Education
After studying philosophy and literature for a year at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Guerra switched to the Conservatorio Nacional de Música. Guerra was a great admirer, at this time, of the Beatles music.
After finishing his studies at the Santo Domingo conservatory, Guerra went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston to study composition and arranging in 1979.
Career
After his return to the Dominican Republic, he released his first album, Soplando (1984) with a group of local musicians which subsequently became known as Juan Luis Guerra y 440. Note that the band's name in Spanish is officially publicized as Cuatro Cuarenta (Four Forty), a shortening of the normally strict reading of number four hundred and forty. The 440 part of the band's name refers to the standard tuning "A=440." Reportedly the name for the band came from a practice session where Juan Luis's brother suggested the name, because the name would reflect how "in-tune and precise they were."
Two albums followed, Mudanza y Acarreo and Mientras más lo pienso ... tú. The band garnered some fame in their country.
Their next album, in 1989, brought them international fame. Ojalá que Llueva Cafe (If only it would rain coffee), a slow melodic number with superfast background tracks, became a number one hit in many Latin American countries, with the hit song of the same name. Subsequently, a video of the hit song was filmed and Juan Luis Guerra and his 440 band began touring. (The song's fame was revived in 1996 with a cover by Café Tacuba). In 1990, they released their next album, Bachata Rosa, which also became a major hit and earned him his first Grammy award. The album, having sold more than 5 million copies at that time, allowed Guerra to keep touring Latin America, USA and Europe. This album contains memorable love songs such as "Burbujas de amor" (Bubbles of Love), the self-hit "Bachaata Rosa", "Rosalia", "Como Abeja al Panal" ("Like a Bee to the Beehive"), "A Pedir Su Mano" ("To Ask For Your Hand"), "Carta De Amor", and "Estrellitas y Duendes" ("Little stars and elves").
Guerra became a controversial figure in the Dominican Republic after he released his next album, Areito. "Areito" (1992), featured the hit single "El costo de la vida," ("The Cost of Living/Cost of Life") but the video version was banned in several countries.
He protested against the poor conditions in many Latin American countries, the celebration of the discovery of the Americas "(1492)", and the double standard policies of first world nations. ('Areito' is a Taino word for song and dance).
That situation might have had something to do with his next album, Fogaraté (1995), where he stayed away from recording any protest songs.
One of his most recent albums, Ni es lo Mismo ni es Igual (It's not the Same nor is it Equal) (1998), garnered much critical acclaim. It won three Latin Grammys in 2000. It's hits include "Mi PC" (My PC), "Quisiera" (I Would Like To), and "El Niagara En Bicicleta".
In 2004, Guerra released his first new album in six years. Entitled "Para Ti" (For you), the album's songs are mostly religious in nature, reflecting Guerra's conversion to Evangelical Christianity. With this album the singer won two awards at the 2005 Billboards in the categories of Gospel-Pop and Tropical-Merengue, for the hit single Las Avispas, being this the first time ever that the same song wins these two categories at the same time. Other hits included "Para Ti" and "Soldado" (Soldier). In the same time, Guerra was honored with the Latino Special Award for the Music Academy of Spain for his contributions to the music of his country and the Caribbean in the last 20 years.
Guerra is the uncle-in-law of Miss Universe 2003, Amelia Vega. In January 2006, Juan Luis performed at Berklee's 60th anniversary along with other artist such as Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Michel Camilo and Chiara Chivello.
In 2006, he recorded with famous artists Diego Torres in "Abriendo Caminos" and with Maná in "Bendita luz". He has also opened the concert of The Rolling Stones in Puerto Rico and was invited by Sting to sing with him in a concert at Altos de Chavón, La Romana in Domincan Republic. At the Premio Lo Nuestro awards in 2007, he was given the honorary lifetime achievement award. He also performed the lead single of his new album, "La Llave De Mi Corazon." 2007.
La llave de mi corazón has been #1 song In Billboard charts for four consecutive weeks, #1 selling album in Colombia and it keeps climbing the charts in other countries.
He has recorded in English, the song "July 14th" in Fogaraté(1995), and more recently "Medicine for my soul" and" Something good" with Italian singer Chiara Chivello. Some of his songs are both in English and Spanish such as "Woman Del Callao" and "Guavaberry".
Discography
* Soplando — 1983
* Mudanza y Acarreo — 1984–1985
* Mientras más lo pienso tú — 1986
* Ojalá que llueva Café — 1988
* Bachata Rosa — 1990
* Areíto — 1992
* Fogarate — 1994
* Grandes Exitos Juan Luis Guerra y 440
* No Es Lo Mismo Ni Es Igual — 1998
* Para Ti — 2004
* La Llave de mi Corazón — March 19, 2007
Source: Wikipedia®
El costo de la vida
Juan Luis Guerra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
El peso que baja, ya ni se ve
Y las habichuelas no se pueden comer
Ni una libra de arroz, ni una cuarta 'e café
A nadie le importa qué piensa usted
Será porque aquí no hablamos inglés
Ah, ah es verdad
Ah, ah es verdad
Do you understand?
Do you, do you?
Y la gasolina sube otra vez
El peso que baja, ya ni se ve
Y la democracia no puede crecer
Si la corrupción juega ajedrez
A nadie le importa qué piensa usted
Será porque aquí no hablamos francés
Ah, ah vous parlez?
Ah, ah vous parlez?
Ah, ah vous parlez?
Ah, ah non, monsieur
Eh
Somos un agujero
En medio del mar y el cielo
Quinientos años después
Una raza encendida
Negra, blanca y taína
¿Pero quién descubrió a quién?
Ay, el costo 'e la vida
Eh, ya ves, pa'rriba tú ves
Y el peso que baja
Eh, ya ves, pobre ni se ve
Y la medicina
Eh, ya ves, camina al revés
Aquí no se cura
Eh, ya ves, ni un callo en el pie
Ay, ki-iki-iki
Eh, ya ves, ay ki-iki-é
Y ahora el desempleo
Eh, ya ves, me mordió también
A nadie le importa, no
Eh, ya ves, pues no hablamos inglés
Ni a la Mitsubishi
Eh, ya ves, ni a la Chevrolet
La corrupción pa' arriba
Eh, ya ves, pa'rriba tú ves
Y el peso que baja
Eh, ya ves, pobre ni se ve
Y la delincuencia
Eh, ya ves, me pilló esta vez
Aquí no se cura
Eh, ya ves, ni un callo en el pie
Ay, ki-iki-iki
Eh, ya ves, ay ki-iki-é
Y ahora el desempleo
Eh, ya ves, me mordió también
A nadie le importa, no
Eh, ya ves, pues no hablamos inglés
Ni a la Mitsubishi
Eh, ya ves, ni a la Chevrolet
¡O-o-oye!
Yi-i-i-i-i, mama-eh
Eh-eh, mama-eh
La recesión pa'rriba
Eh, ya ves, pa'rriba tú ves
Y el peso que baja
Eh, ya ves, pobre ni se ve
Y la medicina
Eh, ya ves, camina al revés
Aquí no se cura
Eh, ya ves, ni un callo en el pie
Ay, ki-iki-iki
Eh, ya ves, ay ki-iki-é
Y ahora el desempleo
Eh, ya ves, me mordió también
A nadie le importa, no
Eh, ya ves, pues no hablamos inglés
Ni a la Mitsubishi
Eh, ya ves, ni a la Chevrolet
The lyrics of Juan Luis Guerra's song El costo de la vida address the economic and political struggles faced by the Dominican people, such as rising prices and inflation, corruption, and unemployment. The first verse talks about the rising cost of living, where everything from food to gas is becoming more expensive, and no one seems to care about the struggles of the working class. The second verse discusses the problems with democracy and corruption, where the government and those in power seem to be playing a game of chess at the expense of the people. The chorus repeats the phrases "es verdad" ("it's true") and "do you understand?" to emphasize the point that these issues are real and affecting everyday people.
The bridge of the song takes a historical turn, referencing the "hole in the middle of the sea and the sky" that is the Dominican Republic, a country that has undergone centuries of colonization, exploitation, and racial inequality. Guerra refers to the country's mixed heritage of African, indigenous, and European ancestry and questions who really "discovered" whom. The final verse returns to the present-day struggles of the Dominican people, with references to the recession, healthcare system, and job market. The song ends with an energetic call-and-response section, with Guerra shouting out various issues and the crowd responding with "ki-iki-iki" and "mama-eh."
Overall, El costo de la vida can be seen as a critique of the Dominican government and a call for social and economic justice for the working class. Guerra's lyrics highlight the ongoing struggles faced by many in the country and the need for change.
Line by Line Meaning
El costo 'e la vida sube otra vez
The cost of living is increasing again
El peso que baja, ya ni se ve
The currency is decreasing in value and hardly visible
Y las habichuelas no se pueden comer
Beans cannot be eaten
Ni una libra de arroz, ni una cuarta 'e café
Not even a pound of rice or a quarter of coffee
A nadie le importa qué piensa usted
No one cares what you think
Será porque aquí no hablamos inglés
Maybe it's because we don't speak English here
Y la gasolina sube otra vez
Gasoline is increasing in price again
Y la democracia no puede crecer
Democracy cannot flourish
Si la corrupción juega ajedrez
If corruption is playing chess
Ah, ah vous parlez?
Ah, do you speak French?
Ah, ah non, monsieur
Ah, no, sir
Somos un agujero
We are a hole
En medio del mar y el cielo
In the middle of the sea and the sky
Quinientos años después
Five hundred years later
Una raza encendida
An ignited race
Negra, blanca y taína
Black, white, and Taíno
¿Pero quién descubrió a quién?
But who discovered whom?
Eh, ya ves, pa'rriba tú ves
Hey, you see it going up
Eh, ya ves, pobre ni se ve
Hey, you see it going down and it's hardly visible
Aquí no se cura
You can't get cured here
Eh, ya ves, ni un callo en el pie
Hey, you see, not even a corn on your foot
Y ahora el desempleo
And now unemployment
Eh, ya ves, me mordió también
Hey, you see, it bit me too
A nadie le importa, no
No one cares
Ni a la Mitsubishi
Not even Mitsubishi
Ni a la Chevrolet
Not even Chevrolet
La corrupción pa' arriba
Corruption is going up
Y la delincuencia
And crime
Eh, ya ves, me pilló esta vez
Hey, you see, it caught me this time
¡O-o-oye!
Oh-oh-hey!
Yi-i-i-i-i, mama-eh
Yi-i-i-i-i, mama-eh
La recesión pa'rriba
The recession is going up
Y la medicina
And the medicine
Eh, ya ves, camina al revés
Hey, you see, it's going in reverse
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Juan Luis Guerra, Yancomba Dibala
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KarenRecordsOfficialChannel
Amigos, no olviden suscribirse a nuestro canal!! 💃🏻🕺🏻 Y que nunca pare la música 🔈🎶🎶
@leonardoa.guerrapaz8961
Yo visitando el vídeo pensando que era sobre asesoramiento y resulta ser una canción que expresa la realidad
@vroz6492
MEJOR QUE PARE EL ALZA
@julianrios5166
Hola!!! Pará. El. 2023 esto es. Un Poema
@AnaFlores-le2ge
David
@AnaFlores-le2ge
💿🇻🇪
@geydisdurango3469
Dato curioso que todos saben: No importa en qué año la oigas, esta canción siempre coincidirá con la crisis social y económica.
@yogaseescribeconjdejanicek4574
😂
@eduardovillegas747
Basicamente esta cancion quedaria perfecta para estos tiempos donde la crisis esta mas cabrona que nunca.
@gregoriaprado1273
Tienes mucha razón