Israel Rojas Fiel, lawyer, and Yoel Martínez Rodríguez, student on a musical career, formed the duo. In November 1999 they made their debut with the song Intimidad. As a result, the Association "Hermanos Saíz" in Guantánamo invited the duo to join them.
In 2001 they moved to Havana to record their first album, Déjame entrar (Let me get in in Spanish language). There they joined with the agency Musicuba, of the label EGREM.
The music of Buena Fe has a unique sound an excellent compositions. The trova influences are present in all their lyrics, which contain thoughts about the contemporary life, with contemporary sonority, allowing arrangements that makes each song fit in many Cuban genres, with influences from pop and rock.
Although the experts include them in the pop genre, according to Israel they make fusion music based in the trova style; and, while having pop tendencies, they use other styles and influences as well, which allows them to present more ellaborate ideas[4]. Also according to Israel, although they don't claim to be a pop band[2], they are not concerned with being classified as such, but however he thinks that they do more than pop music.
According to Yoel, they make a fusion using pop music and trova, besides playing with other styles to keep the texts flowing. Also according to Yoel, some say that Buena Fe makes trova if playing with the guitar alone; and makes Cuban pop rock if playing with the band; and this might be true, except for the fact that they also experiment a lot.
They try to avoid categories; trying to make prevail the poetry and the venturous verse; trying to wrap it with pop rock sonorities, but with a direct link to what used to be the intelligent songs that was made from the 60s to the 80s in Cuba.
Contracorriente
Buena Fe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y aunque no se sabe tanto, se pone a inventar.
Total, si la gente adulta tampoco lo sabe todo,
Pero escudan sus lagunas tras mucha formalidad.
Si cuesta poner economía con acento,
Y con "b" de burocracia se escribe revolución,
Habrá que estar de acuerdo con el gran García
Márquez
Contracorriente,
Lúdico instinto.
Contracorriente,
Añeja lección.
Contracorriente,
Enfermedad de locos
Que deambulan
Por la razón.
El joven displicente busca novia entusiasta,
Comienza la batalla más universal,
Y se quiebra la balanza, y alguien gana la partida.
Demócratamente tiránico es el poder sexual.
Mientras semejantes, cual si fueran mascotas,
Dejamos los egos, salir al correr.
Política, ética, cuántica, bonitas palabras.
Al final, el ego caga lo que le dimos de comer.
Contracorriente,
Lúdico instinto
Contra natura
Zanahoria de la historia.
Contracorriente,
Enfermedad de locos
Que deambulan
Por la razón.
Graduándose de adultos y empíricos padres,
Corriendo tras aquello que quedó por probar.
Y un par de ridiculeces no vienen tan mal a veces,
El miedo a envejecer, la historia te absolverá.
Y un soldado de pronto se descubre poeta.
Y caníbal declara al tomate su obsesión.
Y un crítico de arte, con complejo de profeta,
Se inventa cineasta y estrella en televisión.
Contracorriente,
Lúdico instinto.
Contracorriente,
Añeja lección.
Contracorriente,
Enfermedad de locos
Que deambulan
Por la razón.
Contracorriente,
Lúdico instinto.
Contracorriente,
Añeja lección.
Contracorriente,
Enfermedad de locos
Que deambulan
Por la razón.
The song Contracorriente by Buena Fe is a commentary on the struggle of adolescence and the journey towards adulthood. The lyrics begin with a criticism of adult formalities, as the singer suggests that even adults do not know everything, yet hide their lack of knowledge behind formalities. The song then touches on the universal battle of finding love, and how the power dynamic can be both democratic and tyrannical. The lyrics then transition to a reflection on the journey to become an adult, and how one may find themselves discovering unexpected passions and talents. Through this journey, the theme of going against the current or Contracorriente emerges as an ode to the lighthearted and illogical nature of youth.
The song's use of Contracorriente is a celebration of the young and their instinctual nature. It presents the journey of growing up as one that is filled with ridiculous adventures, mistakes and unpredictable discoveries. It also acknowledges that the journey can be one of struggle with the contradicting natures of the world, society, and personal life experiences.
Buena Fe's Contracorriente is an ode to the recklessness, passion and freedom of adolescence as it journeys through life. It carries elements of revolution, rebellion, love and self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
El buen adolescente cree saberlo todo,
A teenager thinks he knows everything, but doesn't realize that he is jumping to conclusions without knowing enough.
Y aunque no se sabe tanto, se pone a inventar.
Even though he doesn't know enough, he starts creating his own ideas and opinions.
Total, si la gente adulta tampoco lo sabe todo,
Adults themselves don't know everything, so why should a teenager think they do?
Pero escudan sus lagunas tras mucha formalidad.
Adults hide their shortcomings behind professionalism.
Si cuesta poner economía con acento,
If it's difficult to understand economic concepts and jargon,
Y con "b" de burocracia se escribe revolución,
And if even the word 'revolution' can be spelled with a 'b' as in 'burocracy',
Habrá que estar de acuerdo con el gran García
Márquez
Then we can agree with Garcia Marquez when he went against grammar rules.
Cuando contra la gramática un buen día arremetió.
And defied the importance of grammar on one good day.
El joven displicente busca novia entusiasta,
A careless teenager seeks out an enthusiastic girlfriend.
Comienza la batalla más universal,
The most universal battle begins, the battle of the sexes.
Y se quiebra la balanza, y alguien gana la partida.
And the balance tips, as someone wins the game.
Demócratamente tiránico es el poder sexual.
Sexual power is both democratic and tyrannical at the same time.
Mientras semejantes, cual si fueran mascotas,
While we treat others like pets,
Dejamos los egos, salir al correr.
We let our egos run free.
Política, ética, cuántica, bonitas palabras.
Politics, ethics, quantum physics, pretty words,
Al final, el ego caga lo que le dimos de comer.
In the end, our egos destroy what we have built.
Graduándose de adultos y empíricos padres,
As we grow older and become experienced parents,
Corriendo tras aquello que quedó por probar.
We chase after things we've yet to experience.
Y un par de ridiculeces no vienen tan mal a veces,
And it's not so bad to act a little foolish sometimes,
El miedo a envejecer, la historia te absolverá.
And the fear of aging will be absolved by history.
Y un soldado de pronto se descubre poeta.
And a soldier suddenly discovers he's a poet.
Y caníbal declara al tomate su obsesión.
And a cannibal declares his obsession for tomatoes.
Y un crítico de arte, con complejo de profeta,
And an art critic, with a prophet's complex,
Se inventa cineasta y estrella en televisión.
Becomes a filmmaker and a TV star.
Contracorriente,
Lúdico instinto.
Going against the current, playful instinct.
Contra natura
Zanahoria de la historia.
Against nature, a carrot on a stick of history.
Contracorriente,
Enfermedad de locos
Que deambulan
Por la razón.
Going against the current, the illness of crazies that wander through reason.
Contracorriente,
Añeja lección.
Going against the current, an old lesson.
Contributed by Evan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.