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®
Buscando America
Rubén Blades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tus huellas se han perdido entre la oscuridad
Te estoy llamando América pero no me respondes
Te han desaparecido los que temen la verdad
Envueltos entre sombras, negamos es cierto
Mientras no haya justicia, jamás tendremos paz
Viviendo dictaduras, te busco y no te encuentro
Si es sueno de uno es sueno de todos
Romper la cadena y echarnos a andar
Tengamos confianza para adelante mi raza
A salvar el tiempo por lo que vendrá
Te han secuestrado América y amordazado tu boca
Y a nosotros nos toca ponerte en libertad
Te estoy llamando América nuestro futuro espera
Y antes que se nos muera te vamos a encontrar
Te estoy buscando América
Te estoy llamando América, oh! oh!
The song “Buscando America” by Rubén Blades/Seis Del Solar is a passionate and emotional quest for the lost identity of America, the continent that has been plagued by social and political turmoil over the years. The lyrics express a deep desire to find a sense of purpose and unity in the face of oppression, injustice, and darkness that have engulfed the region. The singer bemoans the loss of direction and resolve of the people who have become complacent and apathetic to the plight of their fellow beings. America, as a symbol of hope, resilience, and freedom, has been distorted and damaged by the forces of greed, power, and manipulation that have captured its essence.
The song draws inspiration from the social and political upheavals in Latin America during the '80s when dictators and oppressive regimes were toppled by popular movements and revolutions. It reflects the people's yearning for change and transformation and the challenges they face in achieving their aspirations. The lyrics urge the listeners to break free from the chains of oppression and walk together towards a brighter future. The song's message is clear- without justice, there can be no peace, and without freedom, there can be no progress. It is a call to action that speaks to the heart and soul of every person who dreams of a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Te estoy buscando a América y temo no encontrarla
I am searching for the true meaning of America, but I fear that I will not find it.
Tus huellas se han perdido entre la oscuridad
The traces of what America once stood for have disappeared in the darkness of oppression and ignorance.
Te estoy llamando América pero no me respondes
I address America, but she does not answer me, suggesting that my message is falling on deaf ears.
Te han desaparecido los que temen la verdad
Those who are afraid of the truth have caused America to lose its direction.
Envueltos entre sombras, negamos es cierto
We hide ourselves in the shadows of ignorance, denying the reality of our situation.
Mientras no haya justicia, jamás tendremos paz
There can be no peace without justice, and America lacks justice at present.
Viviendo dictaduras, te busco y no te encuentro
Living under oppressive regimes, it is hard to find the true spirit of America.
Tu torturado cuerpo, no saben donde esta
It is impossible to find America's true self when her spirit has been tortured and lost.
Si es sueño de uno es sueño de todos
If one of us dreams of a better future for America, it means we all do and we all have to work together to make it happen.
Romper la cadena y echarnos a andar
We need to break the chains of oppression and start our journey towards a better future.
Tengamos confianza para adelante mi raza
As a people, we need to have faith in ourselves and our potential to make a positive change.
A salvar el tiempo por lo que vendrá
We must save time by acting now to improve our future.
Te han secuestrado América y amordazado tu boca
America has been abducted and silenced, and it is our responsibility to free her and allow her to speak.
Y a nosotros nos toca ponerte en libertad
It is up to us to fight for America's freedom and restore her to her true potential.
Te estoy llamando América nuestro futuro espera
I call upon America to realize that our future holds great promise and we must work together to achieve it.
Y antes que se nos muera te vamos a encontrar
Before America dies as a concept, we will find her true spirit and work to bring it to life once more.
Te estoy buscando América
I am searching for the true, original America.
Te estoy llamando América, oh! oh!
I am calling out to America, hoping that she can hear me and that we can work together towards a better future.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ruben Blades
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christiangonzalez9819
Desde Panama
Arriba
Venezuela
Puerto rico
Nicaradua sin Ortega
Costa rica
Mejico
Guatemala
Jonduras
Salvador
Colombia
Peru
Argentina
Uruguay
Paraguay
Chile
Bolivia
Vivan todos los pueblos
Latinoamericanos libreeeesss......
Arriba la salsaaaaaaa
@angelicadom
Quien en 2023,luchando en Panamá sin mineria. El oro es verde!!! ❤❤❤
@madamefrostiere
Perú, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brasil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Rep. Dominicana y los que me falten. América es una sola la patria grande la madre que nos ve nacer y crecer, luchemos de pie!
@AugustoLeonardoCarrascoPERU
LIBERTAD
@limpiezasmgl9108
Gracias "Maestro" por acá se le quiere, se le añora y no se le olvida. Desde Canarias. 🙏😘🇮🇨🇪🇦
@CarlosCaballero-zt3dz
Fenomenal, que orgullo de ser panameño por tener personas como Rubén Blades, GENIAl.
@lauramonicaespinogamarra9278
Lo mAximo. RUBEN BLADES... Ay love you forever.. Tu hincha..desde niña.
.
@gerardopena810
De niño escuchaba esta canción sin conocer su significado. 25 años después entiendo el cierto mensaje. America....te han desaparecido los que temen la verdad... que poesía.
@antoniocifuentes1345
Mucho señor tan interpetre para hacer la salsa tan fácil como solo lo hace don ruben blades gracias por tus canciones eres el mejor de todos los tiempos cali colombiano bye
@antoniocifuentes1345
Cali colombia
@andrescarrion8007
Yo a los 10 entendía parte porque veía los noticieros.