Her parents were well-known Cuban folk music singers, which ensured Albita's exposure to the world of Cuban country music from her early years. Working professionally since her teen years, by the late eighties she had attained some level of recognition among national interpreters of Cuban folk music.
In 1988, her first album, Habrá Música Guajira (There Will Be Guajira Music), was released. In 1990, work commitments took her to Colombia and from there she defected to the United States on April 15 1993, making the southern city of Miami her place of permanent residence.
Albita spent some time performing at a Spanish food restaurant in Miami, where she got the attention of celebrities like Gianni Versace, Quincy Jones, Madonna, Sly Stalone, Paco de Lucia, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, among others that soon became her fans.
In 1994 she was signed by Emilio Estefan's Crescent Moon label and her first single in the U.S., "Qué Manera de Quererte" ("What a Way of Loving You"), was released. In 1995, her album No Se Parece a Nada (Like Anything Else) saw daylight.
Her career in the U.S. has produced success. She travels extensively, performing in such places as Australia, all Europe, Malaysia, Africa and of course all of Latin America. She has shared the stage with Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, Phil Collins, Tony Bennett, Gilberto Gil, Juan Luis Guerra, Daniela Mercury, Miriam Makeba, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera and Melissa Ethridge.
She has been invited to perform four Presidential functions,including two inaugurations. In 2004 she founded her own label "Angel's Dawn Records" under which she produced and launched her CD "Albita LLegó" that won her two Grammys in the category of Best Contemporary Tropical Album. Her music has also been featured in the soundtrack of several American and foreign films.
In 2005, Albita was cast for a major role in the Broadway produced Musical play “The Mambo Kings”, were she worked for six months to rave reviews.
Albita sings the theme song "La Mega Se Pega" for MegaTV, a Miami based TV station where she also hosts her own show "La Descarga con Albita" ("Jam Session with Albita").She had many hit singles.
La Parranda Se Canta
Albita Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mil raices que me inundan desde el ayer
Una decima regazo de mi niñez
Y un guajiro que me nutre tinta y papel
Guateque sinento en la voz parranda laud y son
Guateque sinento en la voz parranda laud y son
De maracas y de claves que me hacen bien
Taburete dormitando una pared
Cracajadas de aguardiente y de cafe
Guateque siento en la voz parranda laud y son
Guateque siento en la voz parranda laud y son
(Hoy que siento esta cancion llena de tanta alegria. Escuho tu melodia, renazco en tu inspiracion. De aqui me brotas Ramon de aqui me brotas acanda, por mi sangre joven anda el campo de sus latidos, cantores recien nacidos al compas de esta parranda)
Que la parranda se canta
Se canta, se canta, se canta
Ay que se cante, se cante, se cante y se vuelva a cantar
No me tires con piedras monona mia que es cosa dura
Ay no me tires con piedras monona mia que es cosa dura
Tirame con el rayo monona mia de tu hermosura
Ay tirame con el rayo monona mia de tu hermosura
Que la parranda se canta
Se canta, se canta, se canta
Ay que se cante, se cante, se cante y se vuelva a cantar
Viajera peninsular
Como te has aplatanado
Viajera peninsular
Como te has aplatanado que si
Que sisonte enamorado
Te dio cita en el palmar, bien
Que la parranda se canta
Se canta, se canta, se canta
Ay que se cante, se cante, se cante y se vuelva a cantar
La parranda espirituana
Tiene alegria y sabor
La parranda espirituana
Tiene alegria y sabor
Pepilla, el perfume de una flor
Manuela y el feescor de la mañana
Que la parranda se canta
Se canta, se canta, se canta
Ay que se cante, se cante, se cante y se vuelva a cantar
Guatanayara
Ay palmarito
Guatanayara
Ay palmarito
Cuando yo me este muriendo
Ven madre y dame un besito
Que la parranda se canta
Se canta, se canta, se canta
Ay que se cante, se cante, se cante y se vuelva a cantar
Guateque siento en la voz parranda laud y son
Guateque siento en la voz parranda laud y son
The song "La Parranda Se Canta" by Albita Rodriguez is a celebration of the joy and spirit of the Cuban parranda, a traditional musical gathering where musicians and dancers come together to make music and share in the joy of the moment. The lyrics describe the feeling of the singer as she sits and plays her guitar, surrounded by the memories and influences of her childhood and the rich cultural heritage of her people. The song is an invocation of the spirit of the parranda, the energy and passion that make the music and dance so irresistible to those who experience it.
The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer declaring that she will "sweat her skin" on the guitar, drawing on the "thousand roots" that flood her from the past. She references the "décima", a form of ten-line verse popular in Cuban music, as well as the figure of the "guajiro", the farmer who embodies the rustic musical traditions of the island. The chorus reinforces the idea that the parranda is a feeling, a sense of joy and unity that emerges from the interplay of different instruments and voices.
The second verse evokes the specific instruments and rhythms of the parranda, with references to the güiro, maracas, and claves, as well as the image of the "taburete", the stool that symbolizes the relaxed spirit of the gathering. The stanza ends with a nod to the intoxicating effects of aguardiente and coffee, two staples of Cuban social life. After this, the chorus and a series of refrains celebrating the power and beauty of the parranda continue, featuring playful wordplay and references to various places, people, and experiences from across the island.
