Captivating and moving audiences over the course of a 24-year, 14-album career, this fine-tuned Puerto Rican-based ensemble of virtuoso musicians has only gotten better with age, as evidenced by their four recent Grammy nominations and world-wide touring schedule.
Led by founder and bassist Gary Nuñez, Plena Libre is recognized for taking the once dormant, Puerto Rican plena style of music and reclaiming it for a new generation of listeners to enjoy. The group became instantly popular in Puerto Rico, with National Geographic crediting Plena Libre among other Puerto Rican acts in “spearheading the Latin invasion of American popular music. Plena Libre features three vocalists singing in captivating three and four-part harmonies which complement the group’s danceable, Afro-Rican compositions. The group’s use of call-and-response, percussion and polyrhythms keeps each show feeling groovy and fresh.
With an aggressive, tight, yet sensitive style, which balances the traditional with the contemporary, the global and the local, Plena Libre creates a brand of music and live performance that is both profoundly Puerto Rican and universally appealing. Filtering the sounds of various Afro-Caribbean forms like merengue and cumbia, and Afro-Cuban like mambo and yes, salsa if you ask nicely through a unique set of artistic sensibilities, this versatile collection of expert performers create a celebratory spectacle and engaging sonic ecstasy. Thrilling audiences around the world, from the Fez Festival (in Morocco) to the Playboy Jazz Festival, Plena Libre is a train that just keeps picking up steam as it charges ahead in unexpected and exciting directions.
Plena Libre Members
Gary Nuñez - Music Director, Bassist and Founder
Emanuel Santana - Singer/Hand Drums
Victor Velez - Singer/Hand Drums
Luisga Nuñez - Chorus/Percussion
Rafael Falu - Requinto
Luis rivera - Singer/Percussion
Como Son las Cosas
Plena Libre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me llego la inspiracion
Y sobre la hoja mi pluma volo
Pa contarles que paso
Y porque estuve encerrado
El estado dijo homicidio calificado
Vamos nunca e dicho que soy un angel
Yo soy el perro guardian de mi barrio de mi chante
Ulises era compa y tambien buena persona
Recuerdo aquella tarde que llegaste a visitarme nomas para avisarme
Que el traidor de Miguel Chavez estaba planeado matarme
Que me pusiera al tiro porque el vato carga cuete
De lo unico que hablaba era de que me iba a dar muerte
te agradeci el informe y me despedi de ti
te dije caele al rato para hecharnos una weed
porque ahorita toy jalando arreglandome unos beats
me dijiste ya se hizo al ratote te wacho aqui
()
Como son las cosas de la vida
Te llevo presente mi memoria no te olvida
Siempre fuiste mi compi desde que llegaste al barrio
Y toda la flota sabe que nos juntabamos diario Me quede en el estudio un rato trabajando
Mery dee subio para ver si queria cenar algo
Le dije ahorita bajo deja apago el equipo vete con cuidadito
Que Miguel anda muy loco y esta tirando mucho pico
Eso dice el Ulises y al chile se lo creo
Ya varios de mis perros me dijeron de ese pedo
Y como en Babilonia la escalera esta por fuera
Cuando oigo que Mery grita pues que salgo a la carrera
Voltie pa todos lados buscando a mi mujer
Pero dos trocas parquiadas no me dejaban ver
Como ya estaba advertido pues ya traia mi escuadra
Que salgo hacerle frente parado en medio de la cuadra
Y ahi estaba Miguel con una mano en la espalda
Me dijo hasta aqui llegaste te voy a chingar por cabra
No lo pense dos veces saque el cuete luego luego
Pero pa bajarle el pedo por eso tire pal suelo
()
Como son las cosas de la vida
Te llevo presente mi memoria no te olvida
Siempre fuiste mi compi desde que llegaste al barrio
Y toda la flota sabe que nos juntabamos diario Miguel Chavez se siente como si fuera un Dios
Dicen que hasta se burla de lo que paso
Sale haciendose la victima en la television
Pero todo el mundo sabe que el vato es un osicon
Y a mi compa Ulises que llego a tirar mezquina
Una bala de rebote le arrebato al vida
Tu sabes carnalito contigo ni era la bronca
Tu siempre has sido compa siempre fuiste de la flota
Eso lo sabe todo el mundo en Santa Catarina
Como saben que Miguel ya tenia la mente podrida
Que esperas de una lacra que encañona hasta a su jefa
Golpea a su carnala y hasta sin casa las deja
Yo estuve tras las rejas casi me empino la vida
Pero tu te hechaste encima a todos los de mi jauria
(BABO)
"Despues de que te di techo ropa y comida
Como dijeron en la tele los corresponsales
Juan Miguel Chavez padeces de tus facultades mentales"
The lyrics to Plena Libre's song "Como Son las Cosas" recount the experience of being imprisoned and reflecting on the events that led to incarceration. The singer tells the story of his friend Ulises warning him that someone was planning to kill him, leading him to arm himself and confront his assailant, Miguel Chavez. In the ensuing struggle, there was a gunshot that ricocheted and killed Ulises. The singer was then arrested and accused of murder. "Como Son las Cosas" is a lament on the unpredictable nature of life, fate, and misfortune, as well as a reflection on the violent realities of life in neighborhoods often plagued by violence and fear. It speaks to the difficulty of living in such spaces, where one must always be on guard to protect oneself and loved ones.
The lyrics of the song are poetic and vivid, with a sense of urgency and desperation that captures the gravity of the situation. The singer speaks with a fierce passion as he recounts the events that led to his imprisonment, highlighting the loyalty and camaraderie that exists between members of his community. At the same time, the song is also a lament on the impact that violence and criminality can have on the most vulnerable in society, including women and children.
Line by Line Meaning
Hasta estando en la prision
Even while in prison
Me llego la inspiracion
Inspiration came to me
Y sobre la hoja mi pluma volo
My pen flew over the paper
Pa contarles que paso
To tell you what happened
Y porque estuve encerrado
And why I was locked up
El estado dijo homicidio calificado
The state said it was premeditated murder
Vamos nunca e dicho que soy un angel
I've never claimed to be an angel
Yo soy el perro guardian de mi barrio de mi chante
I am the watchdog of my neighborhood
De mi gente de mi clika y de todo el que me apoya
Of my people, my clique, and everyone who supports me
Ulises era compa y tambien buena persona
Ulises was a buddy and a good person
Recuerdo aquella tarde que llegaste a visitarme nomas para avisarme
I remember that afternoon when you visited me just to warn me
Que el traidor de Miguel Chavez estaba planeado matarme
That the traitor Miguel Chavez was planning to kill me
Que me pusiera al tiro porque el vato carga cuete
To be careful because the dude was carrying a gun
De lo unico que hablaba era de que me iba a dar muerte
All he talked about was killing me
te agradeci el informe y me despedi de ti
I thanked you for the info and said goodbye
te dije caele al rato para hecharnos una weed
I told you to come back later to smoke some weed
porque ahorita toy jalando arreglandome unos beats
Because right now, I'm working on fixing some beats
me dijiste ya se hizo al ratote te wacho aqui
You said you'll be back soon, I'll see you here
Como son las cosas de la vida
Such is life
Te llevo presente mi memoria no te olvida
I keep you in my memories, I won't forget
Siempre fuiste mi compi desde que llegaste al barrio
You were always my buddy since you came to the neighborhood
Y toda la flota sabe que nos juntabamos diario
And everyone in the hood knows we hung out every day
Me quede en el estudio un rato trabajando
I stayed at the studio working for a bit
Mery dee subio para ver si queria cenar algo
Mery Dee came up to see if I wanted something to eat
Le dije ahorita bajo deja apago el equipo vete con cuidadito
I told her I'll be down in a bit, turn off the equipment, and be careful
Que Miguel anda muy loco y esta tirando mucho pico
Because Miguel is going crazy and shooting a lot
Eso dice el Ulises y al chile se lo creo
That's what Ulises said, and I believe him
Ya varios de mis perros me dijeron de ese pedo
Several of my buddies told me about that issue
Y como en Babilonia la escalera esta por fuera
And like in Babilonia, the stairs are on the outside
Cuando oigo que Mery grita pues que salgo a la carrera
When I heard Mery scream, I rushed out
Voltie pa todos lados buscando a mi mujer
I looked for my woman in all directions
Pero dos trocas parquiadas no me dejaban ver
But two parked trucks were blocking my view
Como ya estaba advertido pues ya traia mi escuadra
Since I was already warned, I had my squad with me
Que salgo hacerle frente parado en medio de la cuadra
So I went to confront Miguel, standing in the middle of the street
Y ahi estaba Miguel con una mano en la espalda
And there was Miguel, with one hand behind his back
Me dijo hasta aqui llegaste te voy a chingar por cabra
He said, 'You've come this far, I'm going to mess you up'
No lo pense dos veces saque el cuete luego luego
Without a second thought, I pulled out my gun
Pero pa bajarle el pedo por eso tire pal suelo
But to calm things down, I shot into the ground
Miguel Chavez se siente como si fuera un Dios
Miguel Chavez thinks he's a god
Dicen que hasta se burla de lo que paso
They say he even makes fun of what happened
Sale haciendose la victima en la television
He goes on TV, playing the victim
Pero todo el mundo sabe que el vato es un osicon
But everyone knows he's a coward
Y a mi compa Ulises que llego a tirar mezquina
And to my buddy Ulises, who only went to throw a punch
Una bala de rebote le arrebato al vida
A ricocheting bullet took his life
Tu sabes carnalito contigo ni era la bronca
You know it wasn't about you, bro
Tu siempre has sido compa siempre fuiste de la flota
You've always been a buddy, always been part of the crew
Eso lo sabe todo el mundo en Santa Catarina
Everyone in Santa Catarina knows that
Como saben que Miguel ya tenia la mente podrida
Just like they know that Miguel was already a rotten person
Que esperas de una lacra que encañona hasta a su jefa
What do you expect from a scumbag who even points a gun at his own mother
Golpea a su carnala y hasta sin casa las deja
He beats his own sister and even leaves her homeless
Yo estuve tras las rejas casi me empino la vida
I was behind bars, and my life was nearly ruined
Pero tu te hechaste encima a todos los de mi jauria
But you stood up for all my pack members
Despues de que te di techo ropa y comida
After I gave you shelter, clothes, and food
Como dijeron en la tele los corresponsales
Like the reporters said on TV
Juan Miguel Chavez padeces de tus facultades mentales
Juan Miguel Chavez, you suffer from mental illness
Contributed by Owen I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.