In 1967, Formell became musical director of Elio Reve's charanga orchestra. He reformatted the group into Changui '68, and then founded his own group, Los Van Van, on December 4, 1969.
Musical style
Using a charanga line-up as its base, Van Van added trombones and vocals, and was the first Cuban group to use synthesizers and drum machines. Their sound was a fusion of changui and son montuno with various types of music, including Afro-Cuban rhythms, rock, funk, disco, and hip hop. Juan Formell contributed countless innovations to the Cuban bass and clave, which paved the way for a radical reconceptualisation of rhythmic arrangements in Cuban music. The Van Van sound came to be known as songo (based on the songo rhythm), which laid the base for the later development of timba.
Notable personnel
Los Van Van has been a school for outstanding singers and musicians. Past members with successful careers as solo artists include Pedro Calvo, Angel Bonne, Changuito, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso and others. As of 2006, Los Van Van probably have the best lineup of singers for a Cuba band composed of; Mayito Rivera, Roberto Hernandez "Roberton", Yeni Valdes and Lele Rosales.
La bomba soy yo
Los Van Van Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo se que no eres titular de nada
Que has discutido sobre muchos temas
Pero mi socio ninguno ganabas
Porque no sabes nada de pintura
Tu no conoces nada de futbol
why mucho menos de literatura
Pa'que te haces
Si estan hablando de fotografia
De medicina o de carpinteria
why si de musica se trata el tema
Tu lo discutes sin ninguna pena
Que si el merengue no es dominicano
Que si la salsa no es la musica Cubana
Que si Frank Sinatra era Americano
Pa'que te haces (bis)
De todo pancho, lo que mas me asombra
Es que te falta lo que a un buen Cubano
Porque en la musica no tienes bomba
why en el deporte te vas de la mano
Porque no sabes nada de pelota
why no has estado nunca en un bembe
why no conoces a Manuel Mendive
Entonces que (bis)
Coro1:
Anda Mayito,dale
De tu bomba un poquito
Coro2:
Ae, ae para los que saben
Ae, yo traigo mi clave
The lyrics of Los Van Van's song "La bomba soy yo" critique the behavior of people who try to act knowledgeable about various subjects, when in reality, they lack depth or expertise. The singer begins by acknowledging that the person they are addressing is an apprentice in everything they know, and they are not the owner of any skills. The singer notes that the person has discussed many topics, but they have not won any of these discussions because they lack true knowledge of subjects such as painting, soccer, or literature. The refrain "Pa'que te haces" roughly translates to "Why are you pretending?"
The second verse of the song states that the person tries to debate everything without any shame, even if they have no real knowledge of the topic. The singer gives examples of topics such as photography, medicine, carpentry, and music, saying that this person discusses them without any depth. The refrain "Pa'que te haces" is repeated, and the singer shakes their head in disbelief at the person's attempts to appear knowledgeable.
In the final verse, the singer highlights the person's lack of knowledge about Cuban culture, such as the lack of understanding of "bomba" music, a traditional genre from Puerto Rico, and the absence of description of Manuel Mendive, a well-known Cuban artist. The refrain "Entonces que" translates to "So what?" and emphasizes that without any real knowledge in Cuban culture, this person's discussions are essentially void. The repetition of "Ae, ae para los que saben" emphasizes that the singer is aware of the true nature of these discussions, and they will not be fooled by this person's attempts at appearing knowledgeable.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo se que tu eres aprendiz te todo
I know that you are a novice in everything
Yo se que no eres titular de nada
I know that you are not a specialist in anything
Que has discutido sobre muchos temas
You have talked about many subjects
Pero mi socio ninguno ganabas
But my friend, you did not win any of them
Porque no sabes nada de pintura
Because you don't know anything about painting
Tu no conoces nada de futbol
You don't know anything about football
why mucho menos de literatura
let alone literature
Pa'que te haces
Why bother pretending?
Si estan hablando de fotografia
If they're talking about photography
De medicina o de carpinteria
Or medicine or carpentry
why si de musica se trata el tema
And if the topic is about music
Tu lo discutes sin ninguna pena
You argue shamelessly
Que si el merengue no es dominicano
Saying that merengue is not Dominican
Que si la salsa no es la musica Cubana
Or that salsa is not Cuban music
Que si Frank Sinatra era Americano
And even questioning if Frank Sinatra was American
Pa'que te haces (bis)
Why bother pretending? (repeat)
De todo pancho, lo que mas me asombra
Of all things, what amazes me the most
Es que te falta lo que a un buen Cubano
Is that you lack what a good Cuban has
Porque en la musica no tienes bomba
Because you don't have the essence of Cuban music
why en el deporte te vas de la mano
And in sports, you're clueless
Porque no sabes nada de pelota
Because you don't know anything about baseball
why no has estado nunca en un bembe
And you have never been to a Bembe ceremony
why no conoces a Manuel Mendive
And you don't know who Manuel Mendive is
Entonces que (bis)
What's the point? (repeat)
Anda Mayito,dale
Come on, Mayito, do it
De tu bomba un poquito
Give us a bit of your essence
Ae, ae para los que saben
Ae, Ae for those who know
Ae, yo traigo mi clave
Ae, I bring my rhythm
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CESAR PEDROSO FERNANDEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-nz7we6es4p
De Bomba no sabes na y hace muchas decades que los boricuas le comieron los dulces, los Reyes de la salsa 🇵🇷 110Cantates de salsa y 45 orquetas de las mejores y las dos orquetas Mas Antiguas del mundo vigentes, la Sonora ponceña y el el gran combo , le pasamos el rolo y los aplastamos
@hayashicastro2659
Lo mejor de lo mejor los van van de Cuba ❤
@noev.2374
Van van por siempre! Temazo eternamente.
@juancarbone
LA VERDAD QUE ESTE TEMA ES UN BOMBAZO DE ESTE ORQUESTON
@hectorjosedelacruzvillasec8979
TEMA PODEROSISIMO los van van con mayito rivera. Perfecta combinación. Saludos desde surquillo Lima- Perú
@wilmeralexanderquispeavila2688
Van van ✌️ por siempre saludos desde Perú 🇵🇪
@stefaniariascos8004
Uffff, ANDA MAYITO..PARA LOS K SABEN..YO TENGOO MI CLAVE
@gosopor0611
Sin palabras ! Sencillamente sentimiento, improvisacion y mucho mucho sabor !
@lunam2345
La Bomba Soy YO😃👏🏻💃🏻💃🏻
@gonzalesmileydis908
dedico esta cancion a todos los invidiosos y envidiosas de la inteligencia y la cultura de los otros y desean destronar pero lo que bien se aprende nunca se olvida eso para oki doki jeje