Born at a dance in San Luis, Cuba, near the city of Santiago de Cuba, Ferrer's mother died when he was 12, leaving him orphaned and forcing him to sing on the streets (busk) to earn money. The next year, Ferrer joined his first ever musical group, a duet alongside his cousin called Jóvenes del Son (Spanish: Youth of el Son). They performed at private functions and the two youths managed to scrape together enough money to live.
Over the next few years, Ferrer would perform with many musical groups, including Conjunto Sorpresa and Orquesta Chepin-Choven.
The leader of the latter composed one of Ferrer's biggest hits, "El Platanal de Bartolo".
In 1953 Ferrer started to play with Pacho Alonso's group in Santiago. In 1959 the group moved permanently to Havana, renaming themselves Los Bocucos, after a type of drum widely used in Santiago.
With Alonso, Ferrer primarily performed guarachas, sones and other sorts of up-tempo songs. However, he yearned to sing boleros. It was not until almost 40 years later, with the release of Ry Cooder's Grammy Award winning, Oscar nominated Buena Vista Social Club recording in 1999, that Ibrahim Ferrer's talent as a bolero singer would become widely known.
In 1996, Ferrer took part in the World Circuit sessions, when it was announced than an old-style bolero singer would be required. In that year, he recorded the album A Toda Cuba le Gusta with the Afro-Cuban All Stars, an album nominated for a Grammy Award.
In 1998 he recorded an album for the Cuban label EGREM, Tierra Caliente: Ibrahim Ferrer con Los Bocucos. It features Ferrer's unique voice and phrasing, band leader Roberto Correra's rich, intricate arrangements and excellent lead trumpet, and tight, rhythmic playing by the Bocucos. The album's is in the style of son-jazz big band fusion.
In 1999 Ry Cooder recorded Ferrer's first solo album, shown above.
In 2000 Ferrer famously received a Latin Grammy for "best new artist" - at the age of 72.
In 2001 he appeared on the track Latin Simone on the self-titled debut album of the virtual-band Gorillaz.
Ferrer toured internationally in Europe in 2005, after releasing his second solo recording, Buenos Hermanos, in 2003.
He was an adherent of the Santería faith, a blending of traditional African religions and Catholicism. He died of multiple organ failure on 6 August 2005 at CIMEQ hospital in Havana, Cuba, after returning from a European tour. He was 78.
Cienfuegos Tiene Su Guaguanco
Ibrahim Ferrer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoy siento gran emoción
Voy a cantarle a mi tierra
A esa famosa región
Llamada perla sureña
Su mujer es un primor
Y por su elegante andar
La admiran en Cuba entera
Cienfuegos, yo a ti te llevo
Metido en mi corazón
Por eso con orgullo
Te doy esta inspiración
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Yo soy los sitio' asere
Y me fui caminando hasta Cienfuegos
A escuchar este lindo guaguancó
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Cienfueguera nena linda
Ay, que bueno, que bueno
Tú tienes tu guaguancó
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Oye, maceo sigue cantando
Y no te preocupes tanto
Tú eres mi invitado
Y aquí en fin el que manda soy yo
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Alma mía no te extrañes
Si yo me voy pa'ese rumbón
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
The lyrics of Ibrahim Ferrer's song "Cienfuegos Tiene Su Guaguancó" express a deep connection to the city of Cienfuegos, located on the southern coast of Cuba. The singer sings of feeling great emotion as he sings to his homeland, describing Cienfuegos as a famous region known as the "perla sureña," or Southern pearl. He also praises the women of Cienfuegos, describing them as radiantly elegant and admired throughout the country.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó," emphasizing the city's unique style of music and dance. The guaguancó is a traditional Cuban rhythm and dance that originated in the region of Matanzas, but has since spread throughout the country. The singer proudly declares that Cienfuegos has its own version of this beloved musical tradition, and that he carries the city with him in his heart, offering his inspiration as a testament to his love for his homeland.
Overall, "Cienfuegos Tiene Su Guaguancó" is a celebration of Cuban identity and regional pride. It reflects the importance of music and dance in Cuban culture, and the connection that people feel to their hometowns and regions. Through his lyrics, Ferrer captures the essence of Cienfuegos and its vibrant musical traditions, inviting listeners to join in the celebration of this unique and beloved city.
Line by Line Meaning
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Cienfuegos has its own style of music and dance called guaguancó
Hoy siento gran emoción
Today I feel great emotion
Voy a cantarle a mi tierra
I'm going to sing to my land
A esa famosa región
To that famous region
Llamada perla sureña
Called the southern pearl
Su mujer es un primor
Its women are beautiful
Radiante como una estrella
Radiant like a star
Y por su elegante andar
And for their elegant way of walking
La admiran en Cuba entera
They are admired throughout Cuba
Cienfuegos, yo a ti te llevo
Cienfuegos, I carry you with me
Metido en mi corazón
Embedded in my heart
Por eso con orgullo
That's why with pride
Te doy esta inspiración
I give you this inspiration
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
You see it, my brother
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Cienfuegos has its own style of music and dance called guaguancó
Yo soy los sitio' asere
I'm from the countryside, my friend
Y me fui caminando hasta Cienfuegos
And I walked all the way to Cienfuegos
A escuchar este lindo guaguancó
To listen to this beautiful guaguancó
Cienfueguera nena linda
Beautiful Cienfuegos woman
Ay, que bueno, que bueno
Oh, how good, how good
Tú tienes tu guaguancó
You have your guaguancó
Oye, maceo sigue cantando
Listen, Maceo keeps singing
Y no te preocupes tanto
And don't worry so much
Tú eres mi invitado
You are my guest
Y aquí en fin el que manda soy yo
And here, in the end, I am the one in charge
Alma mía no te extrañes
My soul, don't be surprised
Si yo me voy pa'ese rumbón
If I go to that party
Para Cienfuegos
For Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
I'm going to dance guaracha, boncó
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Victor Lay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adreasheena7583
Letras:
Hoy siento gran emoción
Voy a cantarle a mi tierra
A esa famosa región
Llamada, " Perla surena"
Su mujer es un primor
Radiante como una estrella
Y por su elegante andar
La admiran en Cuba entera
Cienfuegos, yo a tí llevo
Metido en mi corazón
Por eso con orgullo
Te doy esta inspiración
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Ya tú lo ves, mi hermano
Cienfuegos tiene su guaguancó
Yo soy de Los Sitio' Asere
Y me fui caminando hasta Cienfuegos
A escuchar este lindo guaguancó
Cienfueguera nena linda
Ay, qúe bueno, qúe bueno
Tú tienes tu guaguancó
Oye, Maceo sigue cantando
No te preocupes tanto tú eres mi invitado
Y aquí en fin, el que manda soy so
Alma mía, no te extrañes
Si me voy pa'ese rumbón
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
Para Cienfuegos
Me voy a guarachar, boncó
@francescarobledo4556
I love Ibrahim so much! He is magic!
@georgeguerra2478
CUBAN 🇨🇺 LEGEND
@isabellacabezapenaranda7101
inmenso ibrahim ferrer el mas grande
@marcosmza1962
La riqueza de la música latinoamericana es infinita
@giorgiodobnig
Indiscutibilmente!!!!
@RandolphoAPCJr
Magic Ibrahim
@mikeaubrey1310
I love the trumpets...great melody sticks in your mind days later....LOUDER
@maluna5844
Me encanta esta musica.
@annepbarraza4978
Esto se llama con toda la palabra MUSICA.
@anitavillagra5160
MUSICA!