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®
Eres
Juan Luis Guerra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pongo en tus manos mi espíritu
Oh, Señor, me has revivido
Y en ti se alegra mi corazón
Eres mi fuerza y mi morada
Eres la voz de mi madrugada
Eres mi roca y mi torre fuerte
Y eres amor, Dios bueno y justo
Eres mi canto y mi refugio
Eres hermoso y luz del mundo
Eres, Señor
Oh, Señor, bendito siempre
Alfa y Omega, principio y fin
Oh, Señor, eres tú
Oh, Señor, mi ser te adora
Y en tu presencia quiero vivir (oh-oh)
Porque eres mi fuerza y mi morada
Eres la voz de mi madrugada
Eres mi roca y mi torre fuerte
Eres, Señor
Y eres amor
Eres amor Dios bueno y justo (bueno y justo)
Eres mi canto y mi refugio
Eres hermoso y luz del mundo
Eres, Señor
Eres mi fuerza y mi morada (eres mi fuerza)
Eres la voz de mi madrugada (eres mi roca y torre fuerte)
Eres mi roca y mi torre fuerte
Eres, Señor
Eres amor, Dios bueno
Eres amor, Dios bueno y justo (Tú eres mi canto y mi refugio)
Eres mi canto y mi refugio (eres hermoso y luz del mundo, woh-oh)
Eres hermoso y luz del mundo
Eres, Jesús
Eres hermoso y luz del mundo
Eres, Señor
Eres hermoso y luz del mundo
Eres, Señor
Oh, gloria a ti
The lyrics of Juan Luis Guerra's song "Eres" are a declaration of faith and adoration towards God. The song starts with the singer confessing their trust in God and entrusting their spirit to His hands. The lyrics then go on to describe God as being the source of the singer's strength, their dwelling, and the voice they hear in the morning. God is described as a rock and a strong tower, a place of refuge and an anchor in times of trouble. In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "Eres, Señor" (You are, Lord), emphasizing the belief in God's existence and sovereignty. The singer then affirms God's nature as being good, just and loving, as well as beautiful and a light in the world. The song ends with words of worship and exaltation to God.
Juan Luis Guerra is known for his religiously themed songs and this particular song is a perfect example of his style. The song is famous for its beautifully written lyrics that show the singer's profound belief in God. The song gained a lot of popularity in the Latin American Christian community as it became a hymn used during church services. It has also been covered by countless artists and choirs in different languages.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Señor, en ti he confiado
Oh, Lord, I have trusted in you
Pongo en tus manos mi espíritu
I place my spirit in your hands
Oh, Señor, me has revivido
Oh, Lord, you have revived me
Y en ti se alegra mi corazón
And my heart rejoices in you
Eres mi fuerza y mi morada
You are my strength and my dwelling place
Eres la voz de mi madrugada
You are the voice of my morning
Eres mi roca y mi torre fuerte
You are my rock and my strong tower
Eres, Señor
You are, Lord
Y eres amor, Dios bueno y justo
And you are love, good and just God
Eres mi canto y mi refugio
You are my song and my refuge
Eres hermoso y luz del mundo
You are beautiful and light of the world
Oh, Señor, bendito siempre
Oh, Lord, always blessed
Alfa y Omega, principio y fin
Alpha and Omega, beginning and end
Eres tú
It is you
Oh, Señor, mi ser te adora
Oh, Lord, my being adores you
Y en tu presencia quiero vivir (oh-oh)
And I want to live in your presence
Eres mi fuerza y mi morada (eres mi fuerza)
You are my strength and my dwelling place (you are my strength)
Eres la voz de mi madrugada (eres mi roca y torre fuerte)
You are the voice of my morning (you are my rock and strong tower)
Eres amor, Dios bueno
You are love, good God
Eres amor, Dios bueno y justo (Tú eres mi canto y mi refugio)
You are love, good and just God (you are my song and my refuge)
Eres hermoso y luz del mundo, woh-oh
You are beautiful and light of the world, woh-oh
Eres, Jesús
You are, Jesus
Oh, gloria a ti
Oh, glory to you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Juan Luis Guerra
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ZAIRA CORTES
on A pedir su mano
Me gustaría que vinieras a pedirle mi Mano a mis Pastores Hely y Martha Gómez
ZAIRA CORTES
on A pedir su mano
....Que Chévere......Vendrás a Pedir Mi Mano....Cariño.....muuuuaaaaa
ZAIRA CORTES
on Ojalá que llueva café
Me encanta esta CANCIÓN; me hace acordar cuando bailabamos con mi primo HERNANDO ALEXIS; en las Reuniones Familiares
ZAIRA CORTES
on Burbujas de amor
Me encanta esta Canción; cuando estaba enamorada del AMOR