He started to sing with orquestas like Hot Blowers in the 50th.
In 1965 he formed "El Kinto". In spanish kinto means fifth, beacuse the band was the fifth of Eduardo Mateo, his friend and also a symbol of the uruguayan music.
In 1969 Rada started to play with Totem, at the same time, he met Fattoruso`s brother and played with them in OPA.
After many years living outside, Rada went back to Montevideo, and published a new album called "Montevideo" (1993)
Rada has lots of fans in Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil.
When Paul Mc Cartney went to South America and listen tipical music, he became very impressed with Rada style.
Echale Sal A La Vida
Ruben Rada Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Estabas aqui
Estabas como dueña
De mis ganas
Estabas donde estabas
Yo estaba como estaba
Porque con tu cariño me inspiraba
Yo estaba como estaba
Porque con tu cariño me inspiraba
Estabas en mi
Te fuiste de mi
Dejandome una carta
Que explicaba
Que nuestro amor
Te ahogaba
Que casi ni bailabas
Y que en tu venas hay
Sangre gitana
Tratando de entenderte
Tan solo se me ocurre decir
Echale sal a la vida
Echale rumba y danzon
Pero, por Dios, no te olvides
Que me debes la cancion
Echale sal a la vida
Echale rumba y danzon
Pero, por Dios, no te olvides
Que el candombe es nuestro amor
Estabas en mi
Estabas aqui
Estabas como el arbol
De mi puertas
Viviendo de estaciones
Cambiando de colores
Al son de mi tambor
Las emociones
In Rubén Rada's song Échale sal a la vida, the singer describes the absence of his loved one who has left him a letter explaining that their love was suffocating her. The singer is trying to understand her reasons for leaving him. The lyrics describe how the woman was his inspiration and how she was always present in his life. He mentions that she was like a tree by his door, always changing with the seasons, but he has lost her now.
As the singer tries to make sense of his loss, he calls on the powers that be to infuse life with flavor and passion, urging people to not forget their roots and where they come from. In the midst of his heartbreak, the singer tells us to add some flavor and life to our existence, to dance and celebrate every moment as if it were the last.
The song uses traditional Latin genres like rumba, danzon, and candombe to express emotions to the listeners. The lyrics are poetic and heartfelt, bringing the message of the song to life in a relatable and engaging way. Through the use of metaphors like the tree at his door, the singer takes us on a journey of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Estabas en mi
You were in my thoughts and in my heart
Estabas aqui
You were by my side, physically present in my life
Estabas como dueña
You were in control, ruling over my desires
De mis ganas
Of my wants, longings, and yearnings
Estabas donde estabas
You were wherever you were, whether near or far
Yo estaba como estaba
I was how I was, doing my best to cope
Porque con tu cariño me inspiraba
Because your love motivated, encouraged, and inspired me
Te fuiste de mi
You left me, you departed from my life
Dejandome una carta
Leaving behind a letter addressed to me
Que explicaba
That explained to me, the reasons behind your departure
Que nuestro amor
That our love, which we shared, was suffocating you
Te ahogaba
It was overwhelming and drowning you, dragging you down
Que casi ni bailabas
That you hardly danced, you were so downhearted
Y que en tu venas hay
And that in your veins flows
Sangre gitana
Gypsy blood, the restless spirit of wanderlust
Tratando de entenderte
Trying to understand you, to comprehend your perspective
Tan solo se me ocurre decir
All that comes to mind to say is
Echale sal a la vida
Add some spice to life, make it more exciting
Echale rumba y danzon
Dance to the rhythms of rumba and danzon
Pero, por Dios, no te olvides
But, for God's sake, do not forget
Que me debes la cancion
That you owe me the song, the music that we used to make together
Que el candombe es nuestro amor
That the candombe drumbeat is the sound of our love, the heartbeat of our relationship
Estabas como el arbol
You were like the tree
De mi puertas
Of my doors, guarding and protecting my home
Viviendo de estaciones
Living through the seasons, the ups and downs of life
Cambiando de colores
Changing colors, adapting to the rhythms of nature
Al son de mi tambor
To the beat of my drum, to the sound of my soul
Las emociones
The emotions, the feelings that we shared and that still resonate within me
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.