The Parra brothers (Gabriel, drums Claudio, piano, and Eduardo, electric piano) met Mario Mutis (bass) and Eduardo "Gato" Alquinta (guitars and lead vocals) in their childhood and started to play music for fun. They became prominent in Viña del Mar, playing at many gigs with a bossa-nova/bolero style. The former name of the band was High & Bass. However, most of their fans believed they were called "Jaibas" (crabs). After a while they decide to correct their name and definitely change it to Los Jaivas.
After a first phase characterized by a of more tropical sound they began to blend styles, experimenting with hippie sound, progressive rock and avant-garde jazz. Their most recognized feature it's their blending of styles with the traditional sounds -and instruments- of the region.
Discography:
* El Volantin
* Todos juntos
* Sueños de America
* El indio,
* Palomita blanca soundtrack
* Sueños de America
* Mambo de machaguay
* Aconcagua,
* Alturas de machu picchu
* Si tu no estas
* Obras de violeta parra
* Mamalluca
* Hijos de la tierra
* Trilogia el rencuentro
* Arrebol.
Their most famous songs in Latin America are "Todos Juntos", "Mira Niñita" and "Sube a Nacer Conmigo Hermano", all which are especially cherished by Chileans.
After the military coup in Chile the band moved to Argentina, where they stayed until 1977 when they moved to France. The band formation changed in 1988, when Gabriel died in Peru. His daughter Juanita tooked his place at the drums. In January of 2003, "Gato" (the cat) Alquinta died in Coquimbo (Chile) of a heart attack. His death was a national mourning and more than 400.000 people attendend his funeral. The band continued playing with Gato's children: Ankatu (guitar), Eloy (saxophone)and Aurora (vocals).
A few months after Gato's death, Aurora left the band to continue her career as an actress. Her position was taken by Carlos Cabezas.
A year after Gato's death his son Eloy died too at the age of 33 after from a heart attack. His position was taken in the group by Francisco Bosco.
The band, after 43 years of activity, has gained a cult status and still perform live, regardless the tragic events ocurred in the past years.
Antigua America
Los Jaivas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
el hombre donde estuvo?
Aire en el aire,
el hombre, donde estuvo?
Tiempo en el tiempo,
el hombre, donde estuvo?
The lyrics of Los Jaivas's song Antigua América pose a series of profound questions about humanity's place in the world. The opening lines, "Piedra en la piedra, el hombre donde estuvo?" can be interpreted as a meditation on the transience of civilization. What remains of the great civilizations of the past, such as the Mayans or the Incas, are only ruins - stones upon stones. This line calls to mind the idea that everything in life is temporary and that ultimately, all material things will turn to dust.
The second line, "Aire en el aire, el hombre, donde estuvo?", could be a nod to the fleeting nature of human existence. Just as air is intangible and impossible to grasp, our time on this earth is brief and often feels like it slips through our fingers. Lastly, "Tiempo en el tiempo, el hombre, donde estuvo?" underscores the universal human desire to leave a mark on history. Time is the great equalizer, and no matter how great a person may have once been or how significant their achievements, they will inevitably be forgotten over time.
Overall, Antigua América is a poignant reminder of our own mortality and the inevitability of time's steady march forward. It encourages us to reflect on what's truly important in life and to strive to leave a meaningful legacy behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Piedra en la piedra,
Stones piled upon each other, representing the ancient architecture and civilization of America.
el hombre donde estuvo?
Where did the people who built these structures go? What happened to them?
Aire en el aire,
The air around us, representing the intangible and invisible aspects of ancient America, such as their beliefs, traditions and culture.
el hombre, donde estuvo?
What happened to the people who once lived and breathed this air, who had their own unique way of life?
Tiempo en el tiempo,
Time passing through time, representing the history and legacy of ancient America.
el hombre, donde estuvo?
What happened to the people who lived throughout this passage of time, who shaped the history and culture of this land?
Contributed by Josiah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.