Thursday 21 June 2012

Guantanamera Song Analysis

Guantanamera
Jose Fernandez
Song Analysis
Guantanamera was a song originally written by Jose Fernandez in Cuba around 1929. When first written, though the details vary from place to place, the song was written about his love interest with a woman from Guantanamo. Over the years, the song has evolved and been covered by many different artists in different music styles. Some covers; however don’t even come close to resembling the original, or other covers especially in terms of lyrics and perhaps its meaning.
Today Guantanamera is one of the most popular folk songs of Cuba that has now become a song of national pride and an unofficial anthem to Cuba. Perhaps the reason for this is not only the use of poetry for lyrics, but how the lyrics speak to the people. The first lines of the song were adapted from Jose Marti, a Cuban freedom activist in from the late 1800’s. “I am a truthful man from this land of palm trees. Before dying I want to share these poems of my soul”. These lines saw gave the song its foundation for use among peace and justice movements and demonstrations particularly with future social issues Cuba would later encounter. Other lines, such as “With the poor people of the earth. I want to cast my lot” has given the song a more universal meaning for relating to equality and social freedom, rather than just being another song about Cuba. Throughout the rest of Latin America however, the song still, for the most part remains as a popular love song. Another reason for its popularity, not only does the melody support a traditional style of Cuban folk music, it lyrics are easily improvised with the insertion of poetry. The song itself is a vehicle for all kinds of purposes, in some cases, even political.
Today’s interpretation of the song outside of Cuba (in the US) is used in connection and contrast with the US base Guantanamo Bay. It is often sung by freedom activists especially at the 10 year anniversary of the re-opening of Guantanamo bay demonstrations. One of the original interpretations of the song deals with the natural beauty of Cuba, but is now contrasted with the ugliness of a site iconic for human rights violations on the established US Base. It’s viewed as if the base was a blood stain on the country. Also, Guantanamo bay also stands as a symbol of US imperialism in Cuba. Today Guantanamera is both synonymous and a juxtaposition to Guantanamo. This is an extreme example of how the songs universality. Other social issues tied to this song by present day freedom activists also include issues with immigration.
The song is now considered an icon of Cuban identity. As mentioned, it has been covered by artists from all over. Even today the song is still evolving in style, and lyrics are sometimes improvised to fit situations ranging from everyday issues to political and social issues. Although Jose Fernandez wrote and established the original song, and was given official recognition, it is often known as a song without an author because it has been covered by so many artists, and with having the lyrics often improvised. The Music styles of can range from regular Cuban folk music to Nueva Cancion to commercialized North American music. For example, so-called “artist” PitBull has made his own version of the song to tribute his Cuban roots. However, his version bares little resemblance to the original or other
While listening to the original version of the song as performed by Jose Fernandez, one can identify the song as a traditional Cuban folk song. Most other versions still maintain this traditional sound. The way the song is often performed can bring to mind the warmth of Cuba’s exotic beauty, though it seems history and present day issues can overshadow this to some extent. To me, it also brings up thoughts of the time of the Cuban revolution. Tributes to Che Guevara featuring this have been circulated through popular media especially on youtube. Again, as mentioned, the song has been given relevance to some as being contrasted with Guantanamo Bay.
Overall, I understand the song is a popular folk song that has reached a level of being an unofficial national anthem. To many throughout Latin America, it is most simply viewed as a popular love song. To Cubans, the song has the ability to take on meanings. The first lines relate to equality and social freedom having been taken from a poem by Jose Marti. The last verse at a glance is to appeal to the lower and marginalized Cuban class. In between glorifies beauty, whether for the land, or the woman from the land, it also has room for abstraction, the true meaning, both apparent and underlying can be made to suit the times of the cover artist.






Spanish Lyrics
Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmi­n encendido
Mi verso es un ciervo herido
Que busca en el monte amparo
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Cultivo una rosa blanca
En julio como en enero
Para el amigo sincero
Que me da su mano franca
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
El arroyo de la sierra
Me complace mas que el mar
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
English Lyrics
I am a truthful man
From where the palm tree grows
And before dying I want
To let out the verses of my soul

My verse is light green
And it is flaming red
My verse is a wounded stag
Who seeks refuge on the mountain

I grow a white rose
In July just as in January
For the honest friend
Who gives me his open hand

With the poor people of the earth
I want to cast my lot
The brook of the mountains
Gives me more pleasure than the sea












References

1)    Spanish Lyrics to Guantanamera for you to enjoy...: http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com/Spanish-Lyrics-to-Guantanamera.html
Guantanamera, History of a Folk Song: http://folkmusic.about.com/od/folksongs/qt/Guantanamera.htm

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