1. Chilean … Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists that share the name Los Miserables
1. Chilean punk band.
2. A hip-hop group from Puerto Rico.
1. Los Miserables is a well-known Chilean punk rock band formed in the early 1990s shortly after the demise of the military regime of Augusto Pinochet. The band is known for its songs charged with strong left-wing political ideas and anti-establishment commentary. The band has clearly presented itself as actvist in its work with major participation in political events, international charity concerts, human rights events, and volunteer work in impoverished Chilean communities. The band has modeled itself in some ways after the famed Chilean band Los Prisioneros, who left a void after their initial break-up in 1990. Their albums can be found in Chile, Latin America, and the United States.
This band achieved major success in Chile in the mid 1990s, and is well known in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. They have recorded 8 albums, including three live albums, and received gold records in Chile. The band has also contributed songs to major Chilean movie soundtracks - including the main song for the Chilean film El Leyton, a film by famed director Gonzalo Justiniano, of the films B-Happy (2003), Amnesia (1994), and Caluga o Menta (1990). They have also performed in tribute albums to Victor Jara, Violeta Parra, and Los Prisioneros.
Valparaiso
Los Miserables Lyrics
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Un d
Yo no nunca he sabido de su historia
Un día caminando la boca del Loa
Vi un hombre tan sencillo y con tal gracia
Que no pude olvidarlo ni en toda mi vida
Valparaíso, qué disparate eres
Valparaíso, qué portuaria eres
Emplazada en las orillas del mar del Sur
Y tus mujeres hacen dulce el amargo
Valparaíso, valiente y marinero
Valparaíso, de escándalo y cachafaz
Donde Henequén y el Diablo se hicieron amigos
A tu lado, negra mía, debutó el jazz
Los Miserables's song "Valparaíso" talks about the city of Valparaíso in Chile. The persona starts by saying that they have never known about the city's history. One day while walking near the Loa River, they saw a man who was so simple and graceful that they couldn't forget him for their whole life. The lyrics then express the persona's awe and admiration for Valparaíso, calling it a "disparate" and a "port city" placed by the shores of the South Sea. The women of Valparaíso are said to make the bitter taste sweet, symbolizing the city's ability to transform hardship into something beautiful.
The song continues to describe Valparaíso as brave, sailor-like, scandalous, and full of mischief. It mentions how the city became the meeting place of Henequén and the Devil, representing the mixing of cultures and influences. Finally, it states that Valparaíso marked the debut of jazz, showing the city's contribution to the arts.
Line by Line Meaning
Contributed by Sydney A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.