La Charanga Habanera y David Calzado Biography: • Sergio David Calzado was … Read Full Bio ↴La Charanga Habanera y David Calzado Biography: • Sergio David Calzado was born in Havana, in 1959 and began studying classic violin when he was eleven years old. Music was already rooted in his family environment since he is Sergio Calzado`s son, the prominent singer who is well-known for his performance with the "Fajardo y sus Estrellas" group. David Calzado studied this instrument at the National School of Art in Cuba for nine years. He started his professional life as member of the Pancho "El Bravo" orchestra while acting as musical producer of important soloists in the country. From 1981 to 1987 he formed part of the violin section in the Ritmo Oriental Orchestra where he made his debut as arranger of pieces that became very popular during that decade. His work in this important orchestra was decisive for his professional development. La Charanga Habanera was created in 1988 when a group of ten young graduates from the most important Cuban schools of music, David Calzado among them, decided to set in motion the initiative of a French businessman, Bernard Lion, to create an orchestra using the typical format of the charanga and perform the Cuban traditional music, especially that of the 1940`s and 1950`s. Once the group was created, they signed a contract with the Sporting Club of Monaco, in Montecarlo, to make quarterly presentations for a five-year period. At the beginning, the orchestra was led by Gerardo Aguillón and then by José Picallo. During its first stage, the genre repertoire of La Charanga included the mambo, danzón, bolero, guaracha, cha cha chá and instrumental pieces from the international repertoire. In Monaco, the orchestra shared the stage with artists of the stature of Whitney Houston and Lola Flores, Frank Sinatra and Tina Turner. At that time, young David Calzado was performing at the Tropicana Orchestra in Cuba as First Violin while working with La Charanga Habanera and as arranger and recording producer. Initially, the Orchestra only met to rehearse during summer and during its performances in Montecarlo until 1990 when they decide to consolidate and stabilize their work as a formally constituted orchestra. It was then when David Calzado became the head of the orchestra. It was also the transition time from the traditional music to the dancing popular music. The orchestra"s first presentations were at the Charanga Festival and in "La Tropical", the most popular dancing hall in Cuba. At that time, the orchestra was made up by three violins, cello, flute, saxophone, piano, bass, trumpet, viola, pailas and congas. In December 1992, they decide to start again but from a widely-renovated Charanga Habanera whose members wanted to become the Cuban dancers` favorite orchestra. Then, David Calzado devised a new format by eliminating one of the violins and the cello and introducing the keyboard, bongos and another trumpet thus producing a much more modern sound and transforming the performing style. That same year they performed at the Boulevard de los Sueños in Viña del Mar, Chile. Back in Cuba, the orchestra regularly performed at the Caribe Cabaret in the Habana Libre Hotel as guests of Santiago Alvarez, the famous choreographer and art director. In 1993, they traveled to Europe to participate in the Helsinki, Tenerife and Las Palmas carnivals. In 1994, the orchestra launched its new sonority with "Me sube la fiebre" record (EGREM label) which includes songs from important composers as, for example, "Me sube la fiebre" by Giraldo Piloto; "Extraños ateos" by Leonel Limonta; "El pregón del chocolate" by Isaac Delgado; "Te la voy a liquidar" and "Para el llanto" by Manolín, the "Médico de la Salsa", among others. Virtually all its songs became hits: "Me sube la fiebre" reached the first places according to audience surveys made in 24 radio stations throughout the country. This record engendered a passion for the Timba in Cuba and La Charanga Habanera consecrated itself in the most important scenarios of this genre. In 1995, few months after the launching of its first record on the market, the Spanish Magic Music label launched the CD "Hey you, loca" which meant the world recognition of the orchestra and its timba style. They tour across Europe and performed at the most outstanding festivals in that continent sharing the stage with artists like Tito Puente. In Cuba, thousands of followers of the new "charanguero" concept crowded the places where they performed. Songs like "Quítate el disfraz", "Mi Estrella" and "Hey you, loca" itself became such hits that the album was granted the "Best Dancing Record in Cuba" award that same year. In 1996, they made an extensive tour across Europe which included Spain, France (the orchestra became the sensation of the New Morning in Paris), Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden with the purpose of launching a new phonogram entitled "Pa`que se entere La Habana" which was recorded in Costa Rica. Once again, songs like "Nube pasajera", "La superturística" and "Yuya la Charanguera" reached the top places. In 1997, the compact disc entitled "Tremendo Delirio" was