After participating in some teen programs as a singer/actor, he got the main role in the telenovela (soap opera) "Gallito Ramírez," which made him a famous actor. Later, another telenovela, "Escalona" made him return to his "costeño" roots (he was born in Santa Marta, the same town of the famous soccer player "El Pibe" Valderrama, located in the north coast of Colombia) and mainly to sing classic vallenato songs of one of the most prestigious vallenato composers, Rafael Escalona. The soundtrack of "Escalona" quickly became a major hit in radio and CD sales and allowed vallenato to conquest other colombian cities outside the "costa" (north coast) that hadn´t previously accepted it.
After forming a band called La Provincia, the singer and guitarist began performing a local style known as Vallenato, successfully touring his native country, Colombia, and South America. In 1994, Carlos Vives' "La Gota Fria," became his first smash, climbing on the most important music charts around Latin America. In 1996, under the slogan of Unete A Los Locales (Join the Local Ones), the talented musician created his own label, called Gaira, to promote and give an incentive to local artists like "Bloque de Búsqueda" and "Distrito".
Carlos Vives also hosted an important show of the Colombian TV, "La Tele". With irreverent and sometimes escatologic humour this program promoted the figures of Martin De Francisco and Germán Moure, in a country where criticism has always been divorced of popular jokes. This program was then reborn as an animated version which turned to be the first weekly 25 minute animated series of Colombia and Latinamerica, called "El Siguiente Programa" ("The Next Show")
His style, which mixes vallenato, rock and champeta (an African-influenced music) was then used by several Colombian artists, giving birth to the "Tropipop" movement.
La Receta
Carlos Vives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pa' hacer un merengue que lleve el sabor que hay en la provincia
Le escribi a Juancito que yo no encontraba la inspiración
Pa' hacer un merengue que lleve el sabor que hay en la provincia
Le pedi a Juancito que mande contestación
Y que lo mas pronto me escriba ese merenguito
Y quede esperando tranquilo ese favorcito
Y le di las gracias por toda su educación
Y quede esperando tranquilo ese favorcito
Me escribió Juancito a pesar de que es hombre muy ocupado
De su manuscrito la carta que ha llamado mi atención
Me escribió Juancito a pesar de que es hombre muy ocupado
De su manuscrito la carta que ha llamado mi atención
En correspondencia, rezaba a continuación
Para hacer merengue yo les tengo la receta
Una guacharaca, una caja, un acordeón
Y una voz alegre que conserve la cadencia
Y que en una paila lo pongas en el fogón
Y lo vas meneando pa' que tome consistencia
Le pones esencias que nazcan del corazón
Le das la sazón y una hojita de paciencia
Y después le rallas cascaritas de limón
Y haces la canción con tus propias experiencias
El tiempo que se va, se va
Que no se lleve la inocencia
El tiempo que se va, se va
Que no se lleve la inocencia
Sigo leyendo abajito, en donde dice advertencia
Que para hacer un merenguito las cosas tienen su ciencia
Que para hacer un merenguito las cosas tienen su ciencia
A baila, a baila
Les traigo mi merenguito
A baila, a baila
Les traigo mi merenguito
Del caribe colombiano
Como le pedi a Juancito
Con su toque provinciano
Pa' los pobres y los ricos
A baila, a baila
Les traigo mi merenguito
A baila, a baila
Les traigo mi merenguito
Para todos mis hermanos
Pa' los grandes y los chicos
Que ahí les traigo la receta
Para hacer un merenguito
El tiempo que se va se va
Ya nunca podrás detenerlo
El tiempo que se va se va
Ya nunca podrás detenerlo
Coge la vida con calma
Dejemos tantos misterios
Que se nos pasan los años
Y pa' después no hay remedio
Que se nos pasan los años
Y pa' después no hay remedio
The lyrics to "La Receta" by Carlos Vives tell the story of the singer's search for inspiration to create a merengue that captures the flavor of his hometown. He writes to his friend Juancito, who sends him a recipe that includes traditional instruments like the guacharaca, caja, and accordion, as well as advice on adding personal touches to make the song unique.
The lyrics also contain a message about cherishing the simple pleasures of life and not getting caught up in the passage of time. Vives urges listeners to enjoy the music and dance of the merengue and not worry too much about the science of creating it.
Overall, the song celebrates the culture and traditions of the Caribbean region of Colombia and encourages listeners to appreciate the beauty of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
Le escribí a Juancito
I wrote to Juancito
que yo no encontraba
that I was unable to find
la inspiración
the inspiration
pa'hacer un merengue
to make a merengue
que lleve el sabor
that has the flavor
que hay en la provincia
of the province
Le pedí a Juancito
I asked Juancito
que mande contestación
to send a reply
y que lo más pronto
as soon as possible
me escriba ese merenguito.
to write that merengue for me.
Y le dí las gracias
And I thanked him
por toda su educación
for all his manners
y quedé esperando
and I remained waiting
tranquilo ese favorcito.
calmly for that favor.
Me escribió Juancito
Juancito wrote me
a pesar de que es
even though he's
hombre muy ocupado,
a very busy man,
de su manuscrito
from his manuscript
la carta que ha
the letter that has
llamado mi atención.
caught my attention.
Y en correspondencia
And in correspondence
rezaba a continuación:
he wrote the following prayer:
para hacer un merengue
to make a merengue
yo les tengo la receta.
I have the recipe for you.
Una guacharaca,
A guacharaca,
una caja, un acordeón
a box, an accordion
y una voz alegre
and a cheerful voice
que conserve la cadencia.
that keeps the rhythm.
Y que en una paila
And in a pan,
los pongas en el fogón
you put them on the stove
y los vas meneando
and you stir them
pa'que tomen consistencia.
to make them consistent.
Le pones esencias
You add essences
que nazcan del corazón,
that are born from the heart,
le das la sazón
you add flavor
con hojitas de paciencia.
with little leaves of patience.
Y después le rayas
And then you grate
cascaritas de limón
lemon peels
y haces la canción
and you create the song
con tus propias experiencias.
with your own experiences.
El tiempo que se va y se va
The time that goes and goes
que no se lleve la inocencia.
don't let it take away the innocence.
Sigo leyendo abajito
I keep reading below
de donde dice advertencia
where it says warning
que para hace' un merenguito
that to make a merengue
la cosa tiene su ciencia.
it takes some science.
Bailá, bailá
Dance, dance
que traigo mi merenguito.
I bring my merengue.
Del Caribe colombiano
From the Colombian Caribbean
como le pedí a Juancito
as I asked Juancito
con su toque provinciano
with its provincial touch
pa'los pobres y los ricos.
for the poor and the rich.
Para todos mis hermanos
For all my brothers
pa'los grandes y los chicos,
for the big and the small,
que ahí les traigo la receta
there I bring you the recipe
para hacer un merenguito.
to make a merengue.
El tiempo que va y se va
The time that goes and goes
ya nunca podrás detenerlo.
you can never stop it.
Coje la vida con calma,
Take life calmly,
dejemos tanto misterio
let's leave so much mystery
que se nos pasan los años
that the years go by
y pa' después no hay remedio.
and there's no remedy afterwards.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carlos Vives, Juan Zambrano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luycn
on Tu Amor Eterno
I love you
Luycn
on Tu Amor Eterno
Lunch and then I