Born in the mountain town of Aibonito, Puerto Rico and named after his uncle, Obie’s family moved to the farmlands of Vineland, New Jersey just before his teens. Music actually wasn't his first passion -- it was poetry. He learned guitar from his father, a big Beatles fan, while also being influenced by his mother's lively salsa sounds. Soon, he brought his two loves of words and music together, recording a demo in 1996 that led to an international label deal and the release of his debut album Locales two years later.
Though he received some acclaim, that first album didn't make him an overnight star; Obie chose to step back from his career and took a job at a New York Laundromat in the South Bronx, where his life and that of customers and co-workers inspired the songs that would fill his second album, Confesiones, released by EMI International in 2004. The album’s lead single "Antes" topped Latin charts worldwide and lead to Confesiones receiving multiple Latin GRAMMY nominations.
Obie next followed with the award-winning Todo El Año, a rich collection touched by personal experience and reflection, offering further heartfelt and soulful tales as the vivid title track shot to #1, and the album’s Latin Grammy win followed.
Now, Obie Bermúdez returns to the Latin Pop landscape once again with Lo Que Trajo El Barco (“What The Ship Has Brought In”). Working with multiple-Grammy winning producers Sebastian Krys and Andres Castro, Obie describes the album as a musical growth that still maintains his distinctive style and sound and provides a reminder that "No matter how much we move ahead in our lives and modify ourselves, we still need life’s basic anchors of hope, faith, and charity towards others”.
On the new album, a host of accomplished players took part in the sessions, including Fania All-Stars bassist Sal Cuevas, Sergio George percussionist Luis Quintero, renowned drummer Lee Levin, and famed Brazilian percussionist Laercio Da Costa. Producer Krys says the music is combination of Puerto Rican rhythms and the rich landscape of New York, with a story behind every song. The first single “Sigo Con Ella” (I’m Still With Her), is a song of devotion and dreams derived from the one you love.
All Music Guide has praised Obie for his original arrangements and sheer musical integrity, "a sonic palette rich with acoustic flavor and a tasteful mix of his Latino and alt-rock influences, an artist not only willing to take risks, but delighting in them." As he said the historic night he won his Grammy, “Nothing is impossible." For Obie Bermudez." making music is all about seizing the day, in fact, the moment, to find creative vigor and purpose. He told the Times, "I've always said that opportunities come around again and again. The important thing is not to be caught sitting on your hands when it comes."
La Soledad
Obie Bermúdez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qué raro verte por aquí
Te ves diferente, me sorprende verte
Entra no te quedes ahí
Yo que jure nunca volver a verte
Pensé que siempre fue mejor así
Mejor así, oh, oh
La soledad hoy llega a mi casa
Sin avisar con su equipaje
Se sienta en la mesa y pide café
Me dice que se quedara un rato
La soledad llego tan tranquila
Dice que no tiene prisa
Se sienta en la sala a ver la T.V.
Llego para quedarse esta vez, oh, oh
Llego para quedarse esta vez
Yo te había visto en California
Ponche y seguí para Nueva York
Pasaron los años ya te había olvidado
Hasta llegar a Puerto Rico
Cuando llegué a mi pueblo de Abonito
Me acorralaste y ya no hubo salida
No Hubo salida, oh, oh
La soledad hoy llega a mi casa
Sin avisar con su equipaje
Se sienta en la mesa y pide café
Me dice que se quedara un rato
La soledad llegó tan tranquila
Me dice que no tiene prisa
Se sienta en la sala a ver la T.V.
Llego para quedarse esta vez, oh, oh
Llego para quedarse esta vez
Yo que jure nunca volver a verte
Pensé que siempre fue mejor así
Mejor así, oh, oh
La soledad hoy llega a mi casa
Sin avisar con su equipaje
Se sienta en la mesa y pide café
Me dice que se quedara un rato
La soledad llegó tan tranquila
Dice que no tiene prisa
Se sienta en la sala a ver la T.V.
Llego para quedarse esta vez, oh, oh
Llego para quedarse esta vez
The song "La Soledad" by Obie Bermúdez speaks of someone unexpectedly encountering a past love interest, who they had thought they would never see again. The opening lines say "Hello, how are you? What a strange encounter to have you here. You look different, I am surprised to see you. Come in, don't stand there." These lines introduce a feeling of shock and disbelief that the person is feeling at the sight of their former partner.
The song then goes on to describe how the feeling of loneliness has arrived unannounced to the singer's house, asking for coffee at the kitchen table and taking a seat in the living room to watch TV. It is personified as a familiar house guest who has unexpectedly dropped in and plans to stay a while. The singer admits that he/she had once seen the other person in California and then escaped to New York City in an attempt to forget them. However, when they returned to their hometown, the former lover cornered them, and there was no escape.
The repetition of the phrase "Llegó para quedarse esta vez" ('she came to stay this time') accentuates the despair that the person feels when they see their old love interest again. It is clear that they had hoped the relationship had ended for good, but now it seems like the loneliness that has been chasing them will also stay with them.
Line by Line Meaning
¿Hola que tal, como te va?
Greetings, how are you doing?
Qué raro verte por aquí
It's odd to see you here.
Te ves diferente, me sorprende verte
You look different, seeing you surprises me.
Entra no te quedes ahí
Come in, don't just stay there.
Yo que jure nunca volver a verte
I swore to never see you again.
Pensé que siempre fue mejor así
I thought it was always better that way.
Mejor así, oh, oh
Better that way, oh, oh.
La soledad hoy llega a mi casa
Loneliness arrives at my house today.
Sin avisar con su equipaje
Without warning, with its luggage.
Se sienta en la mesa y pide café
It sits at the table and asks for coffee.
Me dice que se quedara un rato
It tells me it will stay for a while.
La soledad llego tan tranquila
Loneliness arrived so calmly.
Dice que no tiene prisa
It says it's not in a hurry.
Se sienta en la sala a ver la T.V.
It sits in the living room to watch T.V.
Llego para quedarse esta vez, oh, oh
It came to stay this time, oh, oh.
Yo te había visto en California
I had seen you in California.
Ponche y seguí para Nueva York
I had a drink and went on to New York.
Pasaron los años ya te había olvidado
Years passed, I had forgotten about you.
Hasta llegar a Puerto Rico
Until I arrived in Puerto Rico.
Cuando llegué a mi pueblo de Abonito
When I arrived in my hometown of Abonito.
Me acorralaste y ya no hubo salida
You cornered me and there was no way out.
No Hubo salida, oh, oh
There was no way out, oh, oh.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OBED BERMUDEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind