Cabas released his self-titled album, "Cabas", in 2000, which he hoped to be popular and joyful. It became a huge success in Colombia, where his single Mi Bombón (My Lollipop) lead the charts of radio stations for three consecutive months, earning him a Gold Disc and a double Platinum disc. To boost his success, Cabas begins a tour around Colombia, and reaches out to Venezuela and Ecuador, where he became highly popular among both the young and the old, because of the eclectic mixture of cumbia and rock in his songs. His playful and warm personality can be seen during his performances.
In 2002, Cabas began to promote his music in Latin America and the United States, receiving good reviews and even a feature article in the Billboard magazine. Cabas has shared his stage with stars such as Lenny Kravitz in Mexico, and Shakira and Miguel Bosé in Spain.
In 2003, his second album Contacto (Contact), redefined his style. Contacto mixed percussion and drums with bass and rock beats, and his first single, La Caderona (The Big-hipped Woman) recalled Mi Bombón's success. Cabas' first music video, from the song Leche (Milk), premiered around this time on MTV Latin America. Other singles such as Bolita de Trapo (Little Ball of Rags) also led the charts in Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Cabas has recently been promoting his music in France.
His participation in a tribute concert to the legendary musician Carlos Santana increased his exposure. Cabas won the Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist, the MTV Latin Awards for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Interpretation, and the People's Price and Best Rock Video in the Lo Nuestro Awards.
On 2005, Cabas released his third album, Puro Cabas (Pure Cabas), which proved to be yet another huge success. Cabas' first single, La Cadena de Oro (The Gold Locket), was a major hit in Latin America, along with its music video that stayed MTV's top ten for quite a while. This hit was followed immediately by his second single, Increíble (Incredible).
Chiles Rellenos
Cabas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Así me lo decías
Más todos los embustes
De tu olla me comí
Y tus chiles rellenos
Rellenos de mentiras
Picaron mi boca
Como el más tremendo ají
Por ahí andas diciendo
Que sólo somos cuates
Que nunca hubo romance
Ni hubo chispa en tu fogón
El que el pasado viera
Es porque aun le pesa
Y porque los sentimientos
No se borran de un tirón
Chiles rellenos de mentiras
Tu me diste de comida
Chiles rellenos de mentiras
De mentiras, de mentiras
Se niegan los amores
Cuando han dejado heridas
Se niegan cuando duele
Y no se quiere sufrir
Te crees tan valiente
Pero cobarde eres
Hay que poner el pecho
Para encarar a quien se amó
Tu fuiste a buscarme
Tu fuiste a enamorarme
Y aunque yo no quería
Terminé dándote amor
Y a probar me diste
Manjares exquisitos
Recetas de mentiras
Que me sable a traición
Chiles rellenos de mentiras
Tu me diste de comida
Chiles rellenos de mentiras
De mentiras, de mentiras
[Atrás]
In Cabas's song Chiles Rellenos, the singer laments about a relationship that turned out to be full of lies and deceit. He is reminded of the lies he was fed each time he had "chiles rellenos" or stuffed peppers, which were full of lies just like the relationship he had. He reminisces about how the person he was with claimed they were just friends and there was no romance, but he knows that's not true. The singer also reflects on how difficult it is to move on from a hurtful relationship.
The metaphor of "chiles rellenos" is used to represent the lies that the singer was fed throughout his relationship. Just like the spiciness of the pepper can bring tears to one's eyes, the lies he was told were equally painful. The repeating chorus emphasizes this with the line "chiles rellenos de mentiras," or "stuffed peppers full of lies." The singer is aware that the relationship has left him with emotional scars, but he acknowledges that it takes courage to confront the person who hurt you.
Overall, Cabas's song Chiles Rellenos is a poignant and heartfelt reflection on the pain that comes with being in a relationship filled with deceit and lies. The use of the metaphorical "chiles rellenos" adds depth and emotion to the song by capturing the spiciness and pain of the lies that the singer was fed.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo a ti te quiero bien
You said you loved me and I believed it.
Así me lo decías
You told me so with your words.
Más todos los embustes
But all the lies you told me.
De tu olla me comí
I ate from your pot, I believed your lies.
Y tus chiles rellenos
And your stuffed chilies.
Rellenos de mentiras
Full of lies.
Picaron mi boca
They burned my mouth.
Como el más tremendo ají
Like the hottest chili.
Por ahí andas diciendo
You're saying out there.
Que sólo somos cuates
That we're just friends.
Que nunca hubo romance
That there was never any romance.
Ni hubo chispa en tu fogón
That there was no spark in your oven.
El que el pasado viera
Those who see the past.
Es porque aun le pesa
It's because it still weighs on them.
Y porque los sentimientos
And because feelings.
No se borran de un tirón
Don't disappear in one go.
Se niegan los amores
Love is denied.
Cuando han dejado heridas
When they have left wounds.
Se niegan cuando duele
When it hurts, love is denied.
Y no se quiere sufrir
And you don't want to suffer.
Te crees tan valiente
You think you're so brave.
Pero cobarde eres
But you're a coward.
Hay que poner el pecho
You have to face it.
Para encarar a quien se amó
To confront the one you loved.
Tu fuiste a buscarme
You came looking for me.
Tu fuiste a enamorarme
You came to make me fall in love.
Y aunque yo no quería
And even though I didn't want to.
Terminé dándote amor
I ended up giving you love.
Y a probar me diste
And you gave me to taste.
Manjares exquisitos
Exquisite dishes.
Recetas de mentiras
Recipes of lies.
Que me sable a traición
That betrayed me.
Chiles rellenos de mentiras
Stuffed chilies full of lies.
Tu me diste de comida
You gave me as food.
De mentiras, de mentiras
Of lies, of lies.
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.