It's hard for me to answer this question because quite frankly the only way I can describe Silvio is by saying that he is one of the singers/composers that I grew up listening to. There is almost no song of Silvio's that doesn't bring back memories of my childhood.
Until I became a teenager and was introduced to music coming from a source different then my home, whenever someone asked me what my favorite song was my answer was systematically "Why duh! 'Ojala', of course" -- as if it could have been anything else.
Here's a a more objective description of Silvio Rodriguez which I found on the metacafe.com forum:
Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez is a Cuban musician, and a leader of the nueva trova movement. He is known for his highly symbolic lyrics. Many of his songs have become classics in Latin American music, such as Ojalá, Playa Girón and La maza. Silvio is well known for socially critically, yet ambiguous lyrics, which have raised the suspicions of both the Cuban government and Cuban-American groups on various occasions.
And here is the world famous "Ojala" song which if you've ever lived in any place in Latin America you've probably heard at some point :
Fned.
6 comments:
I do love that song. I liked this video because you can actually understand when the entire crowd sings for him. It's a great tribute to him.
And now I'm all mellow ~
I loooove Silvio. My hubby introduced him to me. You have some pretty cool parents!
LOVE this song. How can you not? Like you say, "Of course."
JJ: I think this video is from his "Mano a Mano" album which was taped live back in the 90's... And you're right..; when the crowd takes off starts singing the chorus it makes the hair on my arms stand up!. What's funny is that there's a second verse that follows the frist one and Silvio can't sing it because the crowd starts the chorus and it's so powerful that he just lets them go... :D
Kumichan: Isn't his music fantastic?? A lot of the times I had to have my parents or brothers explain some of the more puzzling lyrics but on the whole I find his songs are like little poems.
Mamacita: If you like Ojala, I totally recommend La Maza (my personal favorite Silvio song now).. !!
Fned.
Lo amo!
Me encanta la canción!!! Bueno, creo que en México todos tuvimos la Silvio-época, la mía me llego cuando estaba en la universidad, ya sabes, cortándonos las venas con pan bimbo y toda la cosa. Que padre que tus papas escuchabas ese tipo de música, me encanta!
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