El Pais/DPA: "While you’re crying in Miami, I’m living it up in Havana" - song sparks controversy

[flamingdem]

--- A controversial song has hit a chord with Cubans in Havana and Miami


Videos of the artists mentioned in the article:

trailer: Animals of Cuban Music

http://www.havanabuzz.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukDosBnStkQ

Song: Gozando en La Habana - by David Calzado and La Charanga Habanera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY6CxAPVneQ

Notes by Walter Lippman on article below:
(Having the formula for what makes one record a hit would
be the dream of anyone in the music business. Evidently
it's a mixture of rhythm, melody, lyrical relevance and
being something with which large - very large - numbers
of people immediately identify, and which becomes catchy
to very large groups of people in a very short time. And
touching a chord deeply with the audience is, naturally,
an essential element.

(Having heard and read a million stories in places like
the MIAMI HERALD and others about how rotten Cuban life
is supposed to be, and how they all want to leave for a
chance to get rich quick on the gold-paved streets of
Miami, this report about a hot new tune making all the
rounds in Cuba tells a different story. Thanks again to
CubaNews translator Giselle Gil for bring this out to us
promptly. I've received the lyrics in Spanish and hope to
get an English translation out soon, perhaps tomorrow.

(When we speak about the "Battle of Ideas", it's not just
about Posada Carriles, the Cuban Five or the blockade.
It's also about the thinking large numbers of Cubans,
about whether or not they want to stay on the island in
the face of the endless frustrations and difficulties of
everyday life, or try their luck on the supposedly gold-
paved streets of Miami, etc. This has also been picked up
and re-posted on such Cuban sites as that of UNEAC and
Cubadebate. This is an important politico-cultural moment.)
=============================================================

EL PAIS/DPA
"While you’re crying in Miami, I’m living it up in Havana"

Havana, (dpa) - A song that speaks humorously of the many Cubans that abandon the island to look for fortune in Miami is blazing through dance floors in Havana and will become a real hit for young people in the country.

"Living it up in Havana", by David Calzado and his Charanga Habanera, is the story of a young Cuban girl that leaves her boyfriend and goes to Miami, because she wants to become famous and successful as a singer. When she arrives, she enjoys comforts she didn't have in Cuba, but she calls her boyfriend saying she is sad and misses some of the things she grew up with in the island.

"She says she likes it, that she thinks Miami is madness, but she misses Havana, gossip and ‘sabrosura’. She says she has money, the car she dreamed about, but that she can’t find in Miami, what she left in Havana", the lyrics go. The abandoned boyfriend shows little compassion and makes fun of the girl saying "while you’re crying in Miami, I’m living it up in Havana", which is the song’s chorus.

This catching song, in which rapper Jackal also sings, is a fusion of salsa and reggaeton. It also includes a re-mix of "Cuentame", a Spanish 70’s classic. The album that includes this song is called “Don’t look at the cover” and it has just been launched. Although, for some months now the song has been distributed from hand to hand. People pass it along using memory sticks, CDs and cassettes, in a country in which music is hardly ever sold, and where there are no hit lists.<1>

In terraces and locales in Havana, "Living it up" livens up parties like no other musical success this summer (boreal). Everybody stands up to dance and sing; many sit down after it’s over. It’s seldom one finds a young person who doesn’t know the lyrics. The song is also played on the radio and television networks in the island, all controlled by the State.

"We are happily surprised, because you never know when a song will grab. We have been able to create a phenomenon and it’s turning into a hymn for Cuban youths ", said David Calzado, founder of the musical ensemble, which for the last 20 years has been one of the most successful in the island internationally.

In conversation with the DPA agency in Havana, the leader of the Charanga Habanera explains that the song doesn't refer to anyone in particular. But, it tells a story common among Cuban couples, regardless of whether the one who leaves is the man or the woman.

"Many of those who leave for other countries are able to change their way of living. And, suddenly, they want to try to forget who they are, where they come from, and where their roots are. They pretend that everything is all right, but in their hearts they feel nostalgia. They feel the longing to live with their own people", he said.

The singer says he didn’t write the song with political intentions. Although, he recognizes he mentions Miami and not Madrid or Paris because he thought it "morbid" to mention this city in Florida. There live thousands of Cubans who, for many decades, have abandoned the island for political or economic reasons.

But, according to the artist, the song is also liked in Miami: "The record was also launched in the States. The record company told us the song was too strong for Miami Cubans. Therefore, we made a version in which we say 'you live it up in Miami and I’m living it up in Havana' to level the situation. But, they don’t want that one. In Miami the most important discotheques are playing the song that supposedly was going to be too polemic."

Calzado says he is "not so blind as to say that everything is OK". But, in spite of the difficulties the country has lived through and still lives through, he has never thought of leaving. Not even in difficult moments, like for example in 1997, when he got in trouble with Cuban authorities after his group flew over the crowd in a helicopter and landed on stage on one of their mega concerts in Havana’s Malecon.

"Because of that we were suspended for six months. They thought what we did was ostentatious when the country was in the middle of an economic crisis. Not even in that moment, when I thought the Charanga was going to be suspended forever, did I think of leaving this country", he assured. The artist explained that during his trips to different places in the world he has not found perfection, not even n the most advanced nations.

"In the developed countries, they have one thing but another one is lacking. I haven’t found the perfect world. If there are always going to be imperfections, I rather stay in my surroundings, where I feel I’m breathing what I need."

<1> Translator's Note: The weekly program Piso 6 (Sixth Floor), Tuesday nights, does have a hit list, as well as the program Lucas, on Sundays.

[flamingdem]

1. Lyrics for Gozando in Havana

Here are the lyrics in the two versions (in Spanish). The first one is the original with the chorus: "While you’re crying in Miami, I’m living it up in Havana" (tu llorando en Miami, yo gozando en la Habana). The second one is the change the US label asked for "While your enjoying yourself in Miami, I'm enjoying myself in Havana". Walter's article misses an important fact I learned from DJs on the circuit, namely that the song is the biggest hit they've ever seen from Cuba among expatriate Cubans and even young Cuban Americans living in Miami.

More on David Calzado and the Charanga Habanera:

http://www.popular-documentary.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r40yOd7zFPA

David Calzado was censored in 1997 for being ostentatious, as were many of the popular musicians in the 1990s who enjoyed the benefits of an opening to tourism and dollars flowing in, but David hung in there to become a true king of popular music in Cuba.


Gozando In Havana

ladies & gentleman, now from cuba
que lo que hay con cuba pa' que lo vamo hacer en ingles
mejor sueltalo en el españole HELLO !

cuentame , como te ha ido si has conocido la felicidad
cuentame , como te va, yo por aki my bien
y tu por alla que bola ! Charanga Habanera !

dicen que se siente bien que Miami es la locura,
pero le falta la Habana, el chisme y la sabrosura
dicen que tiene dinero, el carro que ella soño
pero no encuentra en Miami , lo que en la Habana dejo !

Ahora te voy a contar algo que me sucedio
yo que la queria tanto, pero se fue y me dejo
Lachy ! queria hacerse famosa queria ganarse un Grammy
y salio a provarse su suerte avion destino Miami


--> (David ) oye chacal ..... te oi <--

dicen que se siente bien que Miami es la locura,
pero le falta la Habana, el chisme y la sabrosura
dicen que tiene dinero, el carro que ella soño
pero no encuentra en Miami , lo que en la Habana dejo !

mentira mentira
(rap chacal ............)
pa que tu lloras
si te fueste sufre mami que le van hacer
De q te sirve micky mouse si te gusta elpidio valdes.
audi pa mi ,.....
pa ke vivir de cuento que cuento , sigo comiendo picadillo pero contento
(rap chacal ............)

(Dantes) y ahora me llama llorando,dice que no encuentra el modo
que no se siente feliz, que de Cuba extraña todo
extraña a los van van , hectico y pmm
extraña a la charanga , y el papi que ella mas quiere

(Randy mc)yo sigo charangueando como me da la gana

tu llorando en Miami, yo gozando en la habana
tu llorando en Miami, yo gozando en la habana

se siente triste porque, alla no hay Capri ni Tropicana
tu llorando en Miami, yo gozando en la Habana
extrana mi habana tu y al Bucanero que ella tomaba
tu llorando en Miami, yo gozando en la habana

hasta donde mami?, hasta cuando?
si te comportas como Yuma, tu tienes que ir tumbando
hasta donde mami?, hasta cuando?
si te comportas como yuma tu tienes que ir bajando

tumbando , tumbando tumbando
si te comportas como yuma, tu tienes que ir bajando
tumbando , tumbando tumbando
si te comportas como yuma, tu tienes que ir bajando

ella esta hablando ingles conmigo y yo no se lo que esta hablando
si te comportas como yuma, tu tienes que ir bajando
y preparado , vamo a gozalo !
mano pa' arriba to' el mundo
vamo to' el mundo a cantarlo!

cuentame , como te ha ido si has conocido la felicidad
cuentame , como te va, yo por aqui my bien
y tu por alla que bola !
cuentame , como te ha ido si has conocido la felicidad
cuentame , como te va, yo por aki my bien
y tu por alla que bola !

(El Chacal )oye chula, yo sigo con lo mio y no lo cambio por nada
por eso me mantengo por eso sigo siendo lo que me da la gana, la reverenda gana !
desde el cuartel pavel, frank dos metra , repeta,
camina pa que aprenda,
esto es pa que goces y no pa que ud me reprenda
ok ok pa que tu quieres pan si yo tengo confi cake
copiaste !

this version is Gozando en Miami

Ladies and Gentlemen
Now From cuba que es lo que hay con cuba?
para que lo vamos a decir en ingles
mejor q ...sueltalo en el español, hello!!

cuentame(ok) como te hs ido (jaja)si has conocido
la felicidad, ah ah, cuentame como te va
yo por aqui muy bien, y tu por alla que bola?
Charanga habaneraaa, dice que se siente bien (agua)
que miami es la locura(ok), pero le falta la habana
el chisme y la sabrosura(tu sabes), dice que tiene dinero(david)

y el carro que ella soño pi pi, pero no encuentra
en miami, el papi que ella dejo,(aned) ahora te voy
a contar algo que me sucedio yo que la queria tanto
pero se fue y me dejo, (lachy) queria hacerse famosa
queria ganarse un grammy, y salio a pronar su suerte
avion destino miami

dice que se siente bien que miami es la locura
oye chacal, te oi,pero le falta la habana el chisme
y la sabrosura, si si, dicen que tiene dinero, (ta bien)
(david ta bien) y el carro que ella soño pero no encuentra
en miami el papi que ella dejo


oh caridad como tu goza la papeleta porque
tienes una nueva choza yo te imagino en miami
comiendote un piti la fruta mas sabrosa pero
extrañandome a mi cuando tomes un martini
mami acuerdate de mi para sentir todo lo que
rico que te esta pasando alli, de la habana para
miami tengo un correo pa ti, forever i love u tu pimpin mami

ella me sige llamando dice que lo tiene todo y que
se siente feliz, y que de cuba extraña un poco
extraña los van van hectico y p.m.m extraña la
charanga y el papi que ella mas quiere
yo sigo charangiando ay como me da mi gana

tu gozando en miami y yo gozando en la habana
tu gozando en miami y yo gozando en la habana


ya tiene lo que soño willy chirino con tropigala
tu gozando en miami y yo gozando en la habana
tu gozando en miami y yo gozando en la habana
y tiene tremendo ache como se hace la americana
tu gozando en miami y yo gozando en la habana
hasta donde mami, hasta cuando, quedate gozando
alla por la yuma que yo me quedo aqui en la habana
charangueando

hasta donde mami hasta cuando
tu gozando alla en la yuma
yo en la habana charangueando
tumbando, tumbando, tumbando ( por eso)
tumbando mama tumbando
y olle, en la habana charangueando
tumbando tumbando mama tumbando
tu gozando alla en la yuma
yo en la habana charangueando (ay dale mambo)

mami un ratico ap ies y otro caminando
ella hablando en ingles conmigo
y yo no se lo que esta parlando
tu gozando alla en la yuma
yo en la habana charangiando
y preparadooo vamos a gozarlo
manos para arriba todo el mundo
vamos to el mundo a cantarlo

cuentame como te ha ido si has conocido la felicidad
cuentame como te va yo por aqui muy bien y tu
por alla que bola? cuentame, como te ha ido si
has conocido la felicidad, cuentame como te va
yo por aqui muy bien y tu por alla que bola?
cuentame como te ha ido si has conocido la felicidad
cuentame como te va yo por aqui muy bien y tu
por alla q bola!

desde el cuartel pavel fran los metra respeta
hello, copiastes! cuentame!!

[flamingdem]

2. Lyrics for Gozando en la Habana in English

Well, well, a search on google for English lyrics brought me to Machetera's blog where this story was picked up on but obviously Machetera no sabe nada because he/she is putting down the Charanga Habanera, and that means that he/she lacks Cubania and probably the ability to dance. Just kidding.. but try not to be a snob about Cuba's popular culture, you'll miss out on a lot of meaning and a lot of fun.


Ladies and gentlemen, now from Cuba,

what is it with Cuba that we’re doing it in English

better let it go, in Spanish HELLO!

Tell me, how’d it go for you, did you find happiness?

tell me, how’s it going, I’m doing great here

while you’re there, hey babe! Charanga Habanera!

They say she feels good in Miami, that it’s crazy,

but what’s missing is Havana, the gossip, the deliciousness

They say she has money, the car she dreamed about

but she can’t find in Miami what she left behind in Havana!

Now I’m going to tell you something that happened to me,

I, who loved her so much, but she left and left me behind

Lachy! She wanted to be famous and win a Grammy

so she left on an airplane for Miami to try her luck

(David) Hey chacal, I heard you

they say she feels good in Miami, that it’s crazy, but what’s missing is Havana,

the gossip and the deliciousness, uh huh

they say she has money (a lie!), the car she dreamed about (a lie!)

but she can’t find in Miami what she left behind in Havana!

(Chacal raps…)

Honey, why you crying? Thanks to you I bought me a

computer…

If you left babe, you’re gonna suffer, what can you do?

what use is Mickey Mouse to you if you like Elpidio Valdes?

an Audi for me…

…and the money for you

to live the story, what a story, I’m still eating

soyburger but I’m content

(Chacal raps…)

(Dantes) …and now she calls me crying, she says she can’t find the way,

that she feels bad, that she misses everything about Cuba,

she misses Los Van Van, Hectico and PMM,

she misses La Charanga, and the guy she loved the most

(Randy mc) and I keep on Charanga-ing just the way I like

You crying in Miami, me enjoying Havana

you crying in Miami, me enjoying Havana

She’s sad because there’s no Capri or Tropicana there

you crying in Miami, me enjoying Havana

she misses my Havana Club and the Bucanero she used to drink

you crying in Miami, me enjoying Havana

How long, babe, ‘til when?

if you act like a yuma, you have to take a fall

how long babe, ‘til when?

if you act like a yuma, you gotta go down

Falling, falling falling

if you act like a yuma, you gotta go down

falling, falling falling

if you act like a yuma, you gotta go down

She’s speaking English with me and I don’t know what she’s saying

If you act like a yuma, you gotta go down

Ready, let’s enjoy!

Clap your hands everyone,

everyone sing!

Tell me, how’d it go, did you find

happiness?

Tell me, how’s it going, I’m doing great here

and you there, babe!

tell me, how’d it go, did you find

happiness?

