Starting to play the trumpet at the age of 12, Colón switched to the trombone two years later. Making his recording debut in 1967, for Al Santiago's Futura label, Colón became a victim of misfortune when the label folded. Colón was much more successful when he signed with Johnny Pacheco's Fania label. When his vocalist failed to make Colón's first session for the label, Pacheco suggested Hector Lavoe as a replacement. The collaboration proved fruitful when two singles from Colón's first two albums (El Malo, Guisando) — "Jazzy" and "I Wish I Had a Watermelon" — became hits. Lavoe remained a vital member of Colón's band until the mid-'70s when an increased drug addiction caused him to miss or show up late for several gigs. Although their partnership formally ended in 1975, Colón and Lavoe continued to work together. Lavoe's last album, Strikes Back, released in 1987, was produced by Colón.
In 1975, Colón balanced his schedule as director of the Latin Jazz All Stars with studies in music theory, composition, and orchestration. His increased knowledge paid off quickly. In 1978, Colón was named Musician, Producer, and Trombone Player of the Year in a readers poll conducted by Latin New York. Three years later, he received an award as Musician of the Year and his album Fantasmas was named Album of the Year. Colón continued to garner acclaim when his album Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos received a Grammy award in 1982.
Although they met backstage before a concert in Panama in 1969, Colón and Blades didn't begin collaborating until five years later. While working on the album The Good-The Bad-The Ugly, Colón asked Blades to sing on the Blades-penned tune "El Cazanguero," which reflected on Blades' experiences as a law student working in a Panamanian prison. The session was so satisfying that Blades became a full-time member of Colón's band following the departure of Lavoe. Their 1978 album Siembra became the top-selling album in Fania's catalog. Despite their success, Blades severely quarreled with label president Jerry Mascucci over money. Although Colón recorded two solo albums — El Baquine de Angelitos Negros in 1977 and Solo in 1979 — and Blades recorded a solo album, Maestra Vida, in 1980, their solo work failed to match the commercial success of their joint efforts.
In 1981, the two musicians resumed their partnership with Blades playing coro on Colón's solo album Fantasmas. The following year, they collaborated on the Grammy-winning album Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos, which yielded the hits singles "Tiburon," "Ligia Elena," and "Te Estan Buscando." Their partnership again proved short-lived as Colón and Blades split up after working on the film The Last Fight. The split was far from amiable and the two musicians continued to feud until reuniting for a concert at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan in March 1992. Despite collaborating on the album Tras la Tormenta in 1995, Colón and Blades recorded their parts separately. Following a reunion concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1997, Colón and Blades performed a series of concerts together.
In the late '80s, Colón formed a new band, Legal Aliens, with younger musicians. Signing with Sony, Colón and the band recorded Color Americano in 1990 and Honra y Cultura in 1991. Two years later, Colón recorded Hecho en Puerto Rico with an all-star band featuring ex-members of the Fania All-Stars, Papo Lucca and Bobby Valentin. Since leaving Sony over a lack of promotional support, Colón continued to remain active.
Sueño de Papelote
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Esa loca fantasía de soñar
Quise ser un gran malote
Al igual que el papelote
Que elevándose
Entre nubes con el viento de esperanza
Sube y sube
Y vivía en ese mundo de ilusión
Y escuche sólo mi propio corazón
Más la vida no es juguete
Y el es un billete sin valor
Yo quise ser un papelote
Buscando altura mi ideal
Tratando de explicarle que la vida es algo más que darlo todo por comida
Y he sido igual que un papelote
Al que un mal viento puso fin
No se si me faltó la fe, la voluntad, tan sólo se que me apartó de ti
En amores sólo tuve decepción
Regale por no vender mi corazón
Hice versos olvidando
Que la vida sólo es prosa adolorida que va dando lo mejor
Y dando heridas, esta vida
Y ya vez que este cansancio sin final
Hizo trizas mi sonrisa de cristal
Cuando veo un papelote de papel
Me preguntó, ¿aquel malote donde esta?
Yo quise ser un papelote
Buscando altura mi ideal
Tratando de explicarle que la vida es algo más que darlo todo por comida
Y he sido igual que un papelote
Al que un mal viento puso fin
No se si me faltó la fe, la voluntad, tan sólo se que me apartó de ti
Sueño de Papelote by Willie Colón is a song that talks about childhood dreams and illusions. The main character had a fantasy of being a great thug, just like the papelote, which rises with the wind of hope, flying up high. The singer lived in a world of illusions, only listening to his own heart, but life is not a toy, and he has become a worthless ticket. He once wanted to be like the papelote, seeking height, trying to explain that life is more than just giving everything for food. However, he has been just like papelote, to which a bad wind puts an end, and he's not sure whether it was a lack of faith, willpower, or simply being pulled away from those he loved.
The song tells us that dreams are good, but life is tough, and sometimes you have to let go of some dreams to pursue what really matters. It's about coming to terms with reality and accepting the consequences of your actions. The papelote symbolizes the dreams and aspirations we have, while the wind represents the hardships and obstacles we face in pursuing those dreams.
Willie Colón, known as El Malo or the bad boy of salsa, is a Puerto Rican musician, composer, and trombonist. He is one of the biggest names in salsa music, having recorded over 40 albums and collaborated with big names like Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades. Sueño de Papelote is from his album "Cosa Nuestra," which was released in 1970.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando niño ya tenía en el mirar
As a child, I already had in my sight
Esa loca fantasía de soñar
That crazy fantasy of dreaming
Quise ser un gran malote
I wanted to be a big bad guy
Al igual que el papelote
Just like the paper kite
Que elevándose
That elevates
Entre nubes con el viento de esperanza
Among the clouds with the wind of hope
Sube y sube
It goes up and up
Y vivía en ese mundo de ilusión
And I lived in that world of illusion
Y escuche sólo mi propio corazón
And I only listened to my own heart
Más la vida no es juguete
But life is not a toy
Y el es un billete sin valor
And he is a worthless bill
Yo quise ser un papelote
I wanted to be a paper kite
Buscando altura mi ideal
Looking for height, my ideal
Tratando de explicarle que la vida es algo más que darlo todo por comida
Trying to explain that life is something more than giving everything for food
Y he sido igual que un papelote
And I have been like a paper kite
Al que un mal viento puso fin
To whom a bad wind put an end
No se si me faltó la fe, la voluntad, tan sólo se que me apartó de ti
I don't know if I lacked faith or will, I only know that it kept me away from you
En amores sólo tuve decepción
In love, I only had disappointment
Regale por no vender mi corazón
I gave away instead of selling my heart
Hice versos olvidando
I made verses forgetting
Que la vida sólo es prosa adolorida que va dando lo mejor
That life is only a painful prose that keeps giving its best
Y dando heridas, esta vida
And giving wounds, this life
Y ya vez que este cansancio sin final
And you see that this endless fatigue
Hizo trizas mi sonrisa de cristal
Shattered my crystal smile
Cuando veo un papelote de papel
When I see a paper kite
Me preguntó, ¿aquel malote donde esta?
I ask myself, where is that bad guy?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELADIA BLAZQUEZ MINGORANCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bartley4877
I knew I had god in speech like,,,
some people obviously did t agree whit me and recommend me never thinking o speaks like that, Pablo you get a desk job around here,,
so here´s the beauty of that story ,,
others people perception of me ,ain´t none of my business ,,
everything I´m ever been though sad, though rose, though cried though prayed.
trough everything is a set-up for my next best season.
The way i¨m forgive them perceivingly unforgivable the way i love perceivingly unforgivable the way i m accept that seems to be unacceptable .
The way i m embrace after i m betraved, the way i¨m do that is´t the way i will lead my life .
The light belongs to everyone to be illuminated because I´m were hold enough and obedient to let my light shine..
Don´t worry my history its god and please don´t feel sorry for me,,
I´ve gott alot under my belt ;)
@joselezcano2415
Para mi willy colon es como un analista el observa el ser humanas de sus dificultades de la vida ... casi lloro al escuchar esta canción.. ..
@barbara_love2013
Me encantó esta interpretación por Kalimba. Demasiado bello. De pie mi vida.
@juancienfuegos8270
debe hacer como 20 años que no escuchaba esta version de Colon,una belleza realmente
@user-nt8vd7ze2t
Un poema hecho canción.... nostalgia y recuerdos en el acto al escucharla....
@madmaxRW
"Sueño de barrilete" tango original de la autora Argentina Eladia Blazquez.
@ivonneabreu2471
Que Gran y Talentoso Cantante Willy Colón Bravo por ti.
@hectormendez3572
Willie Colon es un verdadero astro de la musica afro- antilliana caribena ( Salsa)
@josegonzales-so4pk
espectacular esta musica del maestro willie colon como todas la que el nos deleita que dios siempre me lo mantenga con buena salud saludos desde panama de parte de rafael ,cesar quintero nunca se nos escapa de la mente la vez que realizo el concierto en el estadio rod carew que actuo con willie colon , mark anthony fueron espectalares con todo y lluvia saludos bendiciones desde panama
@erwincoyafricany4342
El papelote se fue....y solo quedo el llanto entre versos y heridas...y el malote no...esta....me hace llorar....all time.....
@eduardomercado7817
Espectacular..su mejor disco de solista