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Subject: RE: Origins: Guantanamera From: Joe Offer Date: 10 Jun 22 - 11:28 PM Joe - do cleanup |
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Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera From: GUEST,999 Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:48 AM "This started out as a poem written in 1899 by Cuban writer Jose Marti. The poem is about a girl from Guantanamo and was written from the point of view of a Cuban revolutionary. In the early 1960s Pete Seeger heard Hector Angulo singing a Cuban folk song using Marti's words based on a traditional melody adapted by bandleader Joseito Fernandez. This was the time of the Cuban missile crisis and the peace activist Seeger decided to adapt it in honor of Marti. He combined Marti's original Spanish with spoken English and made it into a song for the peace movement. In 1966, a Los Angeles folk trio called The Sandpipers recorded a version of this that hit #7 in the UK and #9 in the US. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 2) The song is made of 2 parts which do not have any relation whatsoever: Part 1 - In the 19th century, an anonymous popular song circulates with the words "guarija guantanamera," which means peasant-woman from Guantanamo. It was collected and arranged in 1932 by Joseito Fernandez, who made it the hallmark of his orchestra and popularized it as a dance called "Guajira-son," which he used in place of "Bolero" in closing every ball. "La Guajira is therefore the name of a dance too. Part 2 - It's not before 1958 that Julian Orbon combined this popular refrain with some quatrains taken at random from the immense poem Versos Sencillos (simple verses) by Jose Marti. It commences with, "Yo soy un ombre sincero," but you have to wait for hundreds of verses before finding: "Con los pobres de la tierra." At last words well in line with the acclaimed Seeger -Guthrie protest song style. Marti never mentioned any Guajira from Guantanamo in those verses. As in many popular songs, you can't find any logical link between the verses and the refrain. (thanks, Denis - Paris, France)" from http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4154 |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Guantanamera From: GUEST,Ken Brock Date: 09 Feb 09 - 05:31 PM The Sandpipers had the hit. It's also on one of the Weavers 1963 reunion albums on Vanguard. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Guantanamera From: GUEST,Daniel Date: 09 Feb 09 - 05:15 PM Who recorded or sang the original "Guantanamera" when it became a hit? |
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Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera From: Wesley S Date: 30 Apr 07 - 05:07 PM From Allmusic.com: Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine The Sandpipers were a male vocal trio that recorded a handful of easy listening pop hits in the mid-'60s. The group was distinguished by its light, breezy harmonies, which floated over delicate, breezy string arrangements, as well as the occasional appearance of a wordless female backing vocalist who drifted in and out of the music. Though they didn't manage to have a long, sustained career, the group did have one Top Ten hit with "Guantanamera" in 1966. Originally, the Sandpipers were known as the Four Seasons. The three members — Jim Brady, Mike Piano, and Richard Shoff — were part of the Californian Mitchell Boys Choir before they formed their own group. Shortly after their formation, they learned that there was a New York group using the name the Four Seasons, so they changed their name to the Grads. As the Grads, they cut a handful of singles, which helped the group secure a residency at a Lake Tahoe nightclub. After the Grads had been performing in Lake Tahoe for a while, a friend of the group introduced them to trumpeter Herb Alpert, who ran his own record label, A&M. Impressed, he signed the group to a record contract. A&M released a handful of singles by the Grads before the trio changed its name to the Sandpipers. None of the singles the group released were successful until their producer, Tommy LiPuma, recommended that they record a South American folk song called "Guantanamera." Once "Guantanamera" was released in 1966, it became a major hit, reaching the Top Ten in both the United States and Britain. The Sandpipers managed to follow "Guantanamera" with several minor hits, including versions of "Louie Louie" and "Kumbaya." During this time, the group had taken to recording and performing with a supporting female vocalist named Pamela Ramcier. Ramcier contributed ethereal, wordless vocals to the group. Her vocals never acted as harmonies to the group's singing; they functioned in a supporting role, much like the strings that comprised the band's instrumental backing. Although Ramcier was never credited on the albums and was always shrouded in shadows during concerts — though her hip, mod outfits complete with miniskirts and go-go boots often made her more noticeable than the actual Sandpipers — her voice was one of the most distinctive elements of the group's music. In 1970, they contributed songs to The Sterile Cuckoo ("Come Saturday Morning") and Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Though the Sandpipers continued to record into the '70s, their audience diminished with each successive year. After spending five years without any chart success, the group disbanded in the mid-'70s. |
