Blades's father is a percussionist-turned-detective and his mother was a singer and radio performer. His grandfather, Reuben Blades, was an English-speaking native of St. Lucia who came to work on the canal, as he tells in the song West Indian Man on the album Amor y Control ("That's where the Blades comes from.") (1992)
After obtaining degrees in political science and law at Panama's Universidad Nacional, Blades worked at the Bank of Panama as a lawyer. In 1974, Blades moved to the United States, staying temporarily with his exiled parents in Miami before moving to New York City. Blades began his musical career in New York writing songs while working in the mailroom at Fania Records, and soon was working with salseros Ray Barretto and Larry Harlow. Shortly thereafter Blades started collaborating with trombonist and band leader Willie Colón, and they recorded several albums together. Their album Siembra (1978) became the best-selling salsa record in history.
After 1980, Blades tried to terminate his contract with Fania, but he was contractually obliged to record several more albums. These are generally considered toss-offs and Blades himself told his fans to avoid them. When he was free of his contractual obligations, Blades signed with another label, Elektra, and assembled a top-notch band (known variously as Seis Del Solar or Son Del Solar) and recorded a number of albums with them.
In the early 1980s, Blades began his career in films as a composer of soundtracks.
In 1982, Blades got his first acting role in The Last Fight writing the title song as well as portraying a singer-turned-boxer vying for a championship against a fighter who was played by real life world champion boxer Salvador Sánchez.
In 1985, Blades gained widespread recognition as co-writer and star of the independent film Crossover Dreams as a New York salsa singer willing to do anything to break into the mainstream. This same year he earned a master's degree in international law from Harvard University. He was also the subject of Robert Mugge's documentary The Return of Ruben Blades, which debuted at that year's Denver Film Festival. During the 1990s, he acted in films, mounted his unsuccessful presidential bid, founding the party Movimiento Papa Egoró, and continued to make salsa records.
His many film appearances include The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), The Two Jakes (1990), Mo' Better Blues (1990), and Devil's Own (1997). In 1999, he played Mexican artist Diego Rivera in Tim Robbins' Cradle Will Rock.
In 1997, Blades headed the cast of singer/songwriter Paul Simon's first Broadway musical, The Capeman, based on a true story about a violent youth who becomes a poet in prison. In the 2003 film Once Upon a Time in Mexico, starring Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas, and Willem Dafoe, he played the role of a retired FBI agent.
Blades' 1999 album Tiempos which he made with the 12-piece Costa Rican band Editus, represented a break from his salsa past and a rejection of commercial trends in Latin music.
Some might say that "his biggest mistake was releasing an English-language album in 1988 in the wake of his 1987 Grammy for Escenas" [sic] but in fact, he tends to avoid commercial choices. After winning his first Grammy for Escenas in 1986 he recorded the album Agua de Luna based on the short stories of Gabriel Garcia Marquez in 1987. The next year he released the English language collaboration with rock artists Sting, Elvis Costello, and Lou Reed the same year as Antecedente, another Grammy winner. In 2003 he followed the World Music Grammy winner Mundo with a web site free download project. As he said in 2005 when receiving the ASCAP Founders Award about his non-commercial choices, "That's the way I think."
In 2004 he put his artistic careers on hold when he began serving as Minister of Tourism of Panama.
Source: Wikipedia®
Bendición
Rubén Blades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ay protégeme
Danos tu bendición
Virgen por tu amor
Alivia el dolor
De tanto corazón
Que hay alrededor
Fuerza celestial
Favorécenos
Virgen cuídame
Y protégeme
De quien quiera dañarme
Así será
Danos tu bendición.
The lyrics of Rubén Blades's song Bendición, which translates to "Blessing" in English, are a prayer seeking the protection and guidance of the Virgin Mary. The song's opening lines, "Virgen dame Aché, Ay protégeme, Danos tu bendición," implore the Virgin for her grace, protection and blessings. The word "aché" is a term used in Afro-Caribbean religions, such as Santería and Candomblé, to refer to spiritual power or energy.
In the second verse of the song, Blades asks the Virgin Mary to ease the pain of so many hearts: "Virgen por tu amor, Alivia el dolor, De tanto corazón." He speaks of the dangers that surround us, and begs for the Virgin's help to keep us safe from evil: "Líbranos del mal, Que hay alrededor, Fuerza celestial, Favorécenos." The last verse is a plea for personal protection from those who would harm us: "Virgen cuídame, Y protégeme, De quien quiera dañarme, Así será." The song ends with a repeating chorus, "Danos tu bendición," which serves as a reminder of the central request for the Virgin's blessings that runs throughout the song.
Overall, Blades's song is a moving expression of faith, seeking the intercession of the Virgin Mary to keep us safe and protected from harm. The use of the word "aché" in the opening line also hints at his own Afro-Caribbean heritage, and adds another layer of spiritual meaning to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Virgen dame Aché
Oh Virgin, please grant me the power to manifest my desires
Ay protégeme
Please protect me from all harm and danger
Danos tu bendición
Please bestow your blessings upon us
Virgen por tu amor
Virgin, your love is the source of healing
Alivia el dolor
Please alleviate our pain and suffering
De tanto corazón
That stems from so many aching hearts
Líbranos del mal
Please protect us from the evil forces around us
Que hay alrededor
That surround us every day
Fuerza celestial
Divine strength and power
Favorécenos
Please grant us your favor and blessings
Virgen cuídame
Oh Virgin, please watch over me
Y protégeme
And keep me safe from harm
De quien quiera dañarme
From anyone who wishes to harm me
Así será
So shall it be
Danos tu bendición
Please bless us with your divine favor
Writer(s): Ruben Blades
Contributed by Thomas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.