Roberto Roena has also been a long-time member of the Fania All Stars, the showcase group for the Fania Records label, which has enjoyed worldwide success since the 1970s. He recorded his signature song, "Coro Miyare", with the group; live performances of the song featured Roena playing the bongos and dancing with his uncle, legendary salsa dancer Aníbal Vázquez, in a choreographed section that almost always received standing ovations from the audience.
Mr. Roena took a giant step in the fusion of salsa with jazz, in the 1970s, by joining forces with African superstar (saxophonist) Manu Dibango of "Soul Makossa" fame.
Even without knowing how to read or write music, and probably because of it, Roena knew how to surround himself with excellent musicians and arrangers. "Apollo Sound" featured musicians from the ensemble of Tito Puente, "Cortijo y Su Combo", "El Gran Combo" and "Los Sunsets", among others. Some of the well renowned arrangers and composers who nourished his repertoire were Mario Ortiz, Bobby Valentín, Elias Lopés, Luis “Perico” Ortiz and Papo Lucca. With "Apollo Sound", Roberto introduced a “new” sound to salsa music by utilizing two trumpets, a trombone and a saxophone, a combination he took from the influence of the wind section of the rock group Blood, Sweat and Tears (in honor of which his band recorded a successful version of “Spinning Wheel”).
Roberto always considered variety as the key to success, leading him to include in his musical repertoire everything from go-go to the romantic, the same in English as in Spanish. Roberto Roena and his Apollo Sound’s first album produced hits of great impact like “Tú loco loco y yo tranquilo,” “El escapulario,” and “El sordo.” In fact, it was Apollo Sound who popularized the Bobby Capó classic, “Soñando con Puerto Rico.”
Apollo Sound recorded under the label International Records (a subsidiary of Fania) for a decade, in which they harvested successes like “Traición,” “Chotorro,” “Mi Desengaño,” “Fea,” “Marejada feliz,” “Cui cui,” and “El progreso,” among others. His popularity on the radio waves came accompanied with tours around the United States and Latin America.
Complementing the musicality of the salsa group was always the showmanship inherent in Roberto Roena. Dying his hair in new colors, playing percussion in his underwear and sporting a harness so he could “fly” around the stage of New York City's Madison Square Garden were some of the tricks that he used to stand out among the other groups in vogue. In fact, a noted journalist that followed Apollo Sound once remarked that they were “the first group in Puerto Rico with a system of psychedelic lights and go-go girls.”
Beginning in the 1980s, Roberto Roena and his Apollo Sound experienced a fade in popularity, reflecting a crisis that was sweeping through the salsa movement in general. Nevertheless, Roberto maintained himself by collaborating and recording independently with local groups. In 1990, Roena tried to revive the concept of Apollo Sound. He opened a concert for British rock singer Sting at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, where he presented his hit salsa version of "Every Breath You Take" (with an amused Sting watching from the sidelines).
In 1994, he celebrated 25 years with his orchestra in a successful concert at the Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan. This performance was recorded and released, validating his music for a new generation.
Si Yo Pudiera
Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cuanto daría!
Si yo pudiera llevar alegria a aquel que de tristeza padeciera,
Si yo pudiera transformar el mal en bien que alguna gente posellera,
Si yo pudiera liberar a aquel que tras las rejas cumple una condena,
Si yo pudiera.
Si yo pudiera dar la luz a la persona que sufre de ceguera,
Si yo pudiera que una gota de mi sangre salve a aquel que se muriera,
Si yo pudiera.
Si yo pudiera dar a aquel que hoy en su mesa un bocado no tuviera,
Si yo pudiera dar cobijo al vagabundo que deambula por doquiera,
Si yo pudiera daría todo lo que tengo y hasta lo que no tuviera,
Si yo pudiera.
Si yo pudiera que en el mundo existiera amor y una larga primavera
Si yo pudiera crear paz en este mundo y que la guerra nunca fuera,
Si yo pudiera que los hombres hoy se unieran y que no existan fronteras,
Si yo pudiera, Si yo pudiera, Si yo pudiera!
(Coro) Si yo pudiera cambiar el mundo,
La injusticia no existiera.
Si yo pudiera dar la luz a este mundo
Que esta lleno de tinieblas.
Que una gota de mi sangre salve a aquel que se muriera,
Que pena.
Si yo pudiera, Ay si pudiera,
Aquel enfermo en la cama no estuviera.
Daría todo,
Hasta lo que no tuviera.
Hubiera paz en este mundo,
Y una eterna primavera.
No existiera el mal, existiera el bien,
Ay que lindo fuera!
A lelele o lololo o lolo lala,
Este es mi canto para el mundo.
(2 Coro) Si yo pudiera, daría todo,
Hasta lo que no tuviera,
Si yo pudiera.
Llevaría alegría
No existiera tristeza.
A traves de esta canción
Te llevo mi mensaje
Album: Mi música 1997
The lyrics of "Si Yo Pudiera" by Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound are a poignant reflection of a desire to change the injustices and darkness that exist in the world. The song's chorus repeats the phrase "si yo pudiera" which means "if I could" in English. The singer wishes to bring joy to those who are suffering from sadness and transform the wrongs of society. They yearn to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and release those who are imprisoned. The singer acknowledges that they are unable to change the world alone, but they still long for a world filled with love, peace, and an eternal spring.
The song expresses a deep sense of empathy and compassion for those who are suffering, and a desire to create a better world. The lyrics are a call to action for listeners to also strive to make a positive impact in the world. The song reminds us that even small actions of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others. Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound deliver a powerful message through their music, inspiring listeners to reach out to those in need and work towards creating a more just and compassionate world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ay si yo pudiera, Cuanto daría!
Oh, if only I could, how much would I give!
Si yo pudiera llevar alegria a aquel que de tristeza padeciera,
If I could bring joy to those who suffer from sadness,
Si yo pudiera transformar el mal en bien que alguna gente posellera,
If I could turn the evil deeds of some into good,
Si yo pudiera liberar a aquel que tras las rejas cumple una condena,
If I could set free those who serve time behind bars,
Si yo pudiera dar salud a aquel enfermo que en cama estuviera,
If I could give health to those who are bedridden by illness,
Si yo pudiera dar la luz a la persona que sufre de ceguera,
If I could restore sight to those who suffer from blindness,
Si yo pudiera que una gota de mi sangre salve a aquel que se muriera,
If I could donate my blood to save the life of someone who is dying,
Si yo pudiera dar a aquel que hoy en su mesa un bocado no tuviera,
If I could give food to those who have nothing to eat,
Si yo pudiera dar cobijo al vagabundo que deambula por doquiera,
If I could provide shelter to the homeless who wander aimlessly,
Si yo pudiera daría todo lo que tengo y hasta lo que no tuviera,
If I could, I would give everything I have and even what I don't have,
Si yo pudiera que en el mundo existiera amor y una larga primavera
If I could make love and springtime last forever in this world
Si yo pudiera crear paz en este mundo y que la guerra nunca fuera,
If I could create peace in this world and eliminate all wars,
Si yo pudiera que los hombres hoy se unieran y que no existan fronteras,
If I could unite all men today and erase all borders,
Si yo pudiera, Si yo pudiera, Si yo pudiera!
If I could, if I could, if I could!
Si yo pudiera cambiar el mundo, La injusticia no existiera.
If I could change the world, injustice would not exist.
Si yo pudiera dar la luz a este mundo Que esta lleno de tinieblas.
If I could bring light to this world, which is full of darkness.
Que una gota de mi sangre salve a aquel que se muriera, Que pena.
What a pity that just one drop of my blood has the power to save a dying person.
Si yo pudiera, Ay si pudiera, Aquel enfermo en la cama no estuviera.
If I could, oh if only, that sick person would no longer be lying in bed.
Daría todo, Hasta lo que no tuviera.
I would give everything, even what I don't have.
Hubiera paz en este mundo, Y una eterna primavera.
There would be peace in this world and an everlasting springtime.
No existiera el mal, existiera el bien, Ay que lindo fuera!
Evil would not exist, only goodness. Oh, how beautiful that would be!
A lelele o lololo o lolo lala, Este es mi canto para el mundo.
A lelele o lololo o lolo lala, This is my song for the world.
Si yo pudiera, daría todo, Hasta lo que no tuviera, Si yo pudiera.
If I could, I would give everything, even what I don't have, if only I could.
Llevaría alegría No existiera tristeza.
I would bring joy and erase all sadness.
A traves de esta canción Te llevo mi mensaje
Through this song, I bring you my message.
Album: Mi música 1997
Album: My Music 1997
Writer(s): ISRAEL CANTOR
Contributed by Hannah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.