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.
El Gavilán
Los Jaivas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En esta gran circunstancia
Voy a dejarles constancia
De una traición infinita
Que consumó la maldita
Canalla del carnaval
Contra la fuerza leal
Y el cuerpo de cinco emblemas
De la razón popular.
Así el mundo quedó en duelo
Y está llorando a porfía
Por Federico García
Con un doliente pañuelo
No pueden hallar consuelo
Las almas con tal hazaña
Qué luto para la España
Qué vergüenza en el planeta
De haber matado un poeta
Nacido de sus entrañas.
Un río de sangre corre
Por los contornos del mundo
Y un grito surge iracundo
De todas las altas torres
No habrá temporal que borre
La mano de la injusticia
Que con crecida malicia
Profanó al negro Lumumba,
Su cuerpo se halla en la tumba
Y su alma clama justicia.
Se oscurecieron los templos
Las lunas y las centellas
Cuando apagaron la estrella
Más clara del firmamento
Callaron los instrumentos
Por la muerte de Zapata
Sentencia la más ingrata
Que en México se contempla
Para lavar esta afrenta
No hay agua en ninguna patria.
Dejando voy peregrina
Mi llanto de rosa en rosa
Por Vicente Peñaloza
De la nación Argentina
Banderas de popelina
Pa recoger tanta sangre
Que ningún viento desgarre
Porque han de seguir flameando
Pues Chile sigue llorando
A Rodríguez y Recabarren.
Los Jaivas's song "El gavilan" is socially and politically charged, tackling the subject of betrayal of the common people by those in power. The song mentions several historical figures who fought for social justice, such as Spanish poet Federico García Lorca, Congolese politician Patrice Lumumba, Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, and Chilean activists Jose Miguel Carrera, Manuel Rodriguez, and Luis Emilio Recabarren. The lyrics convey a message of mourning for these figures, as well as a call for justice to be served.
The song opens with a condemnation of a "betrayal infinite" by the "canalla del carnaval," or the politicians who abuse their power. These politicians, who are supposed to represent the people, instead betray them, which leads to the death of the "cinco emblemas," or the five symbols of the people's struggle. The song mourns their loss and the pain of the world as a consequence.
The second verse of the song laments the death of several historical figures who fought for social justice, including Federico García Lorca, Patrice Lumumba, Emiliano Zapata, and many others. The lyrics express anger at the "hand of injustice" that killed them and call for justice to be served. The song ends with a message of hope, as the singer leaves behind their tears for those who have fallen and urges that their sacrifices be remembered.
Overall, "El gavilan" is a powerful song that highlights the need for social justice and reminds listeners of the sacrifices made by those who fought for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Señores y señoritas
Ladies and gentlemen
En esta gran circunstancia
In this great circumstance
Voy a dejarles constancia
I'm going to leave you with proof
De una traición infinita
Of an infinite betrayal
Que consumó la maldita
That the cursed one committed
Canalla del carnaval
Carnival scoundrel
Contra la fuerza leal
Against the loyal force
Y el cuerpo de cinco emblemas
And the body of five emblems
Que vivían los problemas
Who were living the problems
De la razón popular.
Of the popular reason.
Así el mundo quedó en duelo
So the world was left in mourning
Y está llorando a porfía
And is crying out
Por Federico García
For Federico García
Con un doliente pañuelo
With a grieving handkerchief
No pueden hallar consuelo
They can't find consolation
Las almas con tal hazaña
Souls with such an event
Qué luto para la España
What mourning for Spain
Qué vergüenza en el planeta
What shame on the planet
De haber matado un poeta
For killing a poet
Nacido de sus entrañas.
Born from its own depths.
Un río de sangre corre
A river of blood flows
Por los contornos del mundo
Through the edges of the world
Y un grito surge iracundo
And an angry shout arises
De todas las altas torres
From all the tall towers
No habrá temporal que borre
There will be no storm that erases
La mano de la injusticia
The hand of injustice
Que con crecida malicia
That with growing malice
Profanó al negro Lumumba,
Defiled the black Lumumba,
Su cuerpo se halla en la tumba
His body lies in the tomb
Y su alma clama justicia.
And his soul cries out for justice.
Se oscurecieron los templos
The temples darkened
Las lunas y las centellas
The moons and the sparks
Cuando apagaron la estrella
When they put out the star
Más clara del firmamento
Brightest in the firmament
Callaron los instrumentos
The instruments fell silent
Por la muerte de Zapata
For the death of Zapata
Sentencia la más ingrata
The most ungrateful sentence
Que en México se contempla
That one sees in Mexico
Para lavar esta afrenta
To wash away this affront
No hay agua en ninguna patria.
There is no water in any homeland.
Dejando voy peregrina
Leaving as a pilgrim
Mi llanto de rosa en rosa
My tears from rose to rose
Por Vicente Peñaloza
For Vicente Peñaloza
De la nación Argentina
Of the Argentine nation
Banderas de popelina
Flags of poplin
Pa recoger tanta sangre
To collect so much blood
Que ningún viento desgarre
That no wind tears apart
Porque han de seguir flameando
Because they must continue to wave
Pues Chile sigue llorando
Because Chile continues to mourn
A Rodríguez y Recabarren.
For Rodríguez and Recabarren.
Writer(s): Violeta Parra
Contributed by Gianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.