launched and La Charanga hit the headlines again with "No estamos locos", "Un disparo en la mirada", "Lola, Lola" and "Hagamos un Chen". According to both dancers and critics this record was one of the best in that genre in Cuba as well as a challenge to Latin musical creation since it combines the so-called "hard salsa" with the eroticism, sensuality and energy exuded by the members of La Charanga Habanera. In 1998, the orchestra was crowned again with an international hit during its presentation in MIDEM, the "Cuban Night" held at the Great Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes where they ravaged the audience and confirmed once more that La Charanga Habanera constituted the most ingenious Cuban music proposal of that time. In Cuba, the audience followed La Charanga en masse to crowded places like El Palacio de la Salsa (The Salsa Palace), La Cecilia and the Salón Rosado in La Tropical, the salsa centers or the Mella Theater and the Ramón Font Sport Hall. During this stage, although the group preserved its name, it was no longer holding the charanga format, since it eliminated the flute and the violins. The pailas with bass drum and cymbal were added and the brass section was finally made up by three trumpets and one saxophone, thus creating a sort of symbiosis between the son, the typical charanga and jazz-band. Under the leadership of David Calzado and with the incorporation of young talents, La Charanga Habanera soon managed to place itself in the most impenetrable and competitive market of the salsa world in the 1990`s: Cuba. During these years, many groups mushroomed and penetrated the popular preference, but La Charanga revolutionized the Cuban music and became the main target of both the media and the public. Their success lied on the fact that this orchestra constituted a new proposal which combined the broad potentialities of its members "singers and instrumentalists alike- with a well-structured choreography executed by all musicians who display versatility and expressiveness on stage thus breaking every predetermined canon of this kind of orchestra. On the other hand, David Calzado "strategist by nature and with a sharp instinct to attain success- has wisely selected the themes with very good nose: the orchestra"s repertoire has an explicit philosophical-popular sense and the daily life becomes his great theme. Likewise, David Calzado has engaged in the selection of the wardrobe and the scenic architecture, thus becoming a very special director. Other characteristic elements of La Charanga include the use of the African harpsichord which adds a greater freedom of performance and accelerated polyrhythmic marked by the bass and the keyboard in what is known as contratumbao, as well as the introduction of rap, funk and hip-hop elements. Besides, it is worthwhile mentioning the role played by the singers in the success of this orchestra. Since its inception, the orchestra has had important vocalists, namely, Luis Alberto Leyva, Mario Jiménez "Sombrilla", Leo Vera, Michel Maza and Danny Lozada, some of whom have had later on a successful career as soloists or leaders in other groups. That is why La Charanga Habanera is also considered as a school of music and an orchestra-producing orchestra. The orchestra is advancing rapidly in its career with records like "El Charanguero Mayor", edited in the year 2000 and "Chan Chan Charanga" (2001), and is once again at the top of popularity. In the year 2003, a new record-breaking event took place with the launching of "Soy cubano, soy popular" on the market and one of its themes, "El Boni está", became a true hit and its video clip the dancers` favorite one. Themes originally performed by La Charanga have been included in the repertoire of prominent international artists like the Spanish group Ketama, Omar Hernández, Yanko and the Puerto Rican singer Danny Rojo, among others. David Calzado`s show-orchestra has received the Cubadisco Awards, Lucas Awards and has been nominated for the Latin Grammy; it has also made countless international tours and has received many acknowledgements both in Cuba and abroad. Today, this orchestra is still the favorite of the overwhelming majority of the audience for its always young image and its talented instrumentalists and singers and for its dynamic sound closely associated with the most aggressive timba born of the authentic spirit of the 1990`s. La Charanga Habanera is an indispensable orchestra that has to be taken into consideration whenever we speak of the history of dancing popular music in Cuba. • La Charanga Habanera y David Calzado Discography : CD ""Charanga Habanera, Volumen I"", DOM, 1988. CD ""De La Habana a Montecarlo, 1989 CD ""Me sube la fiebre"", EGREM, 1994 CD ""Hey you, loca"", Magic Music, 1995 CD ""Pa´que se entere La Habana"", Magic Music, 1996 CD ""Tremendo delirio"", Magic Music, 1997 CD ""Live at Disco Azúcar"", 1998 CD ""El Charanguero mayor"", Karlyor, 2000 CD ""Live US Tour"", 2000-2001 CD ""Chan Chan Charanga"" (Tiene de Cuba, tiene melao), Karlyor, 2001. CD ""Soy cubano, soy popular"", EGREM, 2003. CD ""Charanga light"", EGREM, 2004. CD ""El ciclón de La Habana"", Unicornio, 2005.

Gozando y a lo Cubano
Charanga Habanera Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gozando y a lo Cubano

Palo, palo, palo Palo paquí, palo
pallá Quien dijó que la gozadera se
va a acabar

Hay gente por la calle que va comentando
Ay qué mala onda que barbaridad

Que ya la gozadera se está acabando
Es una historia superficial Y no es que este
de acuerdo con ese relajo Si aquí
nadie sabe lo qué va a pasar Pero con
elegancia seguiré gozando

¿Por qué? Porque soy
de aquí, de este gran país Y si te
queda duda ven conmigo pa mi Cuba que me gusta
Mira mi cubana, camina La Habana Veras como
sientes que tu cuerpo se pone caliente, diferente

Pero hay gente que insiste en que lo
bueno está pasando Y es que se le
está acabando la fuerza pa seguir luchando
Yo seguiré a mi aire ah y cómo me
conviene Ah, mientras que el palo va,
mientras que el palo viene ¡Ay, Dios
mío la gente!

Hay gente por la calle que va comentando
Ay qué mala onda que barbaridad
Que ya la gozadera se está acabando
Es una historia superficial Y no es que este
de acuerdo con ese relajo Ay si aquí
nadie sabe lo qué va a pasar Pero con
elegancia seguiré gozando

¿Por qué? Porque soy
de aquí, de este gran país Y si te
queda duda ven conmigo pa mi Cuba qué me
gusta Mira mi cubana, camina La Habana Veras
cómo sientes que tu cuerpo se pone
caliente, diferente

Pero hay gente que insiste en que lo
bueno está pasando Y es que se le
está acabando la fuerza pa seguir luchando
Yo seguiré a mi aire ah y como me conviene
Ah, mientras que el palo va, mientras que el
palo viene Unos dicen que se va a acabar Y
otros que se está acabando Mientras que el
palo va y viene Nosotros, acabando ¡Agua!

Unos dicen que se va a acabar Y otros que
se está acabando Mientras que el palo va y
viene Nosotros seguimos gozando

Nosotros no paramos, seguimos
guaracheando Tú no ves como la gente
está gozando Como te gusta a ti, venimos
por la línea venimos por ahí

Unos dicen que se va a acabar
Acabar Y otros que se está acabando
Acabando Mientras que el palo va y
viene Nosotros seguimos gozando

¿Ay qué será,
qué será lo que va a pasar?
¿Ay quien me va a quitar mi velocidad Si
esto no se para con na, con na?

Unos dicen que se va a acabar Y con
naita Y otros que se está acabando
Ehhh Mientras que el palo va y viene
Nosotros seguimos gozando

Mientras que el palo va Vamo a ver la
vuelta que da Mientras que el palo viene
sígueme que te conviene

Unos dicen se acabo, se acabo Y
eso no lo digo yo Y otros dicen que goza mas
que gozon Tremendo sentimiento y tremendo
corazón Unos dicen
Se acabo, se acabo Dilo tú
El cielo se va a caer Esa es la
última Y otros dicen Y
qué que goza mas que gozon Y El
rey lo debe saber Ah Unos dicen se
acabó, se acabó Por eso
Esos tienen su criterio Y otros dicen que
goza mas que gozon Y esto tienen su
misterio Unos dicen se acabo, se acabo
Por eso yo, mientras que el palo va
Y otros dicen Por eso yo Que goza
mas que gozon Mientras que el palo viene,

Mientras que el palo va ...gua oye
Mientras que el palo viene Mientras
que el palo va Leonid: Mira cómo va, mira
cómo va Mientras que el palo viene
Mientras que el palo va
¡Vamos! Mientras que el palo viene

Mientras que el palo va Todo la
vida Gozando y a lo cubano Mientras que el
palo viene ¿Qué somos?
¿Qué somos? Somos los que
más gozamos

Mientras que el palo va Con mi
Charanga siempre viva Gozando y a lo cubano
Mientras que el palo viene ¿Qué
somos? Somos los que más gozamos

Mientras que el palo va Haciendo
historia cada día Gozando y a lo
cubano Mientras que el palo viene
¿Qué somos? Somos los que más
gozamos

Mientras que el palo va Everybody
Gozando y a lo cubano Mientras que el palo
viene ¿Qué somos?
¿Qué somos? Somos los que más
gozamos Somos los que más gozamos

Mientras que el palo va
¡Anda! Palo paquí, palo
pallá Mientras que el palo viene Y a veces
lo que sucede conviene

Mientras que el palo va Palo paquí,
palo pallá ¿Padónde? Mientras que el palo viene Y a veces
lo que sucede conviene

Mientras que el palo va Palo paquí,
palo pallá ¿Cómo?
Mientras que el palo viene Y a veces lo que
sucede conviene

Mientras que el palo va Charanga
Habanera Mientras que el palo viene

Mientras que el palo va Mientras que el
palo viene (2 veces)

Overall Meaning

The song "Gozando y a lo Cubano" by Charanga Habanera talks about living life to the fullest, despite rumors that the party may be coming to an end. The singer hears people talking about how the good times are ending, but the chorus repeats the phrase "Palo paquí, palo pallá", which essentially translates to "keep going" or "keep the energy up". The singer acknowledges that no one knows what the future holds, but they will continue to enjoy life with elegance.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of pride in being Cuban, as the singer mentions "este gran país" and invites others to come to Cuba with them. The lyrics also celebrate the energy and passion of the Cuban people, with references to feeling the heat in your body while walking the streets of Havana. The song ends with a declaration that they are the ones who know how to have the most fun, and will continue to do so.

Overall, "Gozando y a lo Cubano" is a fun and upbeat celebration of life and the unique energy of Cuban culture. The lyrics encourage listeners to keep the party going and not worry about what may or may not happen in the future.

Line by Line Meaning

Palo, palo, palo Palo paquí, palo pallá
Enjoy and party Cuban style, dance and move around with a rhythmic beat

Quien dijó que la gozadera se va a acabar
Who said that the fiesta will ever end?

Hay gente por la calle que va comentando Ay qué mala onda que barbaridad Que ya la gozadera se está acabando
People are talking and saying that the good times are over, but it's just negative and superficial talk.

Es una historia superficial Y no es que este de acuerdo con ese relajo Si aquí nadie sabe lo qué va a pasar Pero con elegancia seguiré gozando
The negative talk is superficial and unnecessary. Even though I don't agree with it, I will continue to enjoy with elegance and grace because no one knows what the future holds.

¿Por qué? Porque soy de aquí, de este gran país Y si te queda duda ven conmigo pa mi Cuba que me gusta
I am from this amazing country and if you doubt my love for it, come with me to Cuba and I'll show you.

Mira mi cubana, camina La Habana Veras como sientes que tu cuerpo se pone caliente, diferente
Look at my Cuban woman, walk through Havana and feel how your body becomes hot and euphoric.

Pero hay gente que insiste en que lo bueno está pasando Y es que se le está acabando la fuerza pa seguir luchando
Some people insist that the good times are over and they are losing their will to continue fighting.

Yo seguiré a mi aire ah y cómo me conviene Ah, mientras que el palo va, mientras que el palo viene ¡Ay, Dios mío la gente! de acuerdo con ese relajo Ay si aquí queda duda ven conmigo pa mi Cuba qué me gusta Mira mi cubana, camina La Habana Veras cómo sientes que tu cuerpo se pone caliente, diferente
I will continue to do what I want in my own way, while the good times continue. Oh my God, people! Don't listen to the negative talk and come with me to Cuba where you'll feel a unique heat and energy.

