Camaron & Enrique letras

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Camaron & Enrique letras

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JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

Camaron & Enrique letras

OK amigos, time for a cante letras question.

2 songs, one by Camaron, and one by Enrique Morente. Can anyone tell me what they are about? Obviously my grasp of Spanish is highly limited.

First one, Camaron: "La Mujer Con Ser Mujer".

Second one, Enrique: "Negra Si Tu Supieras"

Any ideas?

Jb

_____________________________

¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 26 2007 10:22:49

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: Camaron & Enrique letras (in reply to JBASHORUN)

no suplemento !

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 26 2007 10:59:15

Estevan

Posts: 1938
Joined: Dec. 20 2006
From: Torontolucía

RE: Camaron & Enrique letras (in reply to JBASHORUN) 1 votes

Hi JB,
I don't have either of these songs, but the text of Enrique's comes from a famous collection, "Motivos de Son" by the Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén. Maybe you can find a proper translation at the library or something. The original is written in Afro-Cuban slang:

¡Ay, negra,
si tú supiera!
Anoche te bi pasá
y no quise que me biera.
A é tú le hará como a mí,
que cuando no tube plata
te corrite de bachata,
sin acoddadte de mí.

Sóngoro cosongo,
[etc.]

No guarantees, but the rough idea (corrections welcome) is something like:

Woman, if you knew!
last night I saw you go by
without wanting you to see me.
You're gonna do to him
like you did to me,
when I was broke
you ran off partying
and forgot all about me.

After that it's mostly nonsense words (jitanjáforas) that are used for rhythmic effect to suggest dance music.

Hope this helps

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2007 18:49:14

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Camaron & Enrique letras (in reply to JBASHORUN)

GRACIAS Estevan!!! Thats fascinating... I was just guessing at what the song meant by the title, but your translation was great. and and thanks for telling me where it originated... I will try and research this Cuban poet.

As for the Camaron letras, I think I have a fair idea of what it is about (

), but much of it is guess-work.

Always interesting to know what the cantaors are singing about.

Jb

_____________________________

¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2007 20:23:19

Estevan

Posts: 1938
Joined: Dec. 20 2006
From: Torontolucía

RE: Camaron & Enrique letras (in reply to JBASHORUN)

You're welcome, JB. It may help to remember that Enrique often uses 'literary' verses by famous poets rather than folk lyrics, so that can sometimes mean that it's possible to track down a translation - but you might need access to a university library or something like that.

By the way, I wanted to thank you for the terrapin etc. on the 'off-topic' discussion last week.

Steve

'Inspiration, move me brightly
Light the song with sense and colour,
Hold away despair...'

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2007 21:22:36