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Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera From: Azizi Date: 29 Apr 07 - 05:45 PM That's a good one bubblyrat! ** Here's an excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamera "The song used as social "newspaper" Given the song's musical structure, which fits A-B-A-B (sometimes A-B-B-A) octosyllabic verses, the Guantanamera lent itself from the beginning to impromptu verses, improvised on the spot, similar to what happens with the Mexican folk classic, "La Bamba". Fernández's first use of the song was precisely this; he would comment on daily events on his radio program by adapting them to the song's melody, and then using the song as a show closer. Through this use, the Guantanamera became a popular vehicle for romantic, patriotic, humorous, or social commentary lyrics, in Cuba and elsewhere in the Spanish speaking world. Adaptation from the "Versos Sencillos" by José Martí The better known "official" lyrics are based on the first verse of the first poem of the collection "Versos Sencillos" (Simple Verses) by Cuban nationalist poet and independence hero José Martí, as adapted by Julián Orbón. Word has it that Orbón considered Martí's poems as fitting, and thus dignifying, to such a popular song. Given Martí's significance to the Cuban people, the use of his poem in the song virtually elevated it to unofficial anthem status in the country. Ambiguity in the song In the original lyrics, the author referred to a "guajira guantanamera" (a peasant girl from Guantánamo), but since the song itself is structured as a guajira (the Cuban rhythm, named after Cuban peasants), some people (erroneously) think that the chorus refers to the song itself (or, rather, its rhythmic structure), and not to an individual. In other words, the words are interpreted as an introduction to a "guajira, Guantánamo-style". This has essentially guaranteed that the chorus' lyrics still be used to this day, as evidenced by their use along with the (seemingly) unrelated Martí verses"... |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Looking for the history of Guantanamera From: Mr Happy Date: 10 Mar 06 - 11:15 AM song about a girl from Guantanamo Bay - '..look what they've done to my song'! fhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamera |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Looking for the history of Guantanamera From: GUEST,Another Bonnie Date: 28 Jan 05 - 12:28 AM I too am trying to learn the spanish words to Guantanamera and would love to have the phonetic spellings. Another Bonnie |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Escamillo Date: 16 Sep 00 - 04:42 PM Somewhere in some thread we posted the lyrics for 5 or 6 verses and their phonetics. I'll look for them tonight. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Ferrara Date: 15 Sep 00 - 06:36 PM How about typing in the rest of the words? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Little Neophyte Date: 15 Sep 00 - 02:25 PM Rita, thanks for all your efforts Mark, I'm getting there. Rick gave me the chords and the beat, now I've got Andres coaching me with the words. Eventually I will have it down pat, I hope. How do you configure the keyboard to English International? BB |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Mark Clark Date: 15 Sep 00 - 12:13 PM Bonie, Thanks for starting this thread. I've been in the audience many times as Pete sang "Guantanamera" and I've always loved it. It's one of those songs that is only enhanced with a couple of thousand people singing along. I hope you'll bring it to a HearMe session when I'm there (which hasn't been very much lately) I'd love to hear you do it. - Mark |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Rick Fielding Date: 15 Sep 00 - 12:09 AM What a wonderful song. Saw a program on TV a few nights ago dealing with the song, and guess what? They called it a "folk song with constantly changing words". Not one mention of Pete Seeger and not even a mention of Marti! Both were Communists so I guess the media is still scared. A translation of one of Marti's lines goes: "And with the poor of this world, I cast my lot" Rick |
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Subject: Lyr Add: GUANTANAMERA From: Ferrara Date: 14 Sep 00 - 11:59 PM Bonnie, you can bet I feel like a fool ... "I can't find the book"! -- But I can remember a couple of verses. The translation is mine. I'll make it very literal, as close to word for word as I can. Maybe someone can improve on it. I think I used to know another verse. Maybe it will come to me.
Yo soy un hombre sincero
CHORUS: Guantanamera,
Con los pobres de la tierra
I'm a sincere (honest?) man
CHORUS: Girl of Guantanamo,
With the poor of the earth
...Sorry that's all I remember right now. p.s. Today's my day to get to translate things. (See Italians... thread.) Very satisfying. Otherwise a useless talent. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Ferrara Date: 14 Sep 00 - 12:09 AM Bonnie, I can scan it in and e-mail it to you. Just PM me if you want me to do this. ... Sorry, I just don't have time to type it in right now! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Little Neophyte Date: 13 Sep 00 - 06:28 PM Well guys, the more I listen to Pete Seeger's recording of this song, the easier it is getting. But it takes a lot of practice to get those words right. I mean look how I mucked up Marti and Martini. BB |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: GUEST Date: 13 Sep 00 - 11:03 AM Escamillo; I mucho yer grasias for the the info on the reconfiguring of the keyboard. Hell man, I am lucky I can get it out in english without burning up the darn crt. Sailor DAn ;>(Grinnin) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Ferrara Date: 13 Sep 00 - 10:57 AM Escamillo thanks for the keyboard tip. cool. BBonnie, thanks for reminding me of the song. As soon as I saw the name of the thread, the song started running through my head again. Hadn't thought of it in years (decades?) Anyone know any of the pre-Marti' words? (Escamillo as you see I haven't tried the keyboard re-configuration trick yet.) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Escamillo Date: 12 Sep 00 - 11:19 PM Even better, José Martí :) (For the accents, try configuring your keyboard to English International, then type the accent and then the vowel, for example "´" and then "a" will give "á". If you need the ñ, type Alt 164 ) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Little Neophyte Date: 12 Sep 00 - 10:28 PM Good point Daniel You know, english has been one of my greatest challenges. Thank goodness people can get the drift of what I am trying to say. Bonnie |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: GUEST,Sailor Dan at work Date: 12 Sep 00 - 11:33 AM Bonnie darling, It isnt the story of Jose Martini its the story of Jose Marti, Martini has olives for eyes and is purely drunkable. Sailor DAn |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: M.Ted Date: 12 Sep 00 - 11:09 AM My little bit--Cesare Romero was one of Marte's grandchildren. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Little Neophyte Date: 12 Sep 00 - 10:29 AM Oh thanks guys, this is really helpful Bonnie |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for the history of Guantanam From: Tinker Date: 12 Sep 00 - 09:17 AM Pete Seeger's-- Where Have All the Flower's Gone: A Musical Autobiography @1993,1997 Pete gives a concise history of both Marti's words and Julian Orbon's setting it to a well-known melody.Pete's own introduction to the song and subsequent popularity are reviewed as well. This ia a great book to begin background information on many many of Pete's songs. It's available from Sing Out Corporation 610-865-5366 or try at Amazon or Barnes and Nobles Link. I think mine came from Barnes and Noble. |
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Subject: Looking for the history of Guantanamera From: Little Neophyte Date: 12 Sep 00 - 08:38 AM I have been working on the song Guantanamera. Not an easy one for me to sing because my Spanish pronounciation leaves something to be desired. Andres (Escamillo) has been very helpful. He gave me the phonetics to the words which I am currently working on. I am singing along with Pete Seeger's version of the song. Pete tells some of the story of Jose Martini who wrote the poem to this song. I would love to learn more about this man and the background to this song. Would love any help as to where I would begin to look? Bonnie |
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