Unos dicen que se va a acabar Y otros que se está acabando Mientras que el palo va y viene Nosotros, acabando ¡Agua!
Some say it's about to end while others say it's ending, but we are still enjoying every moment!

Nosotros no paramos, seguimos guaracheando Tú no ves como la gente está gozando Como te gusta a ti, venimos por la línea venimos por ahí
We never stop, we keep dancing and having fun, can't you see everyone is enjoying themselves? We do it our way and you are welcome to join us.

¿Ay qué será, qué será lo que va a pasar? ¿Ay quien me va a quitar mi velocidad Si esto no se para con na, con na?
What will happen, who knows? Who can stop my energy and speed, nothing can slow me down!

Unos dicen que se va a acabar Y con naita Y otros que se está acabando Ehhh Mientras que el palo va y viene Nosotros seguimos gozando
Some say it will end with nothing left, while others say it's ending, but we continue to enjoy as long as the beat goes on!

Mientras que el palo va Vamo a ver la vuelta que da Mientras que el palo viene sígueme que te conviene
Let's see where the rhythm takes us, follow me because it's worth it.

Unos dicen se acabo, se acabo Y eso no lo digo yo Y otros dicen que goza mas que gozon Tremendo sentimiento y tremendo corazón Unos dicen Se acabo, se acabo Dilo tú El cielo se va a caer Esa es la última Y otros dicen Y qué que goza mas que gozon Y El rey lo debe saber Ah Unos dicen se acabó, se acabó Por eso Esos tienen su criterio Y otros dicen que goza mas que gozon Y esto tienen su misterio Unos dicen se acabo, se acabo Por eso yo, mientras que el palo va Y otros dicen Por eso yo Que goza mas que gozon Mientras que el palo viene, Mientras que el palo va ...gua oye Mientras que el palo viene Mientras que el palo va Leonid: Mira cómo va, mira cómo va Mientras que el palo viene Mientras que el palo va ¡Vamos! Mientras que el palo viene Mientras que el palo va Todo la vida Gozando y a lo cubano Mientras que el palo viene ¿Qué somos? ¿Qué somos? Somos los que más gozamos
There are those who say it's over, but it's not up to me to say. Others argue that we enjoy more than anyone, that we have a powerful spirit and heart. We keep enjoying because everyone has their own opinions and mysteries. That's why I keep dancing and enjoying as long as the beat goes on. We live life to the fullest and that's what defines us.

¡Anda! Palo paquí, palo pallá Mientras que el palo viene Y a veces lo que sucede conviene Mientras que el palo va Palo paquí, palo pallá ¿Padónde? Mientras que el palo viene Y a veces palo pallá ¿Cómo? Mientras que el palo viene Y a veces lo que sucede conviene
Let the beat take us wherever it goes, sometimes it works out in our favor. Let's keep dancing and moving with the beat, wherever it may lead us.

Charanga Habanera Mientras que el palo viene Mientras que el palo va Mientras que el palo viene (2 veces)
We are Charanga Habanera, the beat keeps going and so do we!

Everybody Gozando y a lo cubano Mientras que el palo viene ¿Qué somos? gozamos Somos los que más gozamos
Everybody's enjoying and partying Cuban style, we are the ones who enjoy the most!

Mientras que el palo va Con mi Charanga siempre viva Gozando y a lo cubano Mientras que el palo viene ¿Qué somos? Somos los que más gozamos
We keep enjoying and partying with our Charanga always alive, we are the ones who enjoy the most.

Mientras que el palo va Haciendo historia cada día Gozando y a lo cubano Mientras que el palo viene ¿Qué somos? Somos los que más gozamos
We are making history every day as we enjoy and party Cuban style, we are the ones who embody joy the most!

Mientras que el palo va (2 veces) Mientras que el palo viene (2 veces) ¡Anda!
As long as the beat goes on, so do we! Let's keep enjoying and dancing!

Contributed by Scarlett Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS