Celia Cruz (born as Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso in La H… Read Full Bio ↴Celia Cruz (born as Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso in La Habana, Cuba on 21 October 1925 – died 16 July 2003) was a Cuban-American and was one of the most successful salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums. She was renowned internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" as well as "La Guarachera de Cuba.

In 1950, Cruz made her first major breakthrough, after the lead singer of the La Sonora Matancera, a renowned Cuban orchestra, left the group and Cruz was called to fill in. Cruz was hired permanently by the orchestra, but she wasn't well accepted by the public at first. However, the orchestra stood by their decision, and soon Cruz became famous throughout Cuba. During the 15 years she was a member, the band traveled all over Latin America.

Azúcar Negra
Celia Cruz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Soy dulce como el melao'
Alegre como el tambor
Llevo el ritmico tumbao'
Llevo el ritmico tumbao'
Que hare que en el corazon

why habia una isla rica
Eclava de una sonrisa

Soy de ayer soy carnaval
Pongo corazon why tierra
Mi sangre es de azucar negra
Es amor why es musica

Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

Que estoy en la lluvia en la hierba
Estoy en la nube why la piedra
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

Soy dulce como el melao'
Alegre como el tambor
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

why a la hora de la rumba
En la aguarata yo soy la reina
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

Soy la caã±a why el cafe
Para mover gua guanco'
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

Prende tengo marcada la piel
Con la rumba why el mongoi' why el mongoi'
Azucar azucar negra
(Azucar)
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra
Yo soy la candela candela why mi cadelai' candela
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

Azucar azucar negra
Como me gusta why como me alegra
(Azucar)
Azucar azucar negra
Hay cuanto me gusta why me alegra

Azucar azucar negra

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Celia Cruz's famous song Azucar Negra are a celebration of the Cuban culture, music, and its people. The song has a fast and upbeat tempo that reflects the lively spirit of the Cuban people. In the opening lines of the song, Cruz establishes her sweet and joyful personality, comparing herself to the sweet molasses and lively tambor (drum).

Cruz goes on to describe herself as having the rhythmic tumbao or sway that can make one's heart beat with joy. She references the historical context of Cuba as a richly abundant island but also one that carried the scars of the slave trade. Cruz's identity is that of someone who is part of the joyous carnival culture and who links herself to the land she stands on. Her black sugar blood is a metaphor for the rich passion and joy that is ingrained into Cuban culture.

The refrain of "Azucar azucar negra" is a celebratory cry that highlights the love and enjoyment of music and dance that the Cuban people have. For them, music and dance are inseparable from their identity and way of life. The song ends with Cruz proclaiming herself as the "candela" or the fire that ignites the dance floor, and she enjoys the release that comes with movement.

Overall, the song Azucar Negra is a joyful expression of the Cuban people's love for music and dance, and of their cultural identity that is rooted in their history and traditions.

Line by Line Meaning

Soy dulce como el melao'
I am sweet like molasses

Alegre como el tambor
Joyful like the sound of a drum

Llevo el ritmico tumbao'
I carry the rhythmic tumbao'

Que hare que en el corazon habia una isla rica
That will make the heart feel like there was a rich island

Esclava de una sonrisa
Enslaved by a smile

Soy de ayer soy carnaval
I am from yesterday, I am carnival

Pongo corazon y tierra
I put heart and land

Mi sangre es de azucar negra
My blood is of black sugar

Es amor y es musica
It is love and it is music

Azucar azucar negra
Sugar, black sugar

Hay cuanto me gusta y me alegra
How much I like it and how happy it makes me