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- 1
- 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,274
- RADIO ANNOUNCER IN SPANISH:
- It is with deep sorrow and sympathy
- 2
- 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:40,315
- that I must inform our country
- that today,
- 3
- 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,830
- the Commander in Chief
- of the Cuban Revolution,
- 4
- 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:45,996
- Fidel Castro Ruz, has passed away.
- 5
- 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,797
- NEWSREADER IN SPANISH:
- To honor Fidel Castro's death,
- 6
- 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,515
- Cuba declares nine days
- of national mourning.
- 7
- 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,359
- - Compay Segundo came here?
- - Compay Segundo never came here.
- 8
- 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:18,996
- - He never came?
- - Segundo was near 60th.
- 9
- 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:22,994
- They told him,
- "Buena Vista Social Club is that way."
- 10
- 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,509
- - And he went that way?
- - Yes. That came out in a documentary.
- 11
- 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,278
- He never came to
- Buena Vista Social Club.
- 12
- 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,833
- He never set foot in it.
- 13
- 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:31,633
- - And this is the place?
- - This is the place.
- 14
- 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:32,715
- This is the real thing.
- 15
- 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:34,796
- This is the real
- Buena Vista Social Club.
- 16
- 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:39,675
- This is the place where it used to be.
- The society for black people.
- 17
- 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,679
- People... For workers. Black workers.
- 18
- 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:49,432
- And it's a famous place, but it used to
- be a very famous place in the past, too.
- 19
- 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:54,873
- Not only now, right now, after these
- sessions, and the album and everything.
- 20
- 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,878
- It used to be,
- really, an important place.
- 21
- 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,114
- - This was the cloakroom.
- - Right.
- 22
- 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,310
- People would arrive...
- 23
- 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:12,515
- They'd arrive here
- and check their coats and hats.
- 24
- 00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:14,710
- Then, they would start dancing.
- 25
- 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:18,389
- All ofthis area
- was the Buena Vista Social Club.
- 26
- 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,831
- It was a society for black people.
- 27
- 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,077
- They used to perform here, and they used
- to dance here, as well.
- 28
- 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:30,512
- And right now, it is a gym.
- And very modern, by the way.
- 29
- 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:40,918
- - It was a huge dance hall.
- - Imagine that this wall didn't exist.
- 30
- 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:46,717
- This is the original floor. And on this
- floor, the people used to dance,
- 31
- 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:48,990
- and they enjoyed life.
- 32
- 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:54,875
- (PIANO PLAYS)
- 33
- 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,718
- (AUDIENCE WHISTLING, CHEERING)
- 34
- 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:12,672
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
- 35
- 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:25,753
- IBRAHIM FERRER:
- Like in a film or in a dream...
- 36
- 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,718
- Now? You're going to be famous now?
- 37
- 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,796
- Now your voice is messed up
- and you can barely walk?
- 38
- 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,673
- When you have to walk with a cane
- and everything?
- 39
- 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:41,279
- Now?
- 40
- 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,956
- Well, what do these people know,
- really, about Cuba?
- 41
- 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,072
- What do they know
- about the history of our country?
- 42
- 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:02,074
- What do they know
- about the things we have been through?
- 43
- 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,799
- FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Is this
- turned on? Can you hear me? Very well.
- 44
- 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,628
- OK, well, many thanks for coming.
- 45
- 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,752
- Welcome to this press conference
- for the first-ever live performances
- 46
- 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:58,108
- ofthe Buena Vista Social Club.
- 47
- 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,676
- The album has now sold nearly
- half a million records worldwide.
- 48
- 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,756
- It's been awarded a Grammy,
- 49
- 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,475
- and Wim Wenders is here filming
- for a documentary.
- 50
- 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,718
- - How did it all take off, initially?
- - NICK GOLD: Sorry, I don't understand.
- 51
- 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,115
- He's saying what was your path?
- 52
- 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,470
- Oh, right. Together with Juan de Marcos
- 53
- 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,034
- we'd already discussed doing
- a big band album,
- 54
- 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,958
- with the style ofthe Fifties.
- 55
- 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,197
- At the same time,
- we wanted to do an album
- 56
- 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:25,799
- with musicians from the east of Cuba,
- 57
- 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:27,797
- together with some African guitarists.
- 58
- 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,799
- | asked Ry if he'd want to come along,
- and he said, "Yes."
- 59
- 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,515
- But then, the Africans didn't
- show up, so we did what we did.
- 60
- 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,551
- JUAN DE MARCOS:
- I wanted to present a project
- 61
- 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,753
- based on the Cuban roots
- and based on our ancestors.
- 62
- 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,678
- Nick and me, we were talking,
- 63
- 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,634
- and he said, "Yes,
- I'd like to do this project with you. "
- 64
- 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,791
- NICK GOLD: Ry Cooder's a hero of mine.
- 65
- 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,674
- It was in the days of faxes, so I sent
- a fax to Ry to explain what I was doing.
- 66
- 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,109
- Immediately, a call came in,
- and the receptionist said,
- 67
- 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:01,673
- "There's a call for you on line two."
- 68
- 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,791
- I said, "OK. Who is it?"
- And they said, "It's Ry Cooder."
- 69
- 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:05,911
- So I picked up the phone,
- "Yeah, very funny. Ry Cooder."
- 70
- 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,998
- I picked up the phone and said hello,
- and the voice came down the phone,
- 71
- 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,270
- "Is that Nick Gold?" And I was, "Ah."
- 72
- 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,194
- The studio's wonderful.
- As soon as you walk in,
- 73
- 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:20,992
- you feel very much at home here.
- 74
- 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,156
- The drawbacks are quite funny, really.
- 75
- 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:27,034
- The main drawback we're having at
- the moment is rain coming in the roof.
- 76
- 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,434
- There's a history here. Music has been
- recorded here for 50 years.
- 77
- 00:08:33,560 --> 00:08:38,076
- I don't know. Maybe I'm romancing it,
- but I think you can feel it.
- 78
- 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,434
- When I was at school,
- I was working at a jazz shop in London.
- 79
- 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:46,915
- And I found a record
- by a guy called Arsenio Rodriguez.
- 80
- 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:51,670
- It was unlike anything I'd ever heard,
- and I fell in love with Cuban music.
- 81
- 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:56,435
- Hi.
- 82
- 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:04,791
- This is where all the tapes are,
- for the last 40 years.
- 83
- 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,150
- You've got recordings of everyone.
- 84
- 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:11,509
- It's beautiful.
- 85
- 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,956
- When Marcus started telling me
- of his dream project, and he said,
- 86
- 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,470
- "You know, this pianist is alive
- and playing, in Cuba."
- 87
- 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,239
- And then he'd say, "This trumpet player
- is alive and playing in Cuba."
- 88
- 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,990
- I assumed that none ofthem would be
- playing or that they would be dead.
- 89
- 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,190
- He said he'd found Arsenio's
- original pianist,
- 90
- 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,038
- Rubén Gonzalez.
- 91
- 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:43,916
- I lived two doors down from Arsenio
- 92
- 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,157
- and I'd hear him playing his tres
- every day.
- 93
- 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,714
- He said, "Come over here."
- He was blind.
- 94
- 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,195
- He ran his hand over my face, like so.
- 95
- 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,795
- I asked him, "What?" And he said,
- "You're a handsome guy."
- 96
- 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:05,038
- So, I told him, "No, man.
- Ijust really like music."
- 97
- 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,039
- He nicknamed me Pretty Boy,
- and Ijoined his band the next week.
- 98
- 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:14,514
- J‘ Come here, my dark-skinned woman,
- I'm going to die, my dark-skinned woman
- 99
- 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:18,997
- J‘ Come here, my dark-skinned woman
- I'm going to die, my dark-skinned woman
- 100
- 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,796
- Up to the Forties,
- it was forbidden to play congas in Cuba.
- 101
- 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,070
- It reminded people ofthe power,
- 102
- 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:31,194
- the sound ofthe drums ofthe original
- Africans during the times of slavery.
- 103
- 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:35,711
- The first one that introduced the congas
- in his band was Arsenio Rodriguez.
- 104
- 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:39,956
- Arsenio is one of the greatest
- Cuban musicians in our history.
- 105
- 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:45,074
- He created the foundation of everything.
- Of salsa, of mambo,
- 106
- 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:50,115
- of everything that's happening in
- danceable Latin music worldwide.
- 107
- 00:10:56,680 --> 00:11:01,754
- I'd perform, and he'd say, "Do it like
- this, not that. It'll sound better."
- 108
- 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,316
- And I became a master of Cuban music.
- 109
- 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:10,070
- I had a piano, but over time,
- termites got into the wood.
- 110
- 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:14,432
- The little creatures
- started eating away at the wood,
- 111
- 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:16,755
- and eventually
- they destroyed the piano.
- 112
- 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,390
- NICK GOLD: The door was unlocked,
- and he literally ran to the piano.
- 113
- 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,035
- Well, ran as, as much as he could. He
- wasn't... You know, he was an old man.
- 114
- 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,712
- JUAN DE MARCOS: I wanted to have
- the most important Cuban trumpet player
- 115
- 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,070
- of the last 40 years...
- 116
- 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,277
- Guajiro Mirabal.
- 117
- 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:37,757
- I worked at The Tropicana
- for 30 years.
- 118
- 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:44,319
- I have devoted myself to be
- an inspiration for Cuban music.
- 119
- 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:49,759
- Not to toot my own horn, but
- I was the best in Cuba. Really, I was.