Tell me, how’s it going, I’m doing great here

and you’re there, babe!

(Chacal) Hey sweetie, I’ll go my own way and won’t

change it for anything

that’s why I take care of myself, that’s why I keep on doing

what I want, what I really want!

from cuartel pavel, frank dos metra, repeat,

Walk so you can learn

this is so you can enjoy and not get on my case

Ok, ok, why do you want bread when I’ve got coffee cake?

get it?!

[Billy Burnett]

3. Well, at least the (fictional) girl in Miami could visit as often as she might like.

Under Mr Obama's new edict, she could get her fix of Cubañia every weekend.

The rest of us, however ...

-

Good to see that the younger gen of Cubans are thinking for themselves.

Thanks for the posts.

:hi:

---

[flamingdem]

4. Yes the new rules make a special club for Cubans

As in "I'm droppin' down to Cuba for the Juanes concert anyone want to join me?"

The cost is still high for a trip but that will change as the numbers increase probably. I'm not looking forward to the cultural Miamification of Havana.

They can surely use the money from the Cuban Americans, so that part is positive.

[flamingdem]

5. Adendum: the slang word Yuma has multiple meanings, we will hear it a lot in the future

NOTE: In my experience "las yumas" mean foreigners in general, but El Yuma is the United States. I think Tom Miller's description comes closest.

-----------

Yuma. In Cuba, a nickname for the United States/"Americans"; U.S. Citizens

Dictionary definition of “Yuma”

Etymological Note: The etymological information in the 1996 cite and last 2004 cite is unverified. Another claim that it comes from a corrupted pronunciation by Cubans of the English words “united states” is less likely.

Citations: 1991 Don Rosen Orange County Register (California) (May 19) “After treacherous voyage, refugees seek fresh start in Irvine” p. H9: For years they dreamed of coming to “la yuma,” as the United States is known in Cuba.

1996 Usenet: soc.culture.cuba (Jan. 21) “Re: What does gusano mean?”: Tu si te las sabes todas, desde el Rosita de Hornedo hasta lo de la Yuma. Efectivamente, no se si te recuerdas, se trataba de una pelicula de Glenn Ford, “The 3:10 to Yuma” Asi creo que se llamaba. Esta pelicula cuando la echaron formo tremendo revuelo, pues en los cines en esos dias lo que estaban “echando” era pura bazofia del campo socialista. Se formaron tremendas colas y la gente comenzo a popularizar y asociar Yuma con USA.

2004 Anita Snow @ Cojimar, Cuba Miami Herald (Florida) (Aug. 11) “Repeat of ‘94 ‘Rafter’ Crisis Less”: The upheaval of 1994 began when thousands of Cubans crowded Havana’s sea wall to cheer on the latest of many ferry hijackings by passengers bent on reaching “La Yuma”—slang for the United States.

*2004 Tom Miller Traveler’s Tales (Aug. 12) “Cuba: Introduction”: In Cuban street slang, yuma means a foreigner, more specifically, someone from a non-Spanish speaking European or North American country, and most particularly, from the United States. When someone asks my brother-in-law where his sister went, he might say, “Se fue pa’ la yuma.” She went to the United States. Or an American tourist strolling down Havana’s Prado might hear, “¡Oye, yuma! ¡Ven acá!” Hey ‘merican, com’ere! Yuma is a word unknown in Mexico or any other Spanish-speaking country that I know of. Cubans have always liked our Westerns going back deep into the Batista years, including the Glenn Ford classic, 3:10 to Yuma. The movie, popular in theaters and on Cuban television, was quintessentially American. Based on a 1953 Elmore Leonard short story, it portrayed the nuance of cowboy honor and obligation. In the quirky way that one language absorbs the sounds and images of another, Cuba, which has embraced so many American totems, has taken Yuma if not to its heart, at least to its tongue. The Cuban street-slang yuma derives directly from the film 3:10 to Yuma.