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
Medianoche
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
doce campanas esta medianoche
escucharás el bronce congelado
tañendo nuestro adiós en doce copas.
Ven a besar conmigo en doce copos
la nieve amarga que fundió el invierno
sobre la altura de mis sienes why este
Ven a morder conmigo en doce gritos
los labios de un dolor ya redoblado
será la última boca que tú beses
cuando vayas camino del ocaso.
No bien bebas conmigo el sorbo amargo
en la voz gris de los metales ciegos
vendrá esta medianoche repicando
la eternidad de nuestros dos destierros.
The song "Medianoche" by Inti-Illimani speaks of a person inviting someone to drink, kiss, and bite with them in twelve cups, bells, and screams respectively during midnight. The song may have a melancholic tone with words such as "adios," "nieve amarga," and "dolor," which hints that it may be a farewell song as they part ways at midnight. The use of the imagery of "twelve" may symbolize the completion of something, possibly the end of a relationship, the end of a year, or even the end of someone's life.
The first verse asks the person to come drink with them in twelve cups and listen to the sound of the bells chiming at midnight. The second verse tells the person to come and kiss them in twelve cups and taste the bitter snow that melted in the winter over their heads. The third verse invites the person to scream with them in a dozen voices, biting the lips of the pain that has doubled. The fourth and final verse warns the person that their kiss will be the last before they go to the sunset and hear the bells of midnight ringing for eternity, marking the end of their time together.
Overall, "Medianoche" presents a surreal and somewhat evocative image of two people experiencing a moment of connection and familiarity that may have to come to an end. The song points out how fleeting moments can be, and with the sound of the bells ringing, it symbolizes the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Ven a beber conmigo en doce copas
Come drink with me in twelve glasses
doce campanas esta medianoche
Twelve bells this midnight
escucharás el bronce congelado
You will hear the frozen bronze
tañendo nuestro adiós en doce copas
Playing our farewell in twelve glasses.
Ven a besar conmigo en doce copos
Come kiss with me in twelve cups
la nieve amarga que fundió el invierno
The bitter snow that melted the winter
sobre la altura de mis sienes why este
Above the height of my temples and this
desamparado corazón que tengo.
Desolate heart that I have.
Ven a morder conmigo en doce gritos
Come bite with me in twelve screams
los labios de un dolor ya redoblado
The lips of a pain already doubled
será la última boca que tú beses
It will be the last mouth that you kiss
cuando vayas camino del ocaso.
When you go on the path of the sunset.
No bien bebas conmigo el sorbo amargo
As soon as you drink the bitter sip with me
en la voz gris de los metales ciegos
In the gray voice of blind metals
vendrá esta medianoche repicando
This midnight will come ringing
la eternidad de nuestros dos destierros.
The eternity of our two exiles.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrAvedelsur
Mientras los años avanzan lenta y sigilosamente, nublando con un manto gris los recuerdos de una juventud comprometida con las causas sociales, revolotean en mi mente estas canciones que me invitan al amor y al compromiso. Poemas con melodías que me acercan a esa humanidad tan nuestra .
@erikaarenas7406
Esta hermosa canción, fue la ultima que baile con mi esposo, antes de que partiera al cielo, un beso para el, me quedo con esta hermosa canción.
@rubenespinoza2064
Un bello recuerdo
@vivianamarquez7144
Ááa¹1q
@violetamunoz9366
Año 1999...y conoci esta cancion. 9 semanas de un amor con fecha de caducidad....pero vivido como jamas lo he vuelto a hacer. Aun hoy la escucho y mi corazoncito se recoge. La amo.
@alanarenas9575
soy un rockero de 37 años... y más allá del estilo que uno siga no se puede pasar por alto esta hermosa música y letra...pura poesía.
no solo orgulloso de ser chileno ...sino de ser latinoamericano...espero algún día derribemos los muros ideológicos que nos separan y seamos uno.
@mariselnadalsalas2749
Realmente considero a los inti uno de los grupos que más representa la identidad latinoamericana
@CHALESXX
Alan Arenas Así es.
@yuriravanal6543
La buena música es transversal, los limites los ponemos nosotros, los humanos.
@will30x
Ya somos uno