It's been quite a journey since Orishas released their first album 'A Lo Cubano' in Spain in May 1999. Lauded by the press throughout Europe ever since it came out, the group launched into a marathon tour that started in summer 1999. From clubs to festivals, the European tour stretched out to just over two years with evening performances of their music catalogue at the Olympia, the Ancienne Belgique and the Royal Festival Hall in England. They were to play at the most prestigious festivals in Europe like the Lowlands (Holland), where they topped the bill along with groups like Deftones and Cypress Hill, and the Roskilde (Denmark), where they brewed up a storm alongside groups as disparate as Tool and Wyclef Jean. Orishas also performed in the year 2000 at festivals like the Paleo Nyon Festival, the La Rochelle Francofolies and Pop Kom.
The group gradually acquired international standing, and after conquering Europe they went on to win over the United States in November 2000, with the American press unanimous in its acclaim: articles and reviews in Time, Rolling Stone, The Source, Vibe ,... Little by little they became an essential live band, capable of sharing the stage with artists as diverse as Compay Segundo, Orquestra Aragon, Iggy Pop, Cypress Hill, Macy Gray and Marcus Miller. Orishas paid their dues on the road and left Europe to take part in various jazz festivals in Canada and South Africa, dropping in on Brazil and Mexico. Orishas left no doubt that their musical fusion, unique in its genre, enables them to break the frontiers of style and to be equally at home in front of a latino, hip hop, pop or rock audience.
December saw their triumphal return to Cuba, where they had occupied the top slots of the radio charts for months and where they gave two concerts that brought together tens of thousands of young Cubans. They had come full circle, because after touring the world Orishas' dream finally came true: playing in front of their families and the people of Cuba.
Collaborations came thick and fast, with Roldan Gonzalez appearing on various French rap albums (Kerry James) or international rap albums (Dari, Da Weasel / Portugal).
After more than 200 concerts worldwide, the group decided to get back to song writing in August 2001. It was only to be expected that they would start working together again with the French producer and composer Niko Noki, (Passi, Bisso Na Bisso), who along with Roldan Gonzalez had been responsible for the tracks on the first album. He in turn engaged the services of a young composer of the future, DJ Mig-One, who had two albums with his group Starflam under his belt. They strung several studio sessions together between Belgium and Paris to knock up no fewer than twenty tracks. In November 2001 the group was ready at last to go back into the studio proper to record the successor to A Lo Cubano. They opted for the EMI studio in Paris, where the cream of Cuban musicians gathered at the group's behest to immortalise the songs of the Emigrante album. The group had matured and learned a great deal from touring the world, the subjects are more profound and given a more international treatment. Having had their eyes opened by the big world has had a visible impact on their writing. As on the first album, Miko Niko is in charge of musical production and most of the tracks, DJ Mig One has penned 3 compositions that underpin the plurality of their influences. The album was mixed at the Polygone studio in Toulouse under the auspices of Mario Rodriguez (Notorious B.I.G., Public Enemy, Mobb Deep, Fonky Family, 113...). Once again the alchemy is perfect. The new album sees the return of two very talented artists and long-standing friends of the group: Passi on La Vida Passa and Yuri Buenaventura on 300 Kg de Rap.
The new album has a pan-European release on April 22, 2002 and is being promoted in a tour that takes in more than ten countries before being presented on the stages of the major European festivals this summer.
Silencio
Orishas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Los detalles te los digo pal que el corazón no rajes
Me Sajé yo muchísimo en esta vida
Hay quien te estima por dinero
Why eso es una hipocresía
De noche al día te cambian mentalidad
Trafican armas por millones
Why el mundo muere detrás
Con su doble cara
Lo mismo un pobre un presidente
Roba que asesina why calla
Es muy normal que mi mensaje
En el silencio reventara
Hoy no termina mi jornada
A lo mejor un día fallaste en la cruzada
Sileeencio
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
Antes de que corra el fuego
Discriminación racial problema social total
El tiempo pasa debemos llegar
Sin pesimismo viviendo al borde de un abismo
Why este lirismo que me libera de todas mis penas
Aquel que busca un golpe de suerte espera
La vida es corta pero llega
Con gente que viven de la esperanza
Paro en seco why hago eco
La pura verdad why con confianza
Violaciones dégradables de las convicciones
Mi silencio hare parte
De todas esas acciones, confusiones why traiciones
Sileeencio
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
Antes de que corra el fuego
Dolorosa pero triste realidad
Mundo donde se ha perdido claridad
En todas la direcciones
Se proyectan como un animal feroz
Desgracias why humillaciones
Se perdió la humanidad en todas la direcciones
Se proyectan como un animal feroz
Desgracias why humillaciones
Sileeencio
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
Antes de que corra el fuego
Yo era como tu
Las injusticias las pasaban a diario
En la tele en la radio why yo sin comentario
Yo he visto con mis propios ojos como sangre brota
Te quita la ropa, me callo la boca
Why todo sigue viento en popa
Why mi derrota en la ventana se asentaba
Una mañana a mi trabajo alguien llama
- Halo
- Buenos días ¿es la oficina del señor Montana?
- Aja que desea
- Mire llamo de la estación de policía
Para informarle que su hijo ha sido
Encontrado anoche muerto
- No, no eso no es posible
Ahora me toca a mi vivir lo que he callado
Ahora me toca a mi llorar
Mientras que otros no han hablado
Sileeencio
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
Antes de que corra el fuego
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
Antes de que corra el fuego
(x2)
The lyrics of Orishas’ Silencio speak to the problems and issues faced by those living on the streets. The singer reminds the listener that he is a street child and shares details of his struggles with those that may not understand. He talks about how he has suffered in life and makes a point to say that some people only value others for the money they have, which is a form of hypocrisy. The song describes how people’s mentalities can change so quickly and how some are willing to engage in criminal activities, like trafficking weapons for millions, while the world suffers behind them. The singer also touches on the idea that death is always lurking behind us, waiting to strike with its double face.
The song goes on to describe the larger problems of society, including racial discrimination and the loss of humanity. The singer believes that these issues should be brought to light, and that silence must be broken, no matter how painful it may be. The song encourages the listener to take action in the face of these problems; to stand up and be heard, rather than staying silent and allowing the abysmal reality to continue. The final part of the song reveals the personal cost of staying silent and ignoring these issues. The singer tells a story of a phone call he received where he learned that his son had been found dead, which is likely a metaphor for seeing the consequences of not speaking up in the face of societal problems.
Overall, Silencio is a powerful song that speaks to the harsh realities of life for those living on the streets, and the larger societal problems that we all face. It encourages the listener to break the silence and take action, to prevent these issues from continuing to harm individuals and society as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
No se te olvide jamás que soy un niño de la calle
Remember, I am a street child and will never forget where I come from.
Los detalles te los digo pal que el corazón no rajes
I will tell you the details for those who won't betray my heart.
Me Sajé yo muchísimo en esta vida
Life has been tough on me.
Hay quien te estima por dinero
Some love you only for your money.
Why eso es una hipocresía
And that's hypocrisy.
De noche al día te cambian mentalidad
People change their minds overnight.
Trafican armas por millones
They smuggle weapons for millions.
Why el mundo muere detrás
And the world is dying behind them.
Detrás de ti acechará la muerte
Death will follow you.
Con su doble cara
With its two faces.
Lo mismo un pobre un presidente
The same goes for the poor and the president.
Roba que asesina why calla
They steal, kill, and remain silent.
Es muy normal que mi mensaje
It's normal for my message.
En el silencio reventara
To explode in silence.
Hoy no termina mi jornada
Today, my journey doesn't end.
A lo mejor un día fallaste en la cruzada
Maybe one day, you fail in the fight.
Sileeencio
Silence.
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
The brother on the street is a social problem.
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
And can lead to an abyss.
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
I am facing the troops again.
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
And there is no game, we must end this.
Antes de que corra el fuego
Before the fire spreads.
Discriminación racial problema social total
Racial discrimination is a total social problem.
El tiempo pasa debemos llegar
Time passes, and we must arrive.
Sin pesimismo viviendo al borde de un abismo
Living on the edge of an abyss, without pessimism.
Why este lirismo que me libera de todas mis penas
And this lyricism that frees me from all my sorrows.
Aquel que busca un golpe de suerte espera
Those who seek a stroke of luck, wait.
La vida es corta pero llega
Life is short but it arrives.
Con gente que viven de la esperanza
With people who live on hope.
Paro en seco why hago eco
I stop abruptly and echo.
La pura verdad why con confianza
The pure truth, and with confidence.
Violaciones dégradables de las convicciones
Degradable violations of convictions.
Mi silencio hare parte
My silence will be a part of it.
De todas esas acciones, confusiones why traiciones
Of all those actions, confusions, and betrayals.
Dolorosa pero triste realidad
A painful but sad reality.
Mundo donde se ha perdido claridad
A world where clarity has been lost.
En todas la direcciones
In all directions.
Se proyectan como un animal feroz
And projected like a fierce animal.
Desgracias why humillaciones
Misfortunes and humiliations.
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
The brother on the street is a social problem.
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
And can lead to an abyss.
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
I am facing the troops again.
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
And there is no game, we must end this.
Antes de que corra el fuego
Before the fire spreads.
Yo era como tu
I was like you.
Las injusticias las pasaban a diario
Injustices happened every day.
En la tele en la radio why yo sin comentario
On TV, on the radio, and I remained silent.
Yo he visto con mis propios ojos como sangre brota
I have seen with my own eyes how blood flows.
Te quita la ropa, me callo la boca
It takes away your clothes, and I remain silent.
Why todo sigue viento en popa
And everything continues to go smoothly.
Why mi derrota en la ventana se asentaba
And my defeat was settling on the window.
Una mañana a mi trabajo alguien llama
One morning, someone calls my workplace.
- Halo
- Hello.
- Buenos días ¿es la oficina del señor Montana?
- Good morning, is this Mr. Montana's office?
- Aja que desea
- Yes, what do you want?
- Mire llamo de la estación de policía
- Look, I'm calling from the police station.
Para informarle que su hijo ha sido
To inform you that your son has been.
Encontrado anoche muerto
Found dead last night.
- No, no eso no es posible
- No, no, that's not possible.
Ahora me toca a mi vivir lo que he callado
Now it's my turn to live what I've kept silent.
Ahora me toca a mi llorar
Now it's my turn to cry.
Mientras que otros no han hablado
While others have not spoken.
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
The brother on the street is a social problem.
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
And can lead to an abyss.
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
I am facing the troops again.
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
And there is no game, we must end this.
Antes de que corra el fuego
Before the fire spreads.
El hermano de la calle es el problema social
The brother on the street is a social problem.
Al Abismo puede arrastrar
And can lead to an abyss.
Estoy parado frente a la tropa de nuevo
I am facing the troops again.
Why no juego hay que acabar con esto
And there is no game, we must end this.
Antes de que corra el fuego
Before the fire spreads.
Sileeencio (x2)
Silence. (x2)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HIRAM RIVERI MEDINA, LIVAN NUNEZ ALEMAN, NICOLAS NOCCHI, ROLDAN GONZALEZ RIVERO, YOTUEL OMAR ROMERO MANZANARES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind