The group was formed by students at Universidad Técnica del Estado at Santiago, Chile in 1967. In 1973 as they were on tour abroad, General Augusto Pinochet launched a coup d'etat and took power. Having heard of the numerous extra-judicial killings of many fellow artists by Chile's army, they took up residence in Italy, resulting in "the longest tour in history" for Inti-Illimani as they lived in de facto exile. They continued their efforts supporting Chilean democracy internationally; magnitizdat copies of their work continued to be widely distributed in Chile. In September 1988, days after they were no longer banned from Chile, they began touring Chile again. They helped organize the voting down of the referendum that would have re-elected Pinochet. Recently, they were actually supported by Chile as representatives of Chilean culture.
In the past the group was musically led by Horacio Salinas and politically led by Jorge Coulon. However, in 2001 there was a controversial split of the group, which started when three key members left the group (José Seves, Horacio Durán and Horacio Salinas). They were replaced by Manuel Meriño (from Entrama), Cristián González and Juan Flores. Due to the importance of departed members, many called into question the ability of the remainder to carry on the Inti-Illimani name. Meanwhile, the three departed members started their own group they call Inti-Histórico. From 2005 there are two groups:
Inti-Illimani New (Coulon brothers)
Inti-Illimani Histórico (José Seves, Horacio Durán and Horacio Salinas)
Membership
In August 1967 Inti-Illimani's earliest membership consisted of:
Horacio Durán
Max Berrú
Jorge Coulon
Luis Espinoza
Oscar Guzmán
Ciro Retamal
Pedro Yáñez
In 1968 Inti-Illimani's membership consisted of:
Horacio Salinas (Musical director and main composer)
Horacio Durán
Max Berrú
Jorge Coulon
Ernesto Perez de Arce
Current line-up of the "Inti-Illimani Nuevo":
Jorge Coulon
Christian González
Daniel Cantillana
Juan Flores
Efren Viera
Marcelo Coulon
Manuel Meriño
César Jara
Current line-up of the "Inti-Histórico":
Horacio Salinas
Horacio Durán
José Seves
Jorge Ball
Fernando Julio
Camilo Salinas
Danilo Donoso
Other members in the history of the group:
Ernesto Pérez de Arce
Homero Altamirano
José Miguel Camus
Renato Freyggang
Pedro Villagra
El Colibrí
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
lindo telegrama
un ansioso colibrí
me decía que la savia
de insectos y ranas
anunciaba el fin.
Vi por la ventana
cual si fuera un huracán
repartían su pancarta
con gran algazara
por esa verdad.
Un tremor de ardillas
de alerta y vigilia
que algo esta por suceder
luego una palabra oculta
que saltó desnuda
me hizo comprender.
Salí, como el sol yo salí
a la plaza encendida
de gentes, colores
gritando feliz.
Corrí hasta el mar y miré
tras los peces venían
los náufragos vivos
que ayer yo perdí.
Pájaros inquietos
custodiaron fuego
durante la oscuridad
bajo el arco de sus alas
me hizo luz el ansia
de querer brillar.
Errantes perdidos
pobres de albedrío
condenados a rumbear
abandonan el destierro
compartiendo el cielo
vuelven a volar.
Salí como el sol yo salí
a la plaza encendida
de gentes, colores
gritando feliz.
Corrí hasta el mar
y miré tras los peces
venían los náufragos vivos
que ayer yo perdí.
Bailé, con el aire bailé
al abrirse las celdas
y ver a mi padre volver
lloré, bailé.
In "El Colibrí," Inti-Illimani describes a beautiful morning where an anxious hummingbird brings a telegram. Through the bird's message, it is revealed that the end is approaching as a result of sap from insects and frogs. Looking out the window, the singer sees illegitimate swarms distributing their banner with great fanfare, announcing the truth. The singer then experiences a sense of urgency as squirrels tremble with alertness, followed by a hidden word that suddenly makes sense, and they realize something is about to happen. The singer then rushes out like the sun to a crowded square, where people are shouting happily and filled with colors. They run to the sea only to find the survivors, who disappeared yesterday, finally returning. Birds keep watch over the fire as the singer feels the desire to shine bright under the arch of their wings. Finally, the singer dances with the air amid the opening of cells, and they see their father come back, crying and dancing.
The lyrics of "El Colibrí" are possibly an allegory for political and social changes in South America during the time of writing. The idea of a messenger bringing a warning of approaching danger could be the symbol of activists trying to spread a message about a more ominous, but hidden truth. The singer's awareness of the situation is well-represented by the squirrel's tremble of alertness or the hidden word that suddenly becomes obvious, suggesting the importance of vigilance and clarity in revealing truth. The song then ends with a celebration of change through dance and happiness, suggesting hope and a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Trajo esta mañana
This morning brought
lindo telegrama
a beautiful telegram
un ansioso colibrí
an anxious hummingbird
me decía que la savia
told me that the sap
de insectos y ranas
of insects and frogs
anunciaba el fin.
announced the end.
Vi por la ventana
I saw through the window
ilícitos enjambres
illicit swarms
cual si fuera un huracán
as if it were a hurricane,
repartían su pancarta
they were distributing their banner
con gran algazara
with great noise.
por esa verdad.
for that truth.
Un tremor de ardillas
A tremor of squirrels
de alerta y vigilia
of alert and vigilance
que algo esta por suceder
that something is about to happen
luego una palabra oculta
then a hidden word
que saltó desnuda
that jumped naked
me hizo comprender.
made me understand.
Salí, como el sol yo salí
I left, like the sun I left
a la plaza encendida
to the illuminated square
de gentes, colores
of people, colors
gritando feliz.
shouting happily.
Corrí hasta el mar y miré
I ran to the sea and looked
tras los peces venían
the survivors came after the fish
los náufragos vivos
the living shipwrecks
que ayer yo perdí.
that I lost yesterday.
Pájaros inquietos
Restless birds
custodiaron fuego
guarded fire
durante la oscuridad
during the darkness
bajo el arco de sus alas
under the arch of their wings
me hizo luz el ansia
made my desire light
de querer brillar.
to want to shine.
Errantes perdidos
Lost wanderers
pobres de albedrío
poor in free will
condenados a rumbear
doomed to wander
abandonan el destierro
they leave exile
compartiendo el cielo
sharing the sky
vuelven a volar.
they fly again.
Bailé, con el aire bailé
I danced, I danced with the air
al abrirse las celdas
as the cells opened
y ver a mi padre volver
and see my father come back
lloré, bailé.
I cried, I danced.
Contributed by Eli S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marcelocabezavargas
Esta es una obra de arte, sublime, medio tonos abrigadores sonidos saltarines que alegran e iluminan, perdonen mi burda descripción
@CarlosFlores-ow3ei
Burda descripción ??? es una sintesis magnifica.... saludos cordiales por la mutua admiración de esta obra....
@manuelaros5124
Exprésate como gustes amigo, escuchar al Inti es escuchar buena música 🎵🎼🎼🎼
@christiansalgadoalmarza6456
Yo celebré escuchando esta canción el día que saqué el puntaje que necesitaba para estudiar Periodismo en la U de Chile en 1988...
@jaimegonzalez9735
Me acuerdo cuando escuché este tema por primera vez en la radio Umbral, partí corriendo a la feria del disco a averiguar en qué album salía, fue de inmediato, compra segura en CD, que desesperación en llegar a la casa, mientras leía que lo grabaron en Abbey Road studios, con Sergio Marcotuli, llegué, lo puse sin avisarle a nadie, y llegaron todos, fue una catarsis familiar, hasta "Cantiga de la memoria rota" del Pato Manns, fue algo increible, sublime, mágico...
@DeSantiagoDavid
Hermoso relato amigo ❤️❤️
@matiasaguilar6175
Entiendo tu emoción.... Yo llore tanto cuando la escuché y aún me pasa
@omarvinueza6998
A mí me pasaba algo parecido. Buscaba en las disqueras si había salido algo nuevo del inti y de otros también y cuando salía era corre a oírlo en la casa por horas yo solo y la oreja pegada al parlante de la radiola para no perderme detalle.
@manuelaros5124
La querida Radio UMBRAL con Pedro Henríquez
@Ivan_Rodrigo
Este disco es magia, no se como definirlo de otra forma o con otras palabras.
Inti Illimani en su máxima expresión creativa e interpretativa