo was born Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz and brought up in the city of Santiago de Cuba. He became a songwriter and performer, well-known to fans of Cuban music. He was also the inventor of the armónico, a seven-stringed guitar-like instrument.
In his early years he played the guitar, the clarinet and the bongos. He also played the congas.
His curious stage name derives from the fact that he played second voice in a popular duet of the 1950s called Los Compadres (compadre, or compay for short, in Cuba means "baptism brother", but as a colloquialism is used also to designate a good friend).
However, international fame only came in 1997 with the release of the Buena Vista Social Club album, a hugely successful recording which won several Grammy awards. Compay Segundo appeared in the film of the same title, made subsequently by Wim Wenders.
His most famous composition is "Chan Chan", the opening track on the Buena Vista Social Club album, whose four opening chords are instantly recognizable all over the world. "Chan Chan" was recorded by Segundo himself various times as well as by countless other Latin artists.
At a fiesta he sang to Presidente Fidel Castro, who took his pulse and joked about his vitality despite his 90-plus years. "Who could have imagined that?" he asked when he found himself at the Vatican City, performing "Chan Chan" before Pope John Paul II. He explained his longevity simply: mutton consommé and a drink of rum.
He predicted that he would live to be 115, but died of kidney failure in Havana, twenty years short of his ambition, and three days before Celia Cruz.
Balcon de Santiago
Compay Segundo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A mi Oriente querido
Cuando yo asome
Al balcón de la capital
Cuando yo sienta sonar
Las campanas de la catedral
Doy un salto de alegría
Y les digo a los viajeros
Estamos en Santiago
Como custodia dejo atrás
La virgen de la Caridad
La que me vio partir
La que me vio llegar
Ya te diré, te diré mis penas
Ya te contaré, te contaré mis alegrías
Cuando yo me vaya te diré
Adiós adiós
Virgen mía
Cuando me vaya te diré
Te diré adiós
Virgen querida
De mi adoración
Tanto te he querido
Tanto he adorado
Virgen te lo pido
Estar a tu lado
Virgen milagrosa
Por ti suspiramos
Eres una diosa
Del pueblo cubano
Estas presente
En sitio ideal
Tu cuidas a Oriente
Mi tierra natal
Cuando me vaya te diré
Te diré adiós
Virgen querida
De mi adoración
The song "Balcon de Santiago" by Compay Segundo is a tribute to Santiago de Cuba, the artist's beloved hometown. The lyrics contain a sense of nostalgia and longing for the city, as well as a deep devotion to the Virgin of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba. The first verse describes the excitement of returning to Santiago and looking out from the balcony of the city's capital. The sound of the cathedral bells fill the air, bringing a sense of joy to the singer, who announces to travelers passing by that they are in Santiago. The lyrics also mention leaving behind the Virgin of Charity, who watched over him as he left and welcomed him home upon his return.
The second verse is more introspective, as the singer speaks directly to the Virgin Mary, telling her about his joys and sorrows. He also speaks of his departure, expressing his feelings of gratitude and love for the Virgin. The lyrics express a deep reverence for the Virgin, who is described as a goddess of the Cuban people and a source of miracles. The final verse speaks of the Virgin's constant presence and care for Santiago, which the singer hopes to be near in his own departure.
Overall, "Balcon de Santiago" is a beautiful and poetic song that captures the love and devotion that many Cubans have for their homeland and their faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando yo llegue
When I arrive
A mi Oriente querido
To my beloved East
Cuando yo asome
When I peek
Al balcón de la capital
At the balcony of the capital
Cuando yo sienta sonar
When I hear the sound
Las campanas de la catedral
Of the cathedral bells
Doy un salto de alegría
I jump with joy
Y les digo a los viajeros
And I tell the travelers
Estamos en Santiago
We're in Santiago
Como custodia dejo atrás
As a guardian, I leave behind
La virgen de la Caridad
The Virgin of Charity
La que me vio partir
The one who saw me leave
La que me vio llegar
The one who saw me arrive
Ya te diré, te diré mis penas
I will tell you, I will tell you my sorrows
Ya te contaré, te contaré mis alegrías
I will tell you, I will tell you my joys
Cuando yo me vaya te diré
When I go, I will tell you
Adiós adiós
Goodbye goodbye
Virgen mía
My Virgin
Virgen querida
Beloved Virgin
De mi adoración
Of my adoration
Tanto te he querido
I have loved you so much
Tanto he adorado
I have worshiped you so much
Virgen te lo pido
Virgin, I beg of you
Estar a tu lado
To be by your side
Virgen milagrosa
Miraculous Virgin
Por ti suspiramos
We sigh for you
Eres una diosa
You are a goddess
Del pueblo cubano
Of the Cuban people
Estas presente
You are present
En sitio ideal
In an ideal place
Tu cuidas a Oriente
You take care of Oriente
Mi tierra natal
My homeland
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANCISCO REPILADO MUNOZ, MAXIMO FRANCISCO REPILADO MUNOZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind