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®
Mientras Duerme La Ciudad
Rubén Blades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La clase media descansa, estropeada, la televisión mirando
La clase baja sigue abajo, el día del cambio esperando
El sueño llega y nos cubre a todos con su manto
Y unos se tapan con la mentira y otros se arropan con la verdad
Y todo el mundo le apuesta a la vida, mientras duerme la ciudad
Algunos no dan importancia a lo vivido
Incluso, la maldad dencansa, con un suspiro
Todos se acuestan pensando: "Mañana, viene lo mío!"
Y unos se arropan con la mentira y otros se tapan con la verdad
Y todo el mundo le apuesta a la vida, mientras duerme la ciudad
(Y unos se acuestan con la mentira)
The lyrics of Rubén Blades's song Mientras Duerme La Ciudad describe the different strata of society and their activities during the night while the city sleeps. The upper-class conspiring with their "jaibol" (slang for a whiskey bottle) in hand, plotting their next moves. The middle class, weary from their daily routine, finds comfort in television. The lower class is still stuck in their struggle, waiting for the day of change. As the night progresses, everyone is engulfed in sleep, where some wrap themselves up in lies and others in the truth. However, everyone bets on their lives while the city remains asleep.
The song highlights the stark contrast in the priorities and lifestyles of people from different backgrounds. While some dream of accumulating more wealth, others lament lost opportunities, and some merely exist, waiting for a brighter day. Despite their differing views on life, everyone shares a common goal, which is to live and thrive. As the city sleeps, people go about their lives, hoping to achieve their dreams and aspirations.
Mientras Duerme La Ciudad is a poignant reflection on the human condition and society's diverse makeup. The lyrics remind us that regardless of our socio-economic background, we all strive for a better life while navigating through the challenges of daily existence.
Line by Line Meaning
De noche, la clase alta conspira, "jaibol" en la mano, tramando
At night, the wealthy conspire with their drinks in hand, plotting.
La clase media descansa, estropeada, la televisión mirando
The middle class rests, exhausted, watching television.
La clase baja sigue abajo, el día del cambio esperando
The lower class remains downtrodden, waiting for a day of change.
El sueño llega y nos cubre a todos con su manto
Sleep comes and covers us all with its cloak.
Y unos se tapan con la mentira y otros se arropan con la verdad
Some cover themselves in lies and others in truth.
Y todo el mundo le apuesta a la vida, mientras duerme la ciudad
And everyone bets on life while the city sleeps.
Unos sueñan con ganancias, otros lloran lo perdido
Some dream of profits, while others mourn their losses.
Algunos no dan importancia a lo vivido
Some don't place importance on what they've experienced.
Incluso, la maldad descansa, con un suspiro
Even evil rests, with a sigh.
Todos se acuestan pensando: "Mañana, viene lo mío!"
Everyone goes to bed thinking: "Tomorrow, my turn will come!"
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BLADES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@irrcysc
Ruben blades y su salsa con sus letras con mensaje. Q grande el salsero panameño. Orgullo de latinoamerica. Saludos desde uruguay
@lopz33
Un día como hoy, 16 de julio de 1948, nació en Ciudad de Panamá el cantautor, músico, actor, activista y político Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna, el Poeta de la Salsa. Maestro, felicitaciones. 🎵🎤✍️🎞️🎶🎉🎂🎊😀😀😀😀😀
@adolfomoralesmorales4384
Esto es delo más grande que ha escrito ruben tremendo orgullo de latinoamerica
@lopz33
¡Tremendo tema! Hacía tiempo que no lo oía. Gracias por subirlo.
@yovannymarquezcarabali9049
Inconfundible el poeta buen clacico no pasa moda como los vinos attt: Yovanny marquez carabali
@user-um9xv4xj6k
Que viva las sociedades inclusivas con justicia social , étnica, genero, humanista, ecológica etc ....el hombre por encima del capital y de bajo del Dios todo poderoso en el nombre de Cristo. Amen
@javierreivaj5271
Comete al rico,comete al rico.....aunqur ya se sabe"los ricos también lloran"😁