“Outstanding Ecuadorian-born, New York-based si… Read Full Bio ↴Introducing Eljuri …
“Outstanding Ecuadorian-born, New York-based singer-songwriter Eljuri… Fusing socially conscious lyrics with blistering guitar rock, she blended missionary fervor with impeccable musicianship.” –CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Cecilia Villar Eljuri born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and raised in New York has always demonstrated a singular focus.
Daughter of Ecuadorian Paco Villar, the revered pioneer of radio, television and theater and Olga Eljuri a composer of great renown in Ecuador, Cecilia’s career was nurtured from an early age. She was immersed in music and the arts.
From an early age, Eljuri was writing songs, playing guitar and sneaking into shows to hear her favorite bands. She started performing professionally when she was 17 with The Trouble Dolls, filling historic New York rock clubs like CBGB's and The Bitter End.
Musically restless, she formed the band, Grupo Fiesta (1998). Drawing from her latin roots, her music, lyrics and arrangements began to resonate with that style.
Defiant and tenacious, and in search of an outlet for her own musical perspective, Eljuri released her solo debut En Paz (2008) under the indie label Manovill Records in the U.S. and a year later in Mexico under the prestigious label Discos Intolerancia.
En Paz is enriched by the contributions of guest musicians that reinforce it with intense and dynamic sounds including the reggae riddims section of the legendary Jamaican duo Sly & Robbie, and the highly respected rock maven Johnette Napolitano, lead singer of the alternative rock band Concrete Blonde. The album gained critical attention by the force of Eljuri’s universal truths and global rhythms.
This exceptional guitarist sponsored by Gibson has been compared to Carlos Santana by many periodicals including Global Rhythm, The New Yorker and Al Borde.
Sensitive and committed, of Latin blood and heart, composer and lyricist, leader of all the projects in which she has been involved, Cecilia has toured in Mexico for three years as a power trio with her accompanying musicians Alex Alexander on drums and Keith Golden on bass. Eljuri performed at various festivals and forums such as UNAM, UCM, many clubs in and around Mexico City, reaching the heights of the 2010 Ollinkan Festival and Vive Latino Festival 2011 on the emerging independent artist Intolerante stage.
In August 2011, on her first tour in Colombia, South America she was invited to open for Dr. Krápula as part of the social campaign: Smoke-Free Parks and Beaches with live appearances in Bogota, Santa Marta and Cartagena.
Eljuri’s sophomore solo album Fuerte is produced by Grammy winner Gustavo Borner and co-produced by Cecilia Villar Eljuri. This powerful collection of songs is enriched by the presence of prominent invited guest musicians including once again the famous Jamaican reggae duo, drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare who lend their talent and enthusiasm to Eljuri’s song “Empuja”. Eljuri also collaborates on a few songs with the highly respected independent rockers Mario Muñoz and Sergio Acosta Leon of Colombia’s “Doctor Krápula”. The bonus track on the album is a remix of Eljuri’s song “Paloma” by Mexico’s celebrated electronica group “Kinky”. Fuerte was released April 17, 2012 by the labels Manovill Records in the U.S. and Discos Intolerancia in Mexico.
"The highlight of the evening was a performance that mixes power pop with Latin music Cecilia Villar Eljuri played big wah-wah guitar lines… the rest of the band spiced the music with hot Santana-flavored samba that set the jampacked room ablaze."— NEW YORK TIMES
Billboard magazine says, Eljuri has "... a sound that electrifies Latin styles...This is rock/dance music at its best."
Noche Latina says “She’s Joan Jett, PJ Harvey, Julieta Venegas, Tori Amos, and Andrea Echeverri all rolled into one…”
“Eljuri writes catchy four minute standards… with hooks that would make Sheryl Crow blush” and as “a deep-rooted instrumentalist – her guitar playing reminiscent of a young Carlos Santana.”
–GLOBAL RHYTHM Magazine
BangBang
Eljuri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
El privilegio de la seguridad
En la noche oscuridad
Con la luna llena de claridad
Claridad – Claridad
Somebody yelling "Don't shoot me!" BANG BANG
Somebody yellin', Too many yellin' BANG BANG Shoot 'em up
No tengo armas para defenderme
No tengo almas para ofrecerle
No tengo armas
BANG BANG Shoot 'em up – Detente
BANG BANG Shoot 'em up – Detente
No soy el enemigo
Pero voy a alzar mi voz
Yo he sido testigo
De los que han sufrido
Sufrido
Somebody yelling "Don't shoot me!" BANG BANG
Somebody yellin', Too many yellin' BANG BANG Shoot 'em up
Somebody yelling "Don't shoot!" BANG BANG
No tengo armas para defenderme
No tengo almas para ofrecerle
No tengo armas
BANG BANG Shoot 'em up – Detente
BANG BANG Shoot 'em up – Detente
Sombody yellin', Too many yellin' BANG BANG
Brussels, Hebron, Oakland, Ferguson
Nairobi, Konduga y Medellin
Roseburg, Karachi, Paris, Charleston
Dunblane, Ft. Hood, Washington DC
Santa Monica, Newtown y Isla Vista
Baltimore, Oslo, Brookfield, Aurora
Tucson, Omaha, San Bernadino
Gamboru Ngala, Juarez y Tel Aviv
Seattle, Mumbai, Blacksburg y Cumbria
Oak Creek, Seal Beach and Minneapolis
Kanjiza, Marysville, Colorado Springs
Columbine, Beslan
And New York City
In Eljuri's song Bangbang, the artist talks about the fear and vulnerability that comes with living in a world that is plagued by gun violence. The opening lines of the song suggest that there are certain rights that the artist does not have, such as the right to feel safe and secure. The lyrics then go on to describe the experience of being in a dark and dangerous situation, where the only thing that can be heard is the sound of gunshots. The repetition of the phrase "Somebody yelling 'Don't shoot me!'" in the chorus emphasizes the fear and desperation of those who are caught up in these violent events.
The second verse of the song emphasizes the artist's desire to be heard and to speak out against the violence that is taking place. The lyrics suggest that the artist has witnessed the suffering of others and feels a responsibility to speak up on their behalf. The final section of the song is a list of different places where gun violence has occurred, highlighting the global nature of the problem and the need for action to be taken.
Line by Line Meaning
Hay derechos que no tengo
I don't have the right to feel safe and secure
El privilegio de la seguridad
Safety and security are considered a privilege rather than a right
En la noche oscuridad
Night brings darkness and fear
Con la luna llena de claridad
Even with the clarity of the full moon, there is still violence
Claridad – Claridad
Violence is clear and present, there is no denying it
No tengo armas para defenderme
I don't have weapons to defend myself
No tengo almas para ofrecerle
I don't have souls to offer as sacrifices
BANG BANG Shoot 'em up – Detente
Stop the violence
No soy el enemigo
I'm not the enemy
Pero voy a alzar mi voz
But I will raise my voice
Yo he sido testigo
I have been a witness
De los que han sufrido
Of those who have suffered
Brussels, Hebron, Oakland, Ferguson
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Brussels, Hebron, Oakland, and Ferguson
Nairobi, Konduga y Medellin
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Nairobi, Konduga, and Medellin
Roseburg, Karachi, Paris, Charleston
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Roseburg, Karachi, Paris, and Charleston
Dunblane, Ft. Hood, Washington DC
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Dunblane, Ft. Hood, and Washington DC
Santa Monica, Newtown y Isla Vista
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Santa Monica, Newtown, and Isla Vista
Baltimore, Oslo, Brookfield, Aurora
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Baltimore, Oslo, Brookfield, and Aurora
Tucson, Omaha, San Bernadino
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Tucson, Omaha, and San Bernadino
Gamboru Ngala, Juarez y Tel Aviv
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Gamboru Ngala, Juarez, and Tel Aviv
Seattle, Mumbai, Blacksburg y Cumbria
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Seattle, Mumbai, Blacksburg, and Cumbria
Oak Creek, Seal Beach and Minneapolis
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Oak Creek, Seal Beach, and Minneapolis
Kanjiza, Marysville, Colorado Springs
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Kanjiza, Marysville, and Colorado Springs
Columbine, Beslan
Violence is happening in many different cities worldwide, including Columbine and Beslan
And New York City
Violence is also happening in New York City
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulnordquist6893
This is the first Eljuri song I ever heard. It's still a great song and a powerful statement.
@ELJURImusic
So grateful for you 😊
@victoriajoyce7363
Wonderful. Just wonderful.
@ELJURImusic
Thanks 🙏 so much for listening 🎶
@TheMayc3
mmuy bien excelente
@ELJURImusic
Gracias 🙏 querida
@viridianagervacio
Eres la bomba
@ELJURImusic
Mil gracias 🎶
@chrisstark8017
¡fuerte!
@ELJURImusic
Yesssssss ✌️