Llegó a ser un popular compositor e intérprete, muy conocido entre los amantes de la música cubana. Comenzó tocando la guitarra, el clarinete y el bongó. Fue el inventor del armónico, un instrumento de siete cuerdas, entre la guitarra española y el tres cubano. También tocó la tumbadora.
Comenzó su carrera musical muy joven cuando compuso sus primeras canciones y tocaba en grupos de Santiago con su conocido armónico. Pero su fama internacional le llegó en 1997 con su participación en el disco Buena Vista Social Club, el cual ganó varios premios Grammy. Compay Segundo apareció también en la película del mismo nombre realizada posteriormente por Wim Wenders.
En los últimos años actuó ante millones de espectadores y grabó nueve discos. No pudo cumplir su sueño de llegar a la edad de 116 años, en la cual murió su abuela. Falleció en La Habana debido a una insuficiencia renal con 95 años.
La canción más importante de Compay Segundo es "Chan Chan".
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Compay Segundo (November 18, 1907 – July 13, 2003), was a Cuban musician and songwriter.
Segundo was born Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz and brought up in the city of Santiago de Cuba. He became a songwriter and performer, well-known to fans of Cuban music. He was also the inventor of the armónico, a seven-stringed guitar-like instrument.
In his early years he played the guitar, the clarinet and the bongos. He also played the congas.
His curious stage name derives from the fact that he played second voice in a popular duet of the 1950s called Los Compadres (compadre, or compay for short, in Cuba means "baptism brother", but as a colloquialism is used also to designate a good friend).
However, international fame only came in 1997 with the release of the Buena Vista Social Club album, a hugely successful recording which won several Grammy awards. Compay Segundo appeared in the film of the same title, made subsequently by Wim Wenders.
His most famous composition is "Chan Chan", the opening track on the Buena Vista Social Club album, whose four opening chords are instantly recognizable all over the world. "Chan Chan" was recorded by Segundo himself various times as well as by countless other Latin artists.
At a fiesta he sang to Presidente Fidel Castro, who took his pulse and joked about his vitality despite his 90-plus years. "Who could have imagined that?" he asked when he found himself at the Vatican City, performing "Chan Chan" before Pope John Paul II. He explained his longevity simply: mutton consommé and a drink of rum.
He predicted that he would live to be 115, but died of kidney failure in Havana, twenty years short of his ambition, and three days before Celia Cruz.
La Juma de Ayer
Compay Segundo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que tengo en el corazón
Voy a correr un jalao'
Con tremendo vacilón
Búsquenme una cuchara
Una botella y un cajón
Pa' formar un parrandón
(Borrachón)
Sí, soy borrachón
Pero la plata que yo me tomo
La saco de mi sudor
Y si pico algunas veces eso lo hago por sport
La juma de ayer
Ya se me pasó
Esta es otra juma
Que hoy traigo yo
La juma de ayer
Ya se me pasó
Esta es otra juma
Que hoy traigo yo
La juma de ayer
Ya se me pasó
Esta es otra juma
Que hoy traigo yo, ea
Llénenme la botella
Pero llénenmela de ron
Y vamo' a formar
Un tremendo parrandón nene
La juma de ayer
Ya se me pasó
Esta es otra juma
Que hoy traigo yo, eh
Llénenme la botella
Pero llénela Don Ramón
Y dejen que digan
Que yo soy un borrachón, sí, sí
La juma de ayer
Ya se me pasó
Esta es otra juma
Que hoy traigo yo
La juma de ayer
Ya se me pasó
Esta es otra juma
Que hoy traigo yo
Borrachón
The first verse of the song talks about wanting to get rid of a craving that's tormenting the heart. The singer suggests running a "jalao'" which is essentially a lively and cheerful gathering or party accompanied with music, food, and drinks. The singer requests a spoon, a bottle, and a wooden box, to form a "parrandón," or an informal musical ensemble. The purpose of this assembly is to have a wild and enjoyable time that will help eliminate the singer's craving.
The following verse, the singer confesses to being a heavy drinker or "borrachón," but that the money he uses to purchase drinks comes from his hard work and sweat. Additionally, the singer admits to occasionally gambling and losing, but he sees it just as a fun or recreation activity.
The chorus of the song talks about "la juma," which refers to the hangover that the singer experienced yesterday. He asserts that these things can be gotten over and that he is ready to have another joyful time today, with this new 'juma.'
Overall, the song talks about the enjoyment and pleasure that comes from gathering with friends to celebrate life, forget our problems, and have a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Quiero matar un capricho
I want to get rid of a whim
Que tengo en el corazón
that I have in my heart
Voy a correr un jalao'
I'm going to have a lively gathering
Con tremendo vacilón
with lots of fun
Búsquenme una cuchara
Find me a spoon
Una botella y un cajón
A bottle and a box drum
Pa' formar un parrandón
To throw a party
Y así matar el capricho que tengo en el corazón
And thus satisfy the whim that I have in my heart
(Borrachón)
(Drunkard)
Sí, soy borrachón
Yes, I am a drunkard
Pero la plata que yo me tomo
But the money I spend on alcohol
La saco de mi sudor
I earn it through hard work
Y si pico algunas veces eso lo hago por sport
And if I happen to indulge, it's just for sport
La juma de ayer
Yesterday's hangover
Ya se me pasó
It's already gone
Esta es otra juma
This is another hangover
Que hoy traigo yo
That I bring today
Llénenme la botella
Fill up my bottle
Pero llénenmela de ron
But fill it with rum
Y vamo' a formar
And let's throw
Un tremendo parrandón nene
A huge party, my friend
Pero llénela Don Ramón
But fill it up, Mr. Ramón
Y dejen que digan
And let them talk
Que yo soy un borrachón, sí, sí
That I am a drunkard, yes, yes
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Walfrido Guevara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R
Such inspiration. I started listening to 'Cien anos de son' at 19 years of age in 2007. 4 years after the great man passed. I vowed to live my life in his manner. Light, happy, and full of experience. I'm now 35, married, 2 kids and still happy. Viva Compay y viva Cuba libre. Adelante
Carlos Aliaga
no me canso de escuchar a este maestro y siempre la cantamos con los amigos. "In memoriam" desde España
Jaime. Ruiz
Saludos desde Michoacán Méx. No cabe duda de que la música atraviesa fronteras y edades.
Carlos Chavez
Esta música nunca se muere. Viviremos juntos con el espíritu de ser hispanos y vivir en una era de grandes jentes famosos
Francisco Raygoza
Vaya que artistas irrepetibles por calidad,ya no están pero gracias a la tecnología los podemos ver y escuchar todas las veces que queramos
Rodrigo Gómez
La Plata que me la tomó la sacó de mi sudor grandes compositores maestros de maestros 2 joyas de la mitología universal Cubana un abrazo hermanos
Marcello Ozorio
Que música sensacional linda as interpretações, todo dia escuto um show
Percy Mendoza Figueroa
Qué manera de gozar con lo que hacen todos, disfrutan de su arte y nos llenan el alma.
MAYKA M V
Excelentes artistas!!! No deberían morirse nunca!!!
Jimmy Morgado
Grandes maestros de la musica cubana. Saludos Compay.