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
La Adelita
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
acampado se encontraba un regimiento
y una moza que valiente lo seguía
locamente enamorada del sargento.
Popular entre la tropa era Adelita,
la mujer que el sargento idolatraba
que además de ser valiente era bonita
Y se oía que decía
aquel que tanto la quería…
Si Adelita se fuera con otro
la seguiría por tierra y por mar,
si por mar en un buque de guerra
si por tierra en un tren militar.
Si Adelita quisiera ser mi esposa,
y si Adelita ya fuera mi mujer,
le compraría un vestido de seda
para llevarla a bailar al cuartel.
Y después que terminó la cruel batalla
y la tropa regresó a su campamento
por la vez de una mujer que sollozaba
la plegaria se oyó en el campamento.
Y al oírla el sargento temeroso
de perder para siempre su adorada
escondiendo su dolor bajo el reboso
a su amada le cantó de esta manera…
Y se oía que decía
aquel que tanto se moría…
Y si acaso yo muero en la guerra,
y mi cadáver lo van a sepultar,
Adelita, por Dios te lo ruego,
que por mí no vayas a llorar.
The song La Adelita by Inti-Illimani is a popular Mexican folk song that tells the story of a young woman named Adelita and her love for a sergeant in a regiment stationed in a remote mountain range. Adelita is known for her strength and beauty, and is idolized by both the soldiers and the colonel. The sergeant is deeply in love with Adelita, and swears to follow her anywhere, whether by land or by sea.
As the regiment prepares for battle, Adelita joins the soldiers, eager to prove herself and fight for her love. When the fighting is over and the soldiers return to camp, Adelita is heard sobbing, and the sergeant sings a heart-wrenching song to comfort her. He reassures her that even if he dies in battle, she should not mourn him, but instead remember their love.
The song is a powerful tribute to the courage and sacrifice of ordinary people in times of war, and expresses the deep sorrow and longing felt by those left behind. It also touches on the themes of love, loyalty, and devotion in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
En lo alto de una abrupta serranía
On top of a steep mountain range
acampado se encontraba un regimiento
A regiment was encamped
y una moza que valiente lo seguía
And a brave girl followed them
locamente enamorada del sargento.
Madly in love with the sergeant.
Popular entre la tropa era Adelita,
Adelita was popular among the troops,
la mujer que el sargento idolatraba
The woman the sergeant idolized,
que además de ser valiente era bonita
Who, in addition to being brave, was beautiful
que hasta el mismo coronel la respetaba.
Even the colonel respected her.
Y se oía que decía aquel que tanto la quería…
And it was heard that he who loved her so much said...
Si Adelita se fuera con otro
If Adelita went with someone else
la seguiría por tierra y por mar,
He would follow her by land and sea,
si por mar en un buque de guerra
If by sea, on a warship,
si por tierra en un tren militar.
If by land, on a military train.
Si Adelita quisiera ser mi esposa,
If Adelita wanted to be my wife,
y si Adelita ya fuera mi mujer,
And if Adelita was already my wife,
le compraría un vestido de seda
I would buy her a silk dress
para llevarla a bailar al cuartel.
To take her dancing in the quarters.
Y después que terminó la cruel batalla
And after the cruel battle ended,
y la tropa regresó a su campamento
And the troops returned to their camp
por la vez de una mujer que sollozaba
At the sight of a woman sobbing,
la plegaria se oyó en el campamento.
A prayer was heard in the camp.
Y al oírla el sargento temeroso
And when the fearful sergeant heard it,
de perder para siempre su adorada
Of losing his beloved forever,
escondiendo su dolor bajo el reboso
Hiding his pain under his shawl,
a su amada le cantó de esta manera…
He sang to his beloved in this way...
Y se oía que decía aquel que tanto se moría…
And it was heard that he who was dying so much said...
Y si acaso yo muero en la guerra,
And if I happen to die in the war,
y mi cadáver lo van a sepultar,
And my body is going to be buried,
Adelita, por Dios te lo ruego,
Adelita, I beg you in God's name,
que por mí no vayas a llorar.
Not to cry for me.
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fanny
on Hermanochay
Hola, mi padre tenia un grupo de musica andina y cantaba esta cancion. Mi padre hoy ya no está y me hubiera gustado entender la letra, no encuentro traducción por ningún lado, alguien sabe la traducción?