- 120
- 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:55,752
- Eliades Ochoa.
- 121
- 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,151
- What's up, cowboy? Good to see you.
- 122
- 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,750
- JUAN DE MARCOS: Eliades Ochoa
- is like the flag of country music.
- 123
- 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,793
- This is my neighborhood. I was born
- just down the road from here.
- 124
- 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:09,558
- I was born here,
- in the humble mountains
- 125
- 00:12:09,680 --> 00:12:11,193
- ofthe province of Santiago de Cuba.
- 126
- 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,959
- - J‘ I'm a guajiro
- - J‘ l was born just over there
- 127
- 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:15,798
- In Santiago, there's something...
- 128
- 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:20,232
- We are a fusion of Spanish
- with African and Cubans.
- 129
- 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:24,911
- In every corner, there is someone
- playing a guitar or a conga.
- 130
- 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,835
- Here, you drink rum without ice.
- 131
- 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,752
- People party into the early hours.
- 132
- 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:41,150
- My mum didn't have a job, nor did my
- dad, and there were six of us kids.
- 133
- 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,510
- Life was hard. Very hard.
- 134
- 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:50,759
- When I was a kid, I earned a living
- playing in the brothels and bars.
- 135
- 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,794
- This was the red-light district.
- 136
- 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:59,877
- All these streets here had rooms,
- side by side, full of prostitutes.
- 137
- 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:01,628
- They helped me a lot.
- 138
- 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:06,911
- J‘ I am Afro-Cuban
- 139
- 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,838
- JUAN DE MARCOS: Pio Leyva
- was one of the greatest soneros.
- 140
- 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:11,712
- PIO LEYVA: Nobody taught me how to sing.
- 141
- 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,719
- I sing because... I don't know.
- It comes from my heart.
- 142
- 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,113
- JUAN DE MARCOS: The main bass
- player of the old generation
- 143
- 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:23,028
- was definitely Cachaito L6pez.
- 144
- 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,628
- CACHAITO LOPEZ: The violin
- was my instrument of choice,
- 145
- 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:31,118
- but my grandfather forced me to learn
- bass, because it's a family tradition.
- 146
- 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,232
- My family has 30 bass players,
- approximately.
- 147
- 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:39,955
- Barbarito Torres.
- 148
- 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,390
- JUAN DE MARCOS: He is the greatest
- lute player of his generation.
- 149
- 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,075
- BARBARITO TORRES: My godfather was
- one of Cuba's greatest lute players:
- 150
- 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:49,315
- Luciano Monet.
- 151
- 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:54,753
- So, at the age often,
- I was given a lute.
- 152
- 00:13:54,880 --> 00:14:00,910
- I started to incorporate different
- styles into country music: funk, rock.
- 153
- 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:02,314
- (WHISTLING, CHEERING)
- 154
- 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,034
- Then they started calling me
- the Jimi Hendrix ofthe lute.
- 155
- 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:08,357
- Here, in my head,
- there's an ocean of music.
- 156
- 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:14,434
- When I improvise it all mixes together,
- and what comes out is my creation.
- 157
- 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:17,154
- ANNOUNCER: Barbarito has gone crazy.
- 158
- 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,157
- SINGER: When I arrived
- at the recording studio,
- 159
- 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:24,877
- Ry Cooder told me to listen to a tape
- and copy the musician's style exactly.
- 160
- 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,276
- When he played the tape, there was
- a traditional Cuban song on it...
- 161
- 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:29,958
- (SINGS IN SPANISH)
- 162
- 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:35,791
- There was a lute solo in the song.
- When I heard it, I said, "That's me."
- 163
- 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,029
- The musician on Ry's tape was me.
- 164
- 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:53,274
- I'm 90 years old and then some.
- So, what's my secret?
- 165
- 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,790
- - Your secret is what interests me.
- - Don't overindulge.
- 166
- 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,718
- - Don't overindulge in anything.
- - In anything.
- 167
- 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:00,875
- (ALL LAUGH)
- 168
- 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:11,439
- Look, look. Listen up.
- 169
- 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:15,519
- For example, if I'm having chicken,
- I only eat a small portion,
- 170
- 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,712
- so that I don't get bored
- with what I'm eating.
- 171
- 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:23,789
- That way, the next day, I'll still have
- the desire to go back to that chicken.
- 172
- 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,753
- (COMMOTION, LAUGHTER)
- 173
- 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,714
- - The second secret.
- - The second secret deals with love.
- 174
- 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,550
- - That's what I'm interested in.
- - When it comes to love,
- 175
- 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:37,557
- I use the same strategy
- as when I eat chicken.
- 176
- 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,079
- (ALL LAUGH)
- 177
- 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,468
- Compay is like being in front
- of a Bible, because he knew everything.
- 178
- 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,079
- He was living for a century.
- 179
- 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,078
- I'm one ofthe original son players
- from Santiago.
- 180
- 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:55,193
- The music I play is son,
- and I'm not going to stop now.
- 181
- 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:56,389
- (CLICKS FINGERS)
- 182
- 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:58,476
- (SON MUSIC INTRO)
- 183
- 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,270
- JUAN DE MARCOS: Son music represents
- the essence of the Cuban people.
- 184
- 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:26,270
- For us Cubans, music is like our food.
- When we have had really tough times,
- 185
- 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:31,554
- we have created styles of music
- that helped our people to survive.
- 186
- 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:37,118
- Son is the music of the late slaves,
- during the end of the 19th century.
- 187
- 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,392
- People from different parts of Africa
- brought their kind of music,
- 188
- 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,717
- which mixed with European music.
- 189
- 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:50,550
- Well, in fact, son is the root of all
- danceable tropical music
- 190
- 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,636
- in the whole of the Americas.
- 191
- 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:03,029
- COMPAY SEGUNDO:
- l was born here in 1907.
- 192
- 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:08,314
- People would play son into the morning.
- 193
- 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:15,357
- We have a saying, "until the hot
- chocolate", meaning until sunrise.
- 194
- 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,836
- I created the duo Los Compadres,
- "the buddies".
- 195
- 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:25,158
- The one who sang lead was Compa y Primo,
- or Buddy Number One,
- 196
- 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:26,838
- and since I sang second vocals,
- 197
- 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,030
- l was Compa y Segundo,
- or Buddy Number Two.
- 198
- 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,150
- Somebody told me,
- "You should be in Havana.
- 199
- 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,158
- People love your guitar playing. "
- 200
- 00:17:54,880 --> 00:18:00,079
- J‘ Mama, I want to know
- where those singers are from
- 201
- 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,079
- So, whatldid
- was travel as far as Bayamo.
- 202
- 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:09,594
- And in Bayamo,
- I went straight to the cigar factory.
- 203
- 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:14,309
- I had learned how to roll cigars
- by the time I was 14.
- 204
- 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,910
- l'd work until I made enough money
- to pay my bus fare to Las Tunas.
- 205
- 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:25,750
- J‘ Ay mami, where are they from?
- Are they from Havana?
- 206
- 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:30,476
- J‘ Are they from Santiago?
- From the noble land?
- 207
- 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,478
- J‘ They are from the mountains, Santiago
- 208
- 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,636
- J‘ And sing on the plains, Havana
- 209
- 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:37,671
- J‘ You'll see, you'll see
- 210
- 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,757
- Eventually, [got to Havana, in 1934.
- 211
- 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,193
- Havana was a really happening place.
- 212
- 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:06,829
- There was a lot of music in the cafes
- and social clubs.
- 213
- 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:11,238
- There were social clubs for whites
- and social clubs for blacks.
- 214
- 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:16,874
- During the Thirties,
- the racism was really tough.
- 215
- 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,994
- My dad was a musician.
- He performed with Arsenio.
- 216
- 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:25,398
- He had to play for one peso
- until the last drunk left the party.
- 217
- 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:32,193
- Black musicians were not able to play
- in societies for white people.
- 218
- 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:36,438
- There were social clubs
- for black people, poor black people,
- 219
- 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:38,312
- for example,
- the Buena Vista Social Club.
- 220
- 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:40,871
- CACHAITO LOPEZ:
- The most popular was Buena Vista.
- 221
- 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,549
- The dance hall was small,
- but the patio was enormous.
- 222
- 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,593
- I was playing in clubs
- just about every day.
- 223
- 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:50,879
- RUBEN GONZALEZ: In the cabarets,
- 224
- 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,150
- the orchestras
- were always made up of white people.
- 225
- 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:57,632
- Over at the National, there were always
- blacks, but not too dark.
- 226
- 00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:59,512
- They would choose and say,
- 227
- 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,349
- "Sir, look for someone lighter,
- someone less black."
- 228
- 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:10,352
- This used to be a social club.
- It was a phenomenon.
- 229
- 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,991
- I played in the orchestra here
- when I was 17 years old.
- 230
- 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,639
- There is a saying that says:
- "To remember is to relive."
- 231
- 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,392
- NICK GOLD: You'd walk around
- the studio. You'd hear Rubén playing.
- 232
- 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,830
- You'd walk a little bit further,
- and Compay would be constructing
- 233
- 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,555
- or playing one of his sort of
- miniature masterpieces.
- 234
- 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,877
- A little bit further,
- Eliades is playing some guajira.
- 235
- 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:38,479
- It was just all ofthis stuff.
- 236
- 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:42,309
- Ry had this tiny little Dictaphone.
- He'd walk round the studio and record.
- 237
- 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,590
- The next day he'd come, and he'd go,
- "What about this one?"
- 238
- 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,280
- And Ry said, "Can we find a singer
- with a softer voice?"
- 239
- 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:52,838
- Barbarito said, "Ibrahim Ferrer,
- the one who sang with Los Bocucos."
- 240
- 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:57,157
- J‘ l'll speak to you with my kisses
- 241
- 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,552
- J‘ Sol won't have the sadness
- 242
- 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:06,277
- J‘ Of being separated from you
- 243
- 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,039
- J‘ So, trust me...
- 244
- 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:11,879
- I was at home cleaning shoes.
- 245
- 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:18,840
- I didn't have a job. And then a guy
- told me, "Someone's looking for you."
- 246
- 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,912
- I said, "Who's looking for me?"
- It was Juan de Marcos.
- 247
- 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:27,113
- JUAN DE MARCOS:
- Ibrahim was one ofthe poorest.
- 248
- 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,869
- He had to clean shoes
- in order to survive.
- 249
- 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:35,278
- IBRAHIM: I was full of resentment.
- I didn't want to sing any more.
- 250
- 00:21:36,360 --> 00:21:41,275
- I didn't want to live any more,
- because I was very disappointed...
- 251
- 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,995
- ...in music. That's what I'm explaining.
- 252
- 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:51,432
- I retired incredibly disappointed
- in music.
- 253
- 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:56,239
- He said, "They're paying."
- That's when I said, "Let's do it."
- 254
- 00:21:56,360 --> 00:22:00,672
- I changed my clothes, washed my face
- and took off.
- 255
- 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:04,315
- Ibrahim showed up wearing trousers
- stained with shoe polish.
- 256
- 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,716
- He came, and Eliades saw him,
- and turned round
- 257
- 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,400
- and started playing a tune
- from Santiago, Candela,
- 258
- 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:13,433
- and Ibrahim started singing it
- immediately, so the ice was broken.
- 259
- 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:14,595
- (SINGS)
- 260
- 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:20,431
- It was a song called Ay Candela,
- written by Faustino Oramas.
- 261
- 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:21,993
- Asong I used to sing.
- 262
- 00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:23,155
- I started singing along...
- 263
- 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:25,840
- (SINGS)
- 264
- 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,199
- But I didn't realize
- they were watching me.
- 265
- 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:35,359
- I didn't go there to record numbers.
- I was there to sing backup.
- 266
- 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:41,270
- Ruben was restless and started
- improvising on the piano.
- 267
- 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:45,599
- I told him to play Dos Gardenias.
- 268
- 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:53,795
- And he started singing Dos Gardenias,
- and as soon as he opened his mouth...
- 269
- 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:55,911
- J‘ Two gardenias for you
- 270
- 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,112
- Shock. It was just beautiful.
- 271
- 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:05,233
- J‘ [love you, [adore you
- 272
- 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:09,069
- J‘ My darling
- 273
- 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:15,750
- So my dear Juan de Marcos, my mate Ry,
- whom you know,
- 274
- 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:20,317
- and Nick... They discovered me.
- 275
- 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:25,395
- Omara was recording downstairs,
- and she came up.
- 276
- 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,469
- OMARA PORTUONDO:
- When I heard Ibrahim's voice,
- 277
- 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,319
- so sweet I got gooseflesh,
- I started to cry.
- 278
- 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:34,112
- I knew that voice.
- 279
- 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:37,350
- JUAN DE MARCOS:
- Omara is one of the greatest singers
- 280
- 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:38,708
- in the history of our country.
- 281
- 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:43,550
- Juan de Marcos asked me
- to record a song for them.
- 282
- 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:47,070
- At that point, they asked me,
- "What are you going to sing?"
- 283
- 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,033
- I told him that I wanted to sing
- Veinte Afios.
- 284
- 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,356
- I learned to sing it
- when I was four years old.
- 285
- 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:01,113
- This is the roof under which I used
- to live, right here, in this house.
- 286
- 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:03,879
- I always lived here,
- from the time I was a little girl.
- 287
- 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,709
- Out back, there was a patio,
- but it has been remodeled, right?
- 288
- 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,549
- - No, no. It's the same.
- -No. It didn't have that type of floor.
- 289
- 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,030
- There was a small bathroom there,
- but they've built a new one.
- 290
- 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:16,553
- - Yes.
- - Of course.
- 291
- 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:18,989
- We were happy. Very happy.
- 292
- 00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:22,829
- There were times we had no food to eat,
- just water with sugar in it.
- 293
- 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:25,869
- We were very poor.
- 294
- 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,710
- But our love was so great, we felt like
- millionaires. You know what I mean?
- 295
- 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:36,637
- In this little room, my dad taught me
- the song Veinte Afios.
- 296
- 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:42,111
- My dad told me to sit next to him.
- He said, "I want to teach you a song."
- 297
- 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:46,916
- J‘ Does it matter that I love you
- if you don't love me any more?
- 298
- 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,794
- J‘ We should not dwell on love
- that is past
- 299
- 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,117
- J‘ If only we could make
- our dreams come true
- 300
- 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:58,836
- J‘ If only you would love me
- as you did 20 years ago
- 301
- 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:03,670
- J‘ How mournfully we watch our love
- ebb away
- 302
- 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:07,713
- J‘ It's a part of the soul
- that is torn mercilessly
- 303
- 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:09,558
- I learned it here.
- 304
- 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:17,033
- My mother was white.
- She came from a wealthy family.
- 305
- 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:23,030
- My father was black.
- His mother was a maid in her house.
- 306
- 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:28,996
- They played together as children,
- not knowing there were racial issues.
- 307
- 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:34,274
- They fell in love.
- So, my mum's family disowned her.
- 308
- 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:46,553
- My dad told me,
- "You're going to be a great singer."
- 309
- 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:48,272
- I didn't know
- what he was talking about.
- 310
- 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:59,714
- In 1952, my sister Haydée and I decided
- 311
- 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:05,391
- to form an all-female quartet.
- We called it Cuarteto D'Aida.
- 312
- 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,274
- My dream had been to be a ballerina.
- 313
- 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:23,072
- Every year, I'd audition
- to join the classical ballet.
- 314
- 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,715
- I was the best,
- but every year I'd leave crying,
- 315
- 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:28,910
- because I never got a place.
- 316
- 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:33,079
- I didn't understand
- that only white people
- 317
- 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,033
- were allowed to dance ballet,
- 318
- 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:38,879
- because everyone can sing.
- 319
- 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:45,799
- Compay Segundo lived in that house
- over there.
- 320
- 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:50,391
- When Compay Segundo lived in Havana
- for a short time,
- 321
- 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:53,830
- he lived on that corner,
- on the top floor.
- 322
- 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:57,475
- I went to his house
- to audition for him.
- 323
- 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,637
- I sang with his group for a while.
- 324
- 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:04,639
- She's a good singer,
- the best ofthe best.
- 325
- 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:06,671
- I sang back up for her
- on Veinte Afios.
- 326
- 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:15,469
- J‘ It's a part of the soul
- that is torn mercilessly
- 327
- 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:18,068
- It was, on the first take,
- just gorgeous.
- 328
- 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:22,074
- Ry Cooder told me,
- 329
- 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:26,034
- "Well, Omara Portuondo
- is the Cuban Sarah Vaughan."
- 330
- 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,712
- And I said, "No, Sarah Vaughan
- is the American Omara Portuondo."
- 331
- 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:36,158
- There it is.
- 332
- 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:40,833
- (APPLAUSE)
- 333
- 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:46,676
- At the end ofthe sessions, we knew that
- we had something incredible.
- 334
- 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,713
- At some point early on in the mixing,
- we'd decided on the title for it.
- 335
- 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,434
- There's a dance song on the album
- called Social Club Buena Vista.
- 336
- 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:55,994
- And I just thought that summed up
- everything about it.
- 337
- 00:27:56,120 --> 00:27:58,998
- It was like a social club, the whole
- atmosphere, the whole time. It was...
- 338
- 00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:01,315
- So, we decided to call it
- Buena Vista Social Club,
- 339
- 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,194
- rather than The Eastern Album,
- which was probably quite a good move.
- 340
- 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:10,039
- That photograph. That's Ibrahim
- coming to work on the second day.
- 341
- 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:12,431
- The first day he came,
- he didn't know what was going on.
- 342
- 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:15,916
- He just walked into a studio, after not
- having recorded for years and years.
- 343
- 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,555
- The next day, he came with his
- white shoes and his pressed shirt.
- 344
- 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,992
- So, that's him, Iiterallyjust
- about to walk into the door downstairs.
- 345
- 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:26,672
- We're family.
- 346
- 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:31,791
- He and I.
- 347
- 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:38,915
- We're family.
- 348
- 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,877
- Well, let's make a toast, gentlemen.
- 349
- 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:50,597
- Because the truth of the matter is
- that today is...
- 350
- 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,278
- - A special day.
- - For us.
- 351
- 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:00,550
- Here's to...
- 352
- 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:02,352
- Please.
- 353
- 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,231
- (GLASSES CLINK)
- 354
- 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:09,799
- Let's honor... Here's to...
- 355
- 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:11,876
- - To whom?
- - To Benny.
- 356
- 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:21,828
- I would like to have a suit made.
- A bright red suit.
- 357
- 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:29,189
- To tell you the truth,
- I need it so I can seduce the ladies.
- 358
- 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:35,274
- If you need it to seduce the ladies,
- we'll do our best.
- 359
- 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:39,359
- World music is not rock 'n' roll.
- 360
- 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,756
- You don't have a big company behind you
- and a lot of money,
- 361
- 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:47,078
- in order to bring journalists
- and in order to promote the music.
- 362
- 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,031
- You have to perform.
- 363
- 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:54,239
- The Buena Vista Social Club
- was not a band. It wasn't a supergroup.
- 364
- 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:58,876
- It was a group of musicians.
- Most of them were already retired.
- 365
- 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:04,472
- And so, we had to create a band,
- in order to present the music.
- 366
- 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,830
- But Omara was working with her own band.
- 367
- 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,315
- Eliades was working with
- the Cuarteto Patria.
- 368
- 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:13,228
- So, I grabbed Ruben Gonzalez
- and Ibrahim Ferrer,
- 369
- 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:17,876
- and then we flew to London
- to present the music for the first time.
- 370
- 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:27,676
- J‘ Play the piano, Ruben,
- because I am waiting for you
- 371
- 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:33,111
- J‘ Play the piano, Ruben,
- because I am listening to you
- 372
- 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:42,154
- When lbrought Ibrahim to the band,
- Ibrahim was always in the background.
- 373
- 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:44,475
- And I told him,
- "You have to go to the front. "
- 374
- 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:49,673
- And I had to move him physically
- to the front. "You are my front guy. "
- 375
- 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:56,639
- J‘ Play the piano, Ruben
- 376
- 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:03,359
- J‘ Because I'm listening to you
- 377
- 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,552
- (MUSICAL FLOURISH)
- 378
- 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,189
- We performed a couple of concerts
- in England.
- 379
- 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:16,632
- Really successful in cultural terms.
- A lot of journalists.
- 380
- 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:19,638
- And then suddenly, everything changed.
- 381
- 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:23,036
- We started selling albums
- and selling albums and selling albums.
- 382
- 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:31,679
- Ibrahim was a great improviser.
- 383
- 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,349
- He was able to catch
- what was happening
- 384
- 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:39,155
- in the place he was performing
- and then sing about it.
- 385
- 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:45,834
- J‘ Look at that woman who is
- so delicious dance to the danzén
- 386
- 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:51,512
- J‘ I brought it to you from Cuba
- so that you would feel this excited
- 387
- 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:58,353
- It's not the same as freestyle hip-hop.
- What's difficult is that he has to sing.
- 388
- 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:04,030
- J‘ I would like to present to you
- my friend, Juan de Marcos!
- 389
- 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:10,190
- J‘ I know that he will give it to you
- hard and delicious
- 390
- 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:14,430
- This is what's magic of Ibrahim
- and Cuban son.
- 391
- 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:21,352
- J‘ They call me the silly one,
- the songbird, the quality fool
- 392
- 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:28,875
- J‘ But the silliest thing of all is me,
- and I'm telling the truth
- 393
- 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,673
- So, Marcos was touring.
- Eliades's group was touring.
- 394
- 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:33,358
- Omara was touring with her own band.
- 395
- 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,074
- There was one time we noticed
- that two or three of them
- 396
- 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:40,432
- were roughly going to be in
- roughly the same place at the same time.
- 397
- 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:44,792
- And we thought, OK, let's see if we can
- get them all together and do a show.
- 398
- 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,516
- At that time, Wenders came with a crew
- 399
- 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:50,518
- and started filming
- the Buena Vista documentary.
- 400
- 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:53,757
- INTERVIEWER: In two days
- you have your first live show ever.
- 401
- 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:56,269
- Are you guys ready?
- 402
- 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,918
- I'll answer that question on Saturday
- at about 11 o'clock.
- 403
- 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:04,554
- - MALE REPORTER: At night?
- - At night. After the first concert.
- 404
- 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,035
- - All you must do is tune your guitar.
- - Don't call me old.
- 405
- 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,435
- You're not old,
- you're just playing out oftune.
- 406
- 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:12,028
- - I know what I'm doing.
- - You know...
- 407
- 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:14,628
- - But do you know you're out oftune?
- - Yes.
- 408
- 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:18,275
- - You know you have to tune the guitar?
- - Those machines lie.
- 409
- 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:20,994
- They lie,
- because they are tuned by the machines.
- 410
- 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,111
- - But then...
- - The machines lie.
- 411
- 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:26,793
- You can't play out oftune
- for 2,000 people tomorrow.
- 412
- 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:33,309
- MALE: It's a major operation. I feel
- bad, because this guitar is from 1960,
- 413
- 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:35,112
- and I'm making a big hole in it. But...
- 414
- 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:44,519
- We are playing it in G. Mother of God!
- Listen to the music.
- 415
- 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:54,789
- No, listen to him. He's playing G.
- This is the right key.
- 416
- 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:56,353
- - This is G.
- - This is G.
- 417
- 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:57,879
- (PLAYS G)
- 418
- 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:04,030
- J‘ On a tree trunk
- 419
- 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:06,435
- It's the same.
- 420
- 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:13,520
- What more do you want?
- It's like talking to a crazy person.
- 421
- 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:19,476
- It's the same note,
- and he keeps on arguing.
- 422
- 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:23,070
- - It's just that I'm old.
- - You're not old, you're crazy.
- 423
- 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:30,913
- All right, here we go.
- 424
- 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:33,355
- (MUSIC INTRO)
- 425
- 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:36,795
- No.
- 426
- 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:37,875
- (MUSIC STOPS)
- 427
- 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,151
- (SPEAKS IN SPANISH)
- 428
- 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:47,553
- (MUSIC INTRO)
- 429
- 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:59,474
- (SPEAKS IN SPANISH)
- 430
- 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:05,472
- (MUSIC INTRO)
- 431
- 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:08,957
- (SING IN SPANISH)
- 432
- 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:10,798
- (MUSIC STOPS)
- 433
- 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:16,429
- It's a mystery? No, it's not a mystery,
- it's wrong, just wrong.
- 434
- 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:19,911
- CAMERAMAN: Gotta be out of our mind.
- 435
- 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:22,429
- Right, Wim?
- You know what I'm talking about.
- 436
- 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:25,791
- You wouldn't shoot a movie
- with two days of rehearsal.
- 437
- 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:27,717
- - WIM: It's scary.
- - CAMERAMAN: It's scary.
- 438
- 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:28,909
- It's insane is what it is.
- 439
- 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,395
- (SINGS IN SPANISH)
- 440
- 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:33,909
- ELIADES OCHOA: Here's the thing.
- I'm used to the other way.
- 441
- 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:37,635
- (SINGS)
- 442
- 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:48,952
- But now you understand.
- You get one solo, and that's it.
- 443
- 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:52,072
- Pay attention,
- so you know when to stop.
- 444
- 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:54,634
- Look,
- I've been singing since I was seven,
- 445
- 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:58,230
- - I've been doing this for 40 years.
- - Try 90.
- 446
- 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:03,271
- Get yourself another old man
- who can play a guitar like this.
- 447
- 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,960
- Get yourself another old man.
- 448
- 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:11,314
- My cigar.
- 449
- 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:17,113
- JUAN DE MARCOS: In the late Eighties,
- Compa y Segundo was retired.
- 450
- 00:36:17,240 --> 00:36:21,597
- I had a quiet period, as all artists do,
- 451
- 00:36:21,720 --> 00:36:26,271
- because you work and work,
- and then you have to take a break.
- 452
- 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:31,793
- During that calm period,
- I was able to write a lot of songs.
- 453
- 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:37,040
- To write songs, you need to be relaxed,
- so I went to a beach.
- 454
- 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:41,470
- Compay came back to Santiago.
- 455
- 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:45,319
- He introduced himself.
- "I am Compay Segundo."
- 456
- 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:49,797
- Imagine that.
- I was a huge fan growing up.
- 457
- 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:54,357
- He said, "I need you to play my music,
- 458
- 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:59,110
- so that I can make some royalties."
- 459
- 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:04,390
- He reached into the pocket of his
- guayabera shirt and pulled out a tape.
- 460
- 00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:09,674
- He told me, "There's a song on there.
- I think we can do something with it."
- 461
- 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:11,472
- I popped the tape into my tape player.
- 462
- 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,319
- What came out was the famous Chan Chan.
- 463
- 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:22,238
- J‘ I'm going from Alto Cedro to Marcane
- 464
- 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:25,796
- J‘ Then from Cueto I'm going to Ma yari
- 465
- 00:37:27,720 --> 00:37:30,314
- COMPAY SEGUNDO:
- The song is about Juanica and Chan Chan.
- 466
- 00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:37,235
- Juanica and Chan Chan
- are sifting sand in the ocean,
- 467
- 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:40,272
- and then Juanica....
- 468
- 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:47,193
- and Chan Chan gets "excited"
- because she's going like this.
- 469
- 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:52,872
- J‘ When Juanica and Chan Chan
- were sifting sand in the ocean
- 470
- 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:58,677
- J‘ The way she shook that sifter
- gave Chan Chan a "hard" time
- 471
- 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:03,397
- I even played Chan Chan
- for the Pope at the Vatican.
- 472
- 00:38:09,720 --> 00:38:15,238
- J‘ Clear that 'bushy" path
- because I want to sit down
- 473
- 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:21,595
- J‘ So I can get to that "tree trunk"
- and I can't get in there
- 474
- 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,591
- And I think he loved it.
- 475
- 00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:26,517
- (PIANo INTRO)
- