The band started when Jorge González and Miguel Tapia decided to start their own band while being high school students. They were inexperienced but enthusiastic, after many practices and writing songs, they asked Claudio Narea if he would like to join them, and impressed by the music they were making, he accepted. Towards the early 80's they went through some name changes and before settling on "Los Prisioneros" they had the name "Los Vinchukas" as their original name. In 1983, they had played a number of local shows and that's when they met Carlos Fonseca, former University classmate of Jorge, their future manager. Through him, they managed to score a record deal with Fusión Producciones.
In 1984, the band's debut album was released, with the hit song "La Voz De Los '80" (which was never a single). They reached acclaim in the radio and by the next year they would be touring. In 1986, their long awaited second album "Pateando Piedras" went double Platinum album in Chile. By that time, the group was invited to perform at Argentina's Chateau Rock Festival and later to a similar event in Montevideo, Uruguay. They continued touring and they became more successful mainstream wise.
The band disbanded in 1992, then as a quartet with additional members Cecilia Aguayo (keyboards) and Robert Rodríguez (guitar), since Claudio Narea had left the band earlier in 1990.
The original lineup of the band decided to get back together in 2001, offering two massive concerts in the National Stadium of Santiago, and then releasing "Los Prisioneros", their first original studio album in 13 years. However, internal problems between González and Narea led again to the departure of the guitarist in 2003. Los Prisioneros continued working as a duet with guest members like Álvaro Henríquez whom with they released a cover album. In 2004 two additional musicians joined the band: Sergio "Coty" Badilla and Gonzalo Yáñez, releasing their sixth album Manzana the same year. A little while after the release of the album band members decided to establish themselves in Mexico, attempting to get more international exposure. Yáñez decided not to leave Chile and left the band. After touring through several locations in North and South America, they finally disbanded in 2006.
Lo Estamos Pasando Muy Bien
Los Prisioneros Lyrics
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En sus autos la gente va feliz a trabajar
No hay problemas ni necesidad
Este lugar es ideal
Todos tenemos mucho dinero para gastar
Compramos en el parque arauco y en el almac
Nada es muy caro si se trata de nuestra
Todos tenemos un trabajo digno y bien pagado
Nadie está en desventaja ni es maltratado
Nuestros jefes nos sonríen y nosotros también
A ellos
Aquí no roba nadie nihay porque robar
Nuestros sueldos son bueno y podemos ahorrar
Ven tu también a jugar aquí somos un país
De verdad
Lo estamos pasando muy bien, yeah yeah yeah
Engordamos bastante, ia ia ia o
Esto magnífico tra la la la la
La comida es muy buena si lo que quieres es comer
El vino, las carnes un pollito muy bien asado
Todos quedamos satisfechos despues del almuerzo
No es cierto
Si se trata de estudiar allí está la universidad
Un abogado un arquitecto o enfermera puedes ser
El trato es excelente la enseñanza muy buena
Y el costo (que importa el costo)
Lo estamos pasando muy bien, yeah yeah yeah
Engordamos bastante, ia ia ia o
Esto magnífico tra la la la la
The lyrics of Los Prisioneros's song "Lo Estamos Pasando Muy Bien" describe a society that appears to be ideal on the surface, with full shop windows, happy people going to work, and no problems or needs. The people in this society have plenty of money to spend and can buy anything they want at the mall. They have well-paying and respectful jobs, and their bosses treat them kindly. Crime is non-existent, as everyone has enough money to avoid the temptation to steal. The food is delicious, and people enjoy eating together. The universities provide excellent education, and anyone can become a lawyer, architect, or nurse if they choose.
However, the tone of the song is ironic, as the lyrics paint a picture of a utopia that is obviously fake. The use of repetition throughout the song emphasizes this irony, as the chorus of "Lo estamos pasando muy bien" ("we're having a great time") is repeated multiple times, with the addition of "yeah yeah yeah" and "ia ia ia o" adding to the song's sarcastic tone. In reality, Los Prisioneros is pointing out the flaws of a society where money and materialism rule everything, and where appearances can be deceiving.
Overall, "Lo Estamos Pasando Muy Bien" is a critique of a society that values wealth above all else and sacrifices morals and ethics for the sake of consumerism.
Line by Line Meaning
Como puedes ver las vitrinas están llenas de cosas que comprar
There are plenty of things to buy in the shops as you can see by looking at the windows
En sus autos la gente va feliz a trabajar
People travel happily to work in their cars
No hay problemas ni necesidad
There are no problems or needs
Este lugar es ideal
This place is perfect
Todos tenemos mucho dinero para gastar
Everybody has a lot of money to spend
Compramos en el parque arauco y en el almac
We buy things in the Parque Arauco shopping mall and also in other stores
Nada es muy caro si se trata de nuestra felicidad
Nothing is too expensive when it comes to our happiness
Todos tenemos un trabajo digno y bien pagado
Everyone has a well-paid and respectable job
Nadie está en desventaja ni es maltratado
Nobody is at a disadvantage or mistreated
Nuestros jefes nos sonríen y nosotros también a ellos
Our bosses smile at us and we smile back at them
Aquí no roba nadie nihay porque robar
Nobody steals here, there's no reason to
Nuestros sueldos son bueno y podemos ahorrar
Our salaries are good and we can save money
Ven tu también a jugar aquí somos un país
Come and join us, here we are a country
De verdad
For real
La comida es muy buena si lo que quieres es comer
The food is very good if you want to eat
El vino, las carnes un pollito muy bien asado
The wine, meats and roasted chicken are all very good
Todos quedamos satisfechos despues del almuerzo
Everyone is satisfied after lunch
No es cierto
Isn't that true?
Si se trata de estudiar allí está la universidad
If you want to study, the university is right there
Un abogado un arquitecto o enfermera puedes ser
You can become a lawyer, architect, or nurse
El trato es excelente la enseñanza muy buena
The treatment is excellent and the education is very good
Y el costo (que importa el costo)
And the cost (who cares about the cost)
Lo estamos pasando muy bien, yeah yeah yeah
We're having a great time, yeah yeah yeah
Engordamos bastante, ia ia ia o
We're getting quite fat, hey hey hey
Esto magnífico tra la la la la
This is magnificent, tra la la la la
Lyrics © SADAIC LATIN COPYRIGHTS, INC.
Written by: CLAUDIO A. NAREA GUAJARDO, MIGUEL ORLANDO TAPIA MENDOZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind