While fully supportive of the Cuban Revolution, Milanés was critical of some aspects of the Cuban regime. He took official positions but allegedly avoided participating in pro-government campaigns; on January 25, 2007, he signed a petition supporting Puerto Rico's independence from the United States of America.
A number of artists have performed with him; among them Silvio Rodríguez, Joaquín Sabina, Ana Belén, Lilia Vera, Joan Manuel Serrat, Víctor Manuel, etc. Among his songs, "Yolanda", "Yo me quedo", "Amo a esta isla", "Yo pisaré las calles nuevamente", "Para Vivir", and "El breve espacio en que no estás" are especially well-known.
Since his first recording ("Versos sencillos de José Martí" in 1973), he issued more than 40 solo records, and many more in collaboration with other artists from Cuba, elsewhere in Latin America, and Spain.
The heyday of his creativity occurred probably in the early 1980s, with his records "El guerrero", "Yo me quedo", and "Comienzo y final de una verde mañana".
Hablame De Colores
Pablo Milanés Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blanco como el destino que te di
Negro como los signos que favorecen
Ser blanco de los besos que merecí
Blanco como el azote de nuestro siglo, amén
Negro como el disparo que me mató
Blanco como la noche que acabará
Blanco y negro resumen nuestro dolor
Negro y blanco nos unen para empezar
A limpiar la blancura que en su lugar
Dejará todo lo negro para el amor
Háblame de colores alrededor de ti
Del color de las flores que un día te di
Cuida que mis amores no se destiñan
Caleidoscopio eterno para vivir feliz
In this song, Pablo Milanés uses the contrasting and symbolic colors of black and white to describe the various facets of love and life. He begins the song by describing the color black as being symbolic of the beginning of their beautiful love, while white represents the destiny he gave to his lover. He then goes on to describe how the signs that favored his lover being on the receiving end of his kisses were black, while the kisses themselves were white. This creates an interesting dynamic where the black and white colors are not just two opposing forces, but rather, they work together to create something beautiful.
The song also highlights the darker and more painful aspects of life and love. For example, the color black is used to describe the gunshot that killed him, while white represents the night that will eventually end. However, even amidst the pain and suffering, Pablo Milanés suggests that there is hope for a brighter future. The color black also symbolizes his flag for peace, which is an indication that even in the darkest moments, there is always scope for a positive outcome.
Overall, the impressive use of contrasting colors in both positive and negative contexts, along with the poetic language of love and pain, results in a poignant song about the vivid colors of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Negro como el comienzo de nuestro hermoso amor
Black like the beginning of our beautiful love
Blanco como el destino que te di
White like the destiny I gave you
Negro como los signos que favorecen
Black like the signs that favor
Ser blanco de los besos que merecí
To be white of the kisses I deserved
Blanco como el azote de nuestro siglo, amén
White like the scourge of our century, amen
Negro como el disparo que me mató
Black like the shot that killed me
Blanco como la noche que acabará
White like the night that will end
Negro cual mi bandera para la paz
Black like my flag for peace
Blanco y negro resumen nuestro dolor
Black and white summarize our pain
Negro y blanco nos unen para empezar
Black and white unite us to begin
A limpiar la blancura que en su lugar
To clean the whiteness in its place
Dejará todo lo negro para el amor
It will leave everything black for love
Háblame de colores alrededor de ti
Speak to me of colors around you
Del color de las flores que un día te di
Of the color of the flowers I gave you one day
Cuida que mis amores no se destiñan
Make sure my loves don't fade
Caleidoscopio eterno para vivir feliz
Eternal kaleidoscope to live happily
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Evaristo Caban
Uno de mis preferidos. Pablo Milanes, QEPD🙏
Annie Turner
Hablame de colores al rededor de ti amor... Querido Pablo Milanés eres gran parte de mi antología musical de mi vida...
Lola Candel
Músicas maravilhosas!!
Iolita Domingos Barbosa Campos
Linda demais essa canção de amor na voz inigualável de Pablo.
Heidy Valdez
Cuantos recuerdos de un viejo amor , gracias a él conocí a este poeta de la canción
Karin Slowing
Una de mis favoritas de Pablo
Juan Manuel Ramírez
Deberías subir todo el disco José Mauros, para disfrutar de estos bellísimos temas de Milanés. :)
victor felix
Simplemente extraordinario. Gracias Pablo.
Chiqui Robledo
Cuando lo escucho se me caen las lagrimas.
Marinha Teixeira da Silva Brito
Muito bom!!!!