From his earliest years in Artemisa, he was immersed in music. Alex's first stage appearance on national TV was at the tender age of four, playing claves (a percussion instrument) in a group directed by his music instructor father. Alex went on to study guitar, tres, percussion and bass, practicing eight hours a day during his teens.
After a stint with his twin brother Adonis to record Morumba Cubana, as The Puentes Brothers, Alex departed from Cuban music norms to follow his own path. His debut CD with the Alex Cuba Band, “Humo De Tabaco”, earned him a Juno award for World Music Album in 2006, with the single “Lo Mismo Que Yo”, featuring Ron Sexsmith charting in the Top 20 at BBC Radio 2. For “Humo”, Alex took UK producer Martin Terefe to Cuba to record the album’s funk infused horns and percussion, a sound that got under Terefe’s skin. By extension, that “Alex*Cuba sound” is now evident on Terefe’s productions for Craig David, Ron Sexsmith and Jason Mraz.
After a musical and spiritual evolution, Cuba returned to the studio, this time with co-producer Joby Baker of Victoria, to record “Agua Del Pozo” which was released in Canada in February 2007 under his own Caracol Records imprint. Acclaimed for its blend of tempo, instrumentation and songwriting, the album is a clear evolution from the debut, punctuated by the introduction of Alex's electric guitar, a vintage Gibson. With the soul-pop sensibility of tracks like “Si Pero No”, the album revealed Alex’ Latin Soul DNA. The song, which was an iTunes Single of the Week in Japan, proved to be huge with fans and confounded radio programmers who didn’t know which format in which to program it. “Agua” earned Alex his second Juno Award for Best World Music album 2008. “Agua Del Pozo” was released in the U.S. with two unreleased tracks on September 22, 2009 to fan and critical acclaim alike.
In the digital space, Alex*Cuba has had four iTunes Singles of the Week (Canada, U.S., Japan, Netherlands), has charted on various iTunes charts in Canada, the U.S. and Japan and has independently built an impressive, loyal online community around the world.
Alex recently collaborated with Nelly Furtado for her Spanish language debut album “Mi Plan” (My Plan) which was released September 2009 around the world (Universal). The creative chemistry between Alex, Nelly and James Bryan was magical and resulted in nine co-writes including the #1 single “Manos Al Aire” (Hands in the Air) and the title track where he appears as an invited guest on vocals. A prolific songwriter, Alex is continues working on new collaborations with writers and artists on various projects.
In between tour dates and the Nelly Furtado collaborations, Alex recorded his third album at Baker Studios in Victoria, B.C. The self-titled project was released October 27th, 2009 in Canada and the U.S. release is slated for June 8th, 2010. Featuring surprising new grooves, innovative electric guitar inflections and varying tempos and structures, the album is an important step in Alex Cuba’s ongoing musical revolution. The first single “Caballo” (Horse), a Cuban-funk-rocker, was also made into video conceived and produced in Smithers. Other highlights are “Solo Tu” (Only You), a moving, mid-tempo rock ballad, “Tierra Colora” (Red Soil), a samba-rock-surf-punk sizzler and the funked up “If You Give Me Love”, Alex’ first-ever song in English, which was recently serviced to radio, video and online outlets in Canada. The album was just released in the U.S. to acclaim by media outlets and his growing, loyal fan community. Early radio accolades for the album include an NPR “First Listen” feature, an “Album Of The Week” feature at Jazz FM UK, a glowing Billboard review and lead-off track “Directo” was selected as KCRW’s “Today’s Top Tune.” Most recently, Alex was honored with the award for Best New Artist at the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards which took place Nov. 11th in Las Vegas. The album “Alex Cuba” was also nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Album.
Critical to Alex’ success has been constant touring with a live show that has been described as explosive. Revealing his bass player past, Alex picks, plucks, strums and rocks his Gibson ES355, equipped with the heaviest guage steel strings available, without a pick. With Alex its just skin on steel, with solos that often lead to bleeding fingers. His visionary rebel nature is evident in the fact that contrary to the prevailing Cuban and Latin big band formations, Alex*Cuba performs as a trio (Alex on vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, electric bass and drums). The simplicity, power, and sheer efficiency of this formation has stolen the stage from bands quadruple their size and has confused many production teams expecting the typical big band at load-in. Doing more with less is an ever-present mantra for Alex*Cuba.
With a heart as big as his retro 'fro, Cuba takes it all in stride and focuses on what he does best: crafting songs that cut through linguistic and cultural barriers like a machete through sugarcane.
Milestones in the Musical Life of Alex Cuba:
#1 Album on iTunes US Tropical (Agua del Pozo), #1 Album on iTunes US Alternativo (Live From Soho), #3 iTunes US Alternativo Song Download ("Si Pero No");
Humo De Tabaco (2005) - Juno Award Winner 2006
Agua Del Pozo (2007) - Juno Award Winner 2008, "indie" Award Winner 2008, West Coast Music Award 2008
Alex Cuba (2009) - Juno Award nominee 2010, Indie Award winner 2010, Latin Grammy Awards - Best New Artist 2010
Sarah
Alex Cuba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y sentir tu compañía.
para que a mí se me olviden
Los misterios de la vida.
Basta con ganarme un beso
Del baúl de tus deseos.
para que la noche traiga
lo más grande en un te quiero.
Encuentro todo lo que soñé
En nada me equivoque.
Sarah tu no me agradezcas nada
que todo todo te lo debo
Sarah tu sonrisa y tu mirada
Son mi alegría y mi consuelo
Sarah que sería de mi vida
de haberme yo perdido
El placer de estar contigo en este amor
que nos unió.
No imagino de otra forma
Ni un minuto de mis días.
Sin saber que yo te tengo
que me das tu simpatía.
No me importa que termine
El valor de economía
No conozco más riqueza
Que saber que tú eres mía
Porque en ti
Encuentro todo lo que soñé
En nada me equivoque
Sarah tu no me agradezcas nada
que todo todo te lo debo
Sarah tu sonrisa y tu mirada
Son mi alegría y mi consuelo
Sarah que sería de mi vida
de haberme yo perdido
El placer de estar contigo en este amor
Amor, que de verdad
se deja ir
sin escondernos nada
Felicidad tiene tu olor
tu cara enamorada
Mejor tal vez no pudo ser
Sarah tu no me agradezcas nada
que todo todo te lo debo
Sarah tu sonrisa y tu mirada
Son mi alegría y mi consuelo
Sarah que sería de mi vida
de haberme yo perdido
El placer de estar contigo en este amor
Amor que nos unió.
The lyrics to Alex Cuba’s song “Sarah” speak about the natural simplicity and beauty of love. The song speaks of how being in the presence of Sarah, the person whom the song is dedicated to, is enough to make everything else in life seem insignificant. The singer speaks of the tenderness that is present in his relationship with Sarah, and how just one look at her is enough to ease any burden that might have been present earlier. He reflects on the fact that being in love has enriched his life and how her smile and presence bring him joy and solace.
Beneath the surface, the song also touches on the idea of how the distractions of material wealth can sometimes detract from the true treasures of life - simple love and companionship. The singer reflects on how he does not care about the materialistic riches that money can offer; to him, the true value of his life is found in being with Sarah. In essence, Cuba’s song “Sarah” is a romantic tribute to the simple, unequivocal beauty of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Basta con mirar tus ojos
Looking into your eyes is enough
Y sentir tu compañía.
Feeling your company
para que a mí se me olviden
For me to forget the mysteries of life
Los misterios de la vida.
The mysteries of life.
Basta con ganarme un beso
Winning a kiss from you is enough
Del baúl de tus deseos.
From the chest of your desires.
para que la noche traiga
So that the night brings
lo más grande en un te quiero.
The greatest thing in an I love you.
Porque en ti
Because in you
Encuentro todo lo que soñé
I find everything that I dreamed of.
En nada me equivoque.
I didn't go wrong in anything.
Sarah tu no me agradezcas nada
Sarah, don't thank me for anything
que todo todo te lo debo
Because I owe everything to you
Sarah tu sonrisa y tu mirada
Sarah, your smile and your glance
Son mi alegría y mi consuelo.
Are my joy and my comfort.
Sarah que sería de mi vida
Sarah, what would my life be like
de haberme yo perdido
If I had lost
El placer de estar contigo en este amor
The pleasure of being with you in this love.
No imagino de otra forma
I can't imagine it any other way
Ni un minuto de mis días.
Not even a minute of my days.
Sin saber que yo te tengo
Without knowing that I have you
que me das tu simpatía.
That you give me your sympathy.
No me importa que termine
It doesn't matter to me when it ends
El valor de economía
The value of the economy.
No conozco más riqueza
I don't know any greater wealth
Que saber que tú eres mía
Than knowing that you are mine.
Amor, que de verdad
Love, that truly
se deja ir
lets go
sin escondernos nada
without hiding anything from each other
Felicidad tiene tu olor
Happiness has your scent
tu cara enamorada
your enamored face
Mejor tal vez no pudo ser
Perhaps it couldn't have been better
Amor que nos unió.
Love that united us.
Writer(s): Alexis Puentes
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ferchowise
Basta con mirar tus ojos Y sentir tu compañía.
para que a mí se me olviden Los misterios de la vida.
Basta con ganarme un beso Del baúl de tus deseos.
para que la noche traiga lo más grande en un te quiero.
Porque en ti Encuentro todo lo que soñé
En nada me equivoque.
Sarah tu no me agradezcas nada que todo todo te lo debo Sarah tu sonrisa y tu mirada Son mi alegría y mi consuelo Sarah que sería de mi vida de haberme yo perdido
El placer de estar contigo en este amor que nos unió.
No imagino de otra forma
Ni un minuto de mis días.
Sin saber que yo te tengo que me das tu simpatía.
No me importa que termine
El valor de economía No conozco más riqueza Que saber que tú eres mía
Porque en ti Encuentro todo lo que soñé
En nada me equivoque
Sarah tu no me agradezcas nada que todo todo te lo debo Sarah tu sonrisa y tu mirada Son mi alegría y mi consuelo Sarah que sería de mi vida de haberme yo perdido
El placer de estar contigo en este amor Amor, que de verdad se deja ir sin escondernos nada
Felicidad tiene tu olor tu cara enamorada
Mejor tal vez no pudo ser Sarah tu no me agradezcas nada que todo todo te lo debo Sarah tu sonrisa y tu mirada Son mi alegría y mi consuelo Sarah que sería de mi vida de haberme yo perdido
El placer de estar contigo en este amor Amor que nos unió.
@yosoycubasi
Alex. Valio la pena esoerar 20 años para crearle esta obra maestra a Sarah. Es que todo lo que usted hace es puro arte.
@LibelulaBlue13873
La mejor canción que me hayan podido dedicar. Alex Cuba, eres grande 🙌🏻
@jorgeluiscastanedarodrigue7310
Alex Cuba,te miraba cuando joven flaquito,pasabas por la calle República,por la esquina del Parque Central de ARTEMISA,con tu gran bajo,desde Belle glade,florida,te felicito y estoy mirándote ahora,junto ha mi esposa,la guajira de Oceguera de ARTEMISA y ella quiere,mandar un saludo también ha tu esposa,te deseamos muchos éxitos:"EL BOLA DE ARTEMISA",exarbitro del tenis de campo y exazucarero del exingenio Andorra.
@Andreemme_
Preciosura de canción ❤
@sad-7477
he came to Toronto today!!! I saw him❤️😭
@ronaldvcartecuba
Una de mis canciones preferidas Alex, gracias por regalarnos esta hermosa letra y melodía
@pillipino3788
For those rare moments when the storm subsides and you find your woman in your arms
@adiitharamos40
De ahora en adelante soy tu fan Alex Cuba 😍😌
@juancarper
Alex Cuba de los MEJORES ... que ¡¡HERMOSA CANCIÓN!! ; Tuve la dicha de poderla escuchar hasta hace poco, pero me llega hasta el fondo del ♥ !! Un Duro !!
@doraplaza1620
Que melosa