Overall, "La Parranda Se Canta" is a powerful tribute to the cultural richness and vibrancy of Cuba, and to the spirit of joy and connectedness that animates its music and social life.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoy le inpongo a la guitarra sudar mi piel
Today, I dedicate myself to playing the guitar with passion and intensity, expressing the thousand roots that flow through me since ancient times.
Mil raices que me inundan desde el ayer
I feel thousands of roots inundating me from the past, flooding me with inspiration and creativity for my music.
Una decima regazo de mi niñez
A tenth, a traditional poetry form, takes me back to my childhood, reminding me of my roots in Cuban culture.
Y un guajiro que me nutre tinta y papel
A Cuban farmer inspires me, providing me with the ink and paper that I use to write my songs and express my identity.
Guateque sinento en la voz parranda laud y son
The joy of a musical gathering, expressed in the voices, guitars, and rhythms of the parranda, fills me with energy and inspiration.
Se me ocurre esta mañana de guiro y tres
This morning, I am inspired by the Cuban percussion instruments, the guiro and the tres, which bring unique sounds and rhythms to my music.
De maracas y de claves que me hacen bien
The maracas and claves, other traditional Cuban percussion instruments, bring me joy and pleasure, enriching my music and my soul.
Taburete dormitando una pared
As I sit on a stool, resting against a wall, I hear the sounds of the parranda and imagine the energy and joy that it brings to others.
Cracajadas de aguardiente y de cafe
The sound of laughter blends with the taste of strong Cuban coffee and aguardiente, a traditional alcoholic beverage, creating a festive and lively atmosphere.
(Hoy que siento esta cancion llena de tanta alegria. Escuho tu melodia, renazco en tu inspiracion. De aqui me brotas Ramon de aqui me brotas acanda, por mi sangre joven anda el campo de sus latidos, cantores recien nacidos al compas de esta parranda)
Today I feel this song brimming with joy. I hear its melody and feel reborn with inspiration. From here, Ramon, from here and beyond, my young blood flows with the rhythms of the land and the newly born singers who join this parranda.
Que la parranda se canta
Let the parranda be sung, let its joyous energy and spirit be expressed through music and celebration.
Se canta, se canta, se canta
Let it be sung, again and again, expressing the passion and emotion that it brings.
Ay que se cante, se cante, se cante y se vuelva a cantar
Oh, let it be sung and sung again, let it be repeated to keep its spirit alive and cherished by all who experience it.
No me tires con piedras monona mia que es cosa dura
Don't throw stones at me, my dear Monona, because it's a hard thing to do and it won't break my spirit.
Tirame con el rayo monona mia de tu hermosura
Instead, strike me with the lightning of your beauty, my dear Monona, and let that energy inspire and uplift me.
Viajera peninsular
Peninsular traveler, perhaps someone who has left Cuba to explore the world and bring back new ideas and experiences.
Como te has aplatanado
But how much have you lost touch with your Cuban roots and culture?
Que si que sisonte enamorado
So much so that even a Sisonte bird, a symbol of love and passion, has found you and taken you in as an example of how to forget one's roots.
Te dio cita en el palmar, bien
It invited you to meet at the palm grove, where you may have forgotten your true identity and embraced a new way of life.
La parranda espirituana
The parranda of Sancti Spiritus, a city in central Cuba known for its rich musical and cultural traditions.
Tiene alegria y sabor
It's full of joy and flavor, expressing the unique and vibrant spirit of Cuban culture and identity.
Pepilla, el perfume de una flor
Pepilla, the scent of a flower, perhaps a symbol of beauty and inspiration that inspires the singer's passion and creativity.
Manuela y el feescor de la mañana
Manuela and the coolness of the morning, other elements that may evoke the singer's memories and feelings regarding her Cuban roots and identity.
Guatanayara
A town or region of Cuba, perhaps the singer's hometown or a place that holds special meaning for her.
Ay palmarito
A reference to a small palm tree, another symbol of Cuban culture and identity that may inspire the singer's creativity and passion for music.
Cuando yo me este muriendo, ven madre y dame un besito
As I approach the end of my life, I want my mother to be with me and give me a kiss, a symbol of love and connection to my roots and my identity.
Writer(s): Alba M. Rodriguez
Contributed by Alaina R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@joseandresmendezneco497
Estupenda cantante, ojalá viniera a México, para poder ir a escucharla me encantas albita
@juancorzo8800
Soi incha dé la salsa cubana
@adolfolenis4335
porque naci en colombia territorio hecho paraiso de gente feliz de nacer aqui somos la especie humana mas feliz del mundo porque colombia es paraiso de gente buena rumbera trabajadora amorosa y muy coerdial bien benidos a colombia desde tulua corazon del valle y a lo niche
@milenariarr8329
¿"La especie humana más feliz del mundo"?
Mmm; no creo tanto que sea así, lo que si es cierto es que Colombia es el segundo país más desigual, y uno de los más violentos con los niños. Quieren hacer ver eso de la "felicidad, sabrosura, mejor vividero" y demás para convencer a la gente y tapar la negligencia de los gobiernos.
@rebecacardo8273
Esto si es letra y melodia, savor cubano, lastima que no se apresie tanto talento, gracuad Albita
@amadosilvadiaz6345
Hermosa canción que en la voz de Albita se vuelve una melodía sin igual
@cielorodriguez5373
Me entra ❤❤
@despertarcubano
Nunca oí q ese es un arreglo mío
@efrainardila3533
Albita, con su sabor elegante para el mundo.
@michaelachhammer6383
Albita and Los Van Van are the best.