Raquel Zozaya is a Cuban born singer of Tropical / Salsa music now living i… Read Full Bio ↴Raquel Zozaya is a Cuban born singer of Tropical / Salsa music now living in Colombia.

As a young girl, she competed in talent shows and festivals with great success. In 1983, she was the winner of the Cuban television contest “Todo el mundo canta”. She studied at El Instituto Superior de Arte de la Habana where she obtained a degree in Music specializing in vocal performance. This education helped hone her vocal skills. In her third year at the school she toured Peru with the theater group “Teatro Lírico de la Provincia de Holguin.” She also performed numerous plays of Traviata de Verdi at the Garcia Lorca Theater in Cuba.

In 1996, she began her recording career with two bolero-jazz songs recorded with NG La Banda under the direction of Jose Luis Cortes “El Tosco” for the Spanish label Actual Records. In 1996, she recorded as lead vocalist with Pio Leyva and Cuba’s Folkloric Chorus in the album titled Santiago by Ry Cooder and the Irish group The Chieftains. This album won a Grammy in the world music category. The following year she recorded two duos with Omara Portuondo of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club.

Her first solo album, Un Pecado Nuevo, was produced by Jorge Rodriguez and released by Egrem Records in 1998. This album includes a duo with guest Tito Gomez. Again in 1998, she won first place at the XX Festival Internacional de la Cancion Festibuga in Colombia. Subsequently, Raquel signed a contract with Discos Fuentes. The first of multiple albums for this label, Cuban Souvenirs, was produced under the direction of Alberto Barros and released in 1998.

In 2003 she was guest artist in Sonora Carruseles' Grammy nominated album La Salsa la Traigo Yo. In addition to a discography of over 13 solo albums and videos, Raquel has been a guest artist on three of Julio Ernesto Estrada “Fruko” albums as well as on Quinto Mayor's En Concierto video. Her most recent guest appearance is in Alberto Barros’ video Tributo a la Salsa Colombiana bonus track Tributo a la Salsa del Mundo.

Her latest album, Cubaneando con…Raquel Zozaya was produced by Diego Galé for Codiscos/Salsa Power and released in 2006. This album showcases a wide range of boleros, son and salsa and includes a duet with Maelo Ruiz.

Raquel is gifted with a beautiful voice with a soprano register and is regarded as one of Cuba’s best vocalists of her generation. She has toured in more than 20 Latin American and European countries and performed for one year during Tropicana Cabaret 50th anniversary show and has shared the stage with renowned artists and producers... Since 1998, Raquel has been residing in Medellin, Colombia.

CHAN CHAN
Raquel Zozaya Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Marcaney umm Marcaney
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Oye mira yo te digo que este ritmo de chanchan es un ritmo del caribe que te inspira a guarachar.
Te la vida, te da calor, te da cariño, te da el sabor.
El cariño que te tengo no te lo puedo negar, se me sale la babita, yo no lo puedo evitar.
Marcaney, Marcaney.

Cuando Juanita y Chanchan en el mar cernian arena, como sacudia el jibre a Chanchan le daba pena.
Marcaney, Marcaney.
Limpia el camino de paja, que yo me quiero sentar en aquel tronco que veo y asi no puedo llegar.
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Oye el cariño que te tengo yo no lo puedo olvidar.
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Se me sale la babita y no no no lo puedo evitar.
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Chan Chan que lo digo yo
Chan Chan que lo dices tu
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Oye el cariño que te tengo yo lo tengo y lo mantengo
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Voy cantando en el encito lechero y conmigo todos los pasajeros
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Cuando la maquina pita que va subiendo la loma
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
La novia del maquinista abre la puerta y se asoma
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
Para Marcaney, para Mallarin, Alto Cedro se quema la maya
Que se quema la maya y aqui pasamo' a Raquel Zozaya
Vivelo Compay
Y ahora quiero decirle' a ustedes un coro muy sabroso que dice
Chan Chan te lo digo yo
Chan Chan que lo dices tu
Chan Chan te lo digo yo
Chan Chan que lo dices tu
Chan Chan te lo digo yo
Chan Chan que lo dices tu

Chan Chan
Chan Chan

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Raquel Zozaya's song Chan Chan are focused on the idea of the journey of the singer through different places in Cuba. The song begins with the lines "De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin," which roughly translates to "From Alto Cedro I go to Marcaney, from there to Cueto and then to Mallarin." The singer describes how this journey inspires the rhythm of Chan Chan, a music style from the Caribbean that makes people want to dance and enjoy life. The song also touches on the sweetness of love and the irresistible urge to express it, as the singer confesses "cariño que te tengo no te lo puedo negar, se me sale la babita yo no lo puedo evitar" which means "I cannot deny my love for you, I cannot help myself from showing it."

The lyrics go on to tell a story about Juanita and Chanchan, two people who sieve sand from the sea, and how Chanchan feels embarrassed when the sand shakes. Additionally, the song mentions cleaning the path to sit on a particular tree, the steam engine climbing up the hill with the machine's girlfriend peering out the door, and Alto Cedro's fields catching fire. The song ends with the repeated chorus of "Chan Chan te lo digo yo, Chan Chan que lo dices tu," which means "Chan Chan, I tell you, Chan Chan, what do you say?"

Line by Line Meaning

De Alto Cedro voy para Marcaney, llego a Cueto voy para Mallarin
I am traveling from Alto Cedro to Marcaney, and from there, I will go to Cueto and then Mallarin

Marcaney umm Marcaney
Marcaney, oh Marcaney

Oye mira yo te digo que este ritmo de chanchan es un ritmo del caribe que te inspira a guarachar.
Listen, I will tell you that this chanchan rhythm is a Caribbean rhythm that inspires you to dance (guarachar).

Te la vida, te da calor, te da cariño, te da el sabor.
It gives you life, warmth, love, and flavor.

El cariño que te tengo no te lo puedo negar, se me sale la babita, yo no lo puedo evitar.
I cannot deny the love I have for you, it makes me drool, I cannot help it.

Cuando Juanita y Chanchan en el mar cernian arena, como sacudia el jibre a Chanchan le daba pena.
When Juanita and Chanchan sifted sand in the sea, Chanchan felt embarrassed by how his belly jiggled.

Limpia el camino de paja, que yo me quiero sentar en aquel tronco que veo y asi no puedo llegar.
Clear the path of straw, because I want to sit on that log I see, but I cannot reach it.

Chan Chan que lo digo yo, Chan Chan que lo dices tu
Chan Chan, I say it, Chan Chan, you say it.

Oye el cariño que te tengo yo no lo puedo olvidar.
Listen, I cannot forget the love I have for you.

Se me sale la babita y no no no lo puedo evitar.
I can't help but drool.

Chan Chan que lo digo yo
Chan Chan, I say it

Chan Chan que lo dices tu
Chan Chan, you say it

Oye el cariño que te tengo yo lo tengo y lo mantengo
Listen, I have and will maintain the love I have for you.

Voy cantando en el encito lechero y conmigo todos los pasajeros
I am singing in the milk cart, and all the passengers are with me.

Cuando la maquina pita que va subiendo la loma
When the machine honks, it is going up the hill.

La novia del maquinista abre la puerta y se asoma
The train driver's girlfriend opens the door and looks out.

Para Marcaney, para Mallarin, Alto Cedro se quema la maya
To Marcaney, to Mallarin, the maya in Alto Cedro is burning.

Que se quema la maya y aqui pasamo' a Raquel Zozaya
As the maya burns, we come to Raquel Zozaya.

Vivelo Compay
Live it, friend.