As I said to my friend who passed this song on to me yesterday, this song is fascinating because it is both happy and sad at the same time. I had compared it to tequila, but perhaps the mojito, a Cuban drink, is a better analogy for something joyful with a touch of sorrow mixed in?
Listening to this you might think this sort of music, known as "Son Cubano", the norm in Cuba for the past 50 years, but no. The Buena Vista Social Club, which was an actual club where these musicians played, was closed along with most others after the Cuban Revolution. Cuban music like this was essentially put on ice in the 1950s until the late 1980s and 90s when a revival provided the conditions for this song and the album it is on to be. My message to the dictators and communists of the present and future, state run art is never a good idea. Censorship is one thing, but to essentially squelch entire genres of music is just unnecessary.
PS: Although the song was written in 1987, and many of the songs on the album are much older than that, the album was released in 1997. I've been posting the "release date" of the "album" of each song as close as possible, hence the 1997 date. Really it might as well be 60 years old, don't you think!?
Song Recommendations
If you like this song, I also suggest:
Click here for more info on Buena Vista Social Club – Buena Vista Social Club – "Chan Chan".
The MP3 may be purchased here… Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club
