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Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera

06 Jul 01 - 04:34 PM (#500101)
Subject: quantanamera
From: GUEST,terry.jones@ntlworld.com

can u help me? who had a hit with quantanamera in or around 1970. also where exactly is quantanamera


06 Jul 01 - 05:01 PM (#500120)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Little Hawk

The word is Guantanamera. It isn't a place. It means "a woman from Guantanamo". It's a romantic chorus, built around verses expressing social idealism.

Guantanamo is a city in Oriente Province, Cuba, on the south coast rather near to the East end of the island. It's near Guantanamo Bay, one of the most strategically ideal harbour areas in the world. The USA has maintained a large naval base there from 1903 to this day.

Odd, isn't it, that the USA gets to have a base right on the territory of a country it has been embargoing for about 40 years and treating as an enemy!

Hardly seems fair. The Russians have never gotten to have a base in Israel or Taiwan or the Phillipines, after all...

Castro made noises about siezing the base now and then in the early 60's, but the risks were way too high, so he didn't attempt it. It's a good thing for Cuba that he didn't.

Who had the hit song? Can't recall. Ask Matt, he'll know for sure. Pete Seeger used to sing it a lot for the folk audiences, as did many others, but his was not the radio hit.

- LH


06 Jul 01 - 05:20 PM (#500133)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Cappuccino

I'm slightly embarrassed to recall that it was the Sandpipers, in 1966.

- Ian B, Oxford


06 Jul 01 - 05:25 PM (#500138)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Matthew Edwards

Hello Terry Jones. If you enter Guantanamera in the DT and Forum search box and hit GO you will find out lots of information about this song. I can't recall for sure who had the hit with it, but it wasn't Pete Seeger, although as Little Hawk says he'd been singing it for years. Could it have been the Seekers?
There's a brilliant rendition of it on the double CD Estrellas de Areito;Los Heroes.
Try these links: Guantanamera
Thread discussion of lyrics
History of Guantanamera


06 Jul 01 - 05:30 PM (#500142)
Subject: Info: Guantanamera
From: Chicken Charlie

The original poem was written by Jose Marti, Cuban poet who I think was eventually executed by the Spaniards. There is a pun in the opening line, "Yo soy un hombre sincero, de donde crece la palma." Superficially it just means, "I am an honest/sincere man from where the palms grow," but La Palma was also the name of a Cuban insurgent general. Seeger's recording may not have been "the" hit, but it's the one I remember. The song used a Cuban rhythm called the huapanga, which is down-up, knock, knock (1&2&), the knocks being accomplished by rapping the knucks on the fingerboard, or for the occasional change of pace, on the box about in the middle of the off-ramp.

CC


29 Apr 07 - 04:23 PM (#2038883)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: GUEST,Vavoom

I think it was the Sandpipers


29 Apr 07 - 05:34 PM (#2038941)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Azizi

Here's two YouTube videos of the song "Guantanamera":

First, this song performed by Cubans-Celia Cruz with la Fania

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xl-jq08AGU

Added December 03, 2006 ;From nysalsavideos
"The legend lives on!! Celia Cruz -Guantanamera - Con la Fania"

[Also check out the comments posted about this video. Some are written in Spanish and some are written in English]

**


Now, Guantanamera performed by Pete Seeger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5JLCAIJLJ8&mode=related&search=

Added February 17, 2007 ; From 2old2Rock
"As usual, Pete gets the whole audience to sing along".


29 Apr 07 - 05:37 PM (#2038945)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: bubblyrat

For years, in England, we thought it was " One ton of melons " !!


29 Apr 07 - 05:48 PM (#2038957)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Azizi

I'm neither a musician nor a vocalist. But this forum is full of both so please be kind while I ask an elementary question:

With regard to this quote from that wiki article "Given the song's musical structure, which fits A-B-A-B (sometimes A-B-B-A) octosyllabic verses.."

Is this the same thing as 4/4 time? If not, what "time" is the rhythm {the beat?}. Also, I thought "octo" meant "8"? . So does this mean 8 syllables ??? What does "octosyllabic verses" mean?

To help me better understand 4/4 time and ABBA musical structure, would you please name some other well known songs with that {those?} structures?

Thanks.


29 Apr 07 - 06:11 PM (#2038976)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: jeffp

The ABAB or ABBA refers to the song's rhyme scheme: ABAB means that the 1st and 3rd lines rhyme with each other and the 2nd and 4th lines rhyme with each other. ABBA would have the 1st and 4th as one rhyme and the 2nd and 3rd as another.

I assume the octosyllabic term refers to 8 syllables per line.

4/4 time would have 4 beats per measure (bar) and each beat would be represented on the sheet music by a quarter note. Guantanamera fits a 4/4 time signature.

Hope this helps.

Jeff


29 Apr 07 - 06:41 PM (#2039001)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Sliding Down The Bannister At My Auntie's House

Flaky Jake does a super version of this song!


29 Apr 07 - 07:28 PM (#2039041)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Azizi

Thanks, jeffp

I appreciate your response.

Best wishes,

Azizi


30 Apr 07 - 12:09 AM (#2039168)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Other threads have much more information; this is perhaps the poorest. See link to Lyr. Add: Guantanamera (24), at top of thread.

In that thread, post by Dicho, 27 Mar 02, gives the words to the "Versos Sencillos" (Simple verses) by Martí (1891). No mention of Guantanamera in his verses.

Joseito Fernandez (Diaz) made his song in 1930-1932. Julián Orbón adjusted the song and added the verse by Martí. Their final revision is given in the post cited above. The estribillo (chorus) is theirs: Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera, (2x).
The tune is 19th c., slightly varied, from the region of Guantanamo; a guajira- style of the region, rustic, rural- and dedicated to "una guajira," a woman of the region.
Celia Cruz and others replaced the third verse with another Martí verse, not from "Versos sencillos."

Some of the verses have allusions to Castro's campaign to free Cuba from the oligarchs.
Tiene el leopardo ou abrigo
en su monte seco y pardo;
yo tengo más que el leopardo
porque tengo un buen amigo.

Y para el cruel que me arranca
El corazon con el vivo
Y para el cruel que me arranca
El corazon con el vivo
Cardo ni ortiga cultivo
Cultivo la rosa blanca.
(And for the cruel one who would tear out this heart with which I live, I cultivate neither thistles nor nettles; I cultivate a white rose.)

The post points out that Angulo, a student of Orbón, went to New York and showed the song to Seeger and Joan Baez. The song was redone and came out in an album, "Spanish Album, The Sandpipers," authors Martí, Angulo, Seeger; with no mention of either Joseito Fernandez or Orbón- THEFT, pure and simple.

The essentials of the history have been recast from the article by Natalio Galan by Maria Argelia Viscaíno.
http://www.meetinglatino.it/pagine/cuba_musica/s_guantanamera.htm
La Guantanamera
The much longer article by Natalio Galan parts I-IV are found at: http://www.cubanmotives.com/Espanol/Articulos/Maria_Viscaino/La%20guantanamera.htm

The heirs of Joseito Fernandez finally reclaimed title in 1985:
http://www.elviraz.com/articulo506.htm
La Guantanamera
This article also mentions others who contributed verses to variations.

Note- the reference to 'octosyllabic' is confusing since some lines have nine or ten syllables if pronounced correctly.


30 Apr 07 - 12:15 AM (#2039172)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Sorry about 2nd link-
La Guantanamera


30 Apr 07 - 11:56 AM (#2039507)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Georgiansilver

I seem to remember 'Guantanamera' being sung in the 60's by 'Los Paraquayos'....maybe just bad memory...someone will tell me I'm sure.


30 Apr 07 - 01:52 PM (#2039590)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Ebbie

The ABAB, etc, I'm familiar with doesn't have to do with rhyme or lines but with tune structure and customary playing. For instance, if one thinks of A as being the verse and B as being the chorus/refrain, sometimes A may be played twice before B is played for the first time. That would be called AAB. Perhaps, after that, B would be played each time; that would be ABAB.

That's a simplification, of course. Most tunes don't have choruses but do have a secondary tune in another block.

It is not rare for a tune to have four separate tunes or blocks, which, imo, are named A,B,C,D. For instance, the fiddle tune Dill Pickle Rag is often played A B then A C D then back to A to finish.

YMMV


30 Apr 07 - 02:15 PM (#2039614)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: PoppaGator

Were The Sandpipers Hispanic? Did they specialize in Spanish-language lyrics, or adaptations of Latin American songs?

As I remember their sound, it was very prettified, nice high-pitched harmonies in a fairly lush setting of pop orchestration. Not especially "Latin" in any of the usual senses; certainly not rhythmically.

After forgetting about them for years, about ten years or so ago I heard their contribution to an album consisting of nothing but varous versions of the frat-rock classic "Louie Louie." The Sandpipiers rendition was unique and unbelievable: slow and sappy, with syrupy strings, and . . . sung in Spanish!

I'm wondering now, after learning (above) that they released an LP called "The Spanish Album," if their cover of "Louie Louie" was on that particular album, or if there was any other explanation for their translating it.


30 Apr 07 - 03:02 PM (#2039657)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

PoppaGator, I've ofter wondered about the Sandpipers.
I've checked Amazon and found that a 2001 cd (Collectors Choice label, $13.95 from them):
"Guantamera/The Sandpipers" is available for sale price $14.99 (used from $11.06).
Tracks include "Louie Louie." Also "La Bamba." One can listen to clips from all tracks. I would guess that these are the old originals but this is not stated.
Collectors Choice call them "one of those 60s groups," no information on when the tracks were originally recorded.

I vaguely remember their singing, and that I liked it.

I should also add that apparently Angulo was the thief, and the Sandpipers, Joan Baez and Seeger may be guilty only of ignorance.


30 Apr 07 - 04:07 PM (#2039714)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: M.Ted

Here is a link to a telephone interview with recorded music historian, Dr. Cristal Diaz-Ayala from the University of Michigan's Living Music site--It provides a lot of insight into the song and how it was performed in Cuba before and after Seeger--she addresses a lot of issues brought up here--

Inverview with Cristal Diaz Ayala

The song form a son montuno--Jand she says""The thing is that the verses that were sung with the
"Guantanamera" by Joseito were décimas. Those are ten-line poems with
a very complex rhyme, which is the espinela from Spain. On the other hand, the
Marti poems are just four lines. So actually Orbon had to do some changes in
the melody, in the harmon..."

She says that the song performed in it's original style was extremely popular, but only in and around Havana, and it was unknown in the rest of Cuba.   She credits Hector Angulo, Seeger and the Sandpipers, et al, for simplifying the song in a way that made it universal--and she doesn't call anyone a "thief"--


30 Apr 07 - 04:28 PM (#2039725)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: open mike

unfortunately Guantanamo has different conceptual meanings today - gitmo


15 Feb 10 - 04:06 PM (#2840234)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: GUEST,Kalenga

Anyone wth an mp3 of this song? I would like to listen to the full version. Or please post the website where I can download it for free!

Thanks.


15 Feb 10 - 04:40 PM (#2840275)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Amos

It sounds like the song you want is "Guantanamera".

There's a free MP3 here.


A


15 Feb 10 - 05:27 PM (#2840345)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Steve Gardham

This melody is now one of the top ten melodies used for terrace chants at sporting events in the UK,
with such scintillating lyrics as 'There's only one X-X X-X, one X-X X-X, there's only one X-X X-X, one X-X X-X etc (X =syllable of player's name)

'You only sing when you're winning, etc.'

Other current top tens are:
Amazing Grace
Wild Rover
Bread of Heaven
Que sera sera
I'm H. A. P. P. Y.


15 Feb 10 - 05:59 PM (#2840379)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Jack Campin

Or in the case of Andy Goram (deranged racist player for Glasgow Rangers) his mental problems (probably bipolar disorder, but popularly reputed to be schizophrenia which in terrace-think is the same as MPD) the chant went

Two Andy Gorams! There's only two Andy Gorams!...


15 Feb 10 - 06:26 PM (#2840420)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: Jim Carroll

Interesting to revisit this thread since America now uses Guantanamo as a concentration camp where it holds prisoners illegally and tortures them.
There must be a great parody in there somewhere.
Jim Carroll


15 Feb 10 - 10:18 PM (#2840569)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: GUEST,BarneyOshkoff

I think it was the Sandpipers too.


05 May 10 - 07:53 AM (#2900482)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: GUEST,irish follower of demis

DEMIS ROUSSOS HAD THE HIT WITH QUANTANAMERA
   in the 1967 also in 70's
       he is a solo artist and also play's lead bass player
and vocal's with and in Aphrodite's Child
demis was born in egypt aphrodites child music is based around the
the GOD'S and there of spring as in CUPID the love god


05 May 10 - 08:49 AM (#2900505)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

One David Beckman, There's only one David Beckman

or

Two Gary Stevens. There's only two Gary Steverns

or

Score in a Brothal, You couldn't score in a Brothal.

or the women's version - "One cock can kill ya, I tell you one cock can kill ya."

or

The children's playground version - "One ton can kill ya. You know that one ton can kill ya." And of course the tomatoe variation.

AND MY FAVORITE - It is game - played until the table colapses or the entire group is up dancing on the table

One on the Table, There's only one on the Table
Two on the Table, There's only two on the Table
Three on the Table, There's only three on the Table.
ETC

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


15 May 12 - 11:17 PM (#3351410)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: GUEST

Since I'm doing a report on this song, I believe the original song was sung my Jose Fernandez Diaz in the 1920's


16 May 12 - 12:29 AM (#3351436)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: GUEST,999

GUEST, you might wish to read the following link. To my knowledge, it's accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamera

Best wishes with your report,


16 May 12 - 09:09 PM (#3351840)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: GUEST,julia L

Ha! Like Bubblyrat, this could be "misheard" with results that could make Alfred E Neuman proud...

One ton o' maalox
Just give me one ton o' maalox
One ton o' maalox
Oh I need one ton o' maalox

Verse
Well I ate 6 burritos
And a plateful of nachos
Four chimichangas
And some great enchiladas
Now I need one ton o' maalox
Yes I need one ton'o' maalox

Chorus with FEELING

I am a man who has overindulged....


17 May 12 - 11:29 AM (#3352062)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: Elmore

Glad I wasn't on a quiz show trying to remember The Sandpipers. That is some serious trivia.


17 May 12 - 04:55 PM (#3352156)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: Brian May

It was a beautiful song and the Sandpipers made a good job of it.


18 May 12 - 09:05 AM (#3352406)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: GUEST,leeneia

I agree, Brian. It's lovely on my mountain dulcimer in DAA.


19 May 12 - 08:31 AM (#3352813)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: GUEST,mando-player-91

My favorite version of the song will always be Pete Seeger's


16 Oct 12 - 10:39 PM (#3421064)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

I read a few posts up that there are apparently some verses which refer to the 1959 revolution. I wonder if someone could turn up those verses?


17 Oct 12 - 08:24 AM (#3421222)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: GUEST,Tunesmith

I first heard this song sung by Pete Seeger at The Spinners' folk music club, Liverpool, back in 1964, and my guess is that, if it hadn't been for Pete, the song would never have been become widely known in the English language speaking world.

BTW, who did the English translation?


17 Oct 12 - 08:41 PM (#3421701)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

You could see it this way, which is the way I like to see it: as a song sung from the POV of a Cuban revolutionary justifying his ethic and love of poetry to the girl he loves, who happens to be a guajira from Guantanamo. That's what I've always imagined when I sing it. (I actually might record it and post a link.)

Singing songs from the opposite sex's perspective is accepted in folk music.


17 Oct 12 - 08:48 PM (#3421706)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: GUEST,999

No shit!


17 Oct 12 - 09:06 PM (#3421716)
Subject: RE: Help: quantanamera? / Guantanamera
From: GUEST,999

That was curt, and I apologize. What I meant to say is that until you read about what actually happened between those who could and did go to the Sierra Maestra mountains and those who supported business interests, you will have to romanticize the 1959 revolution. The songs were not those of the people. Never were and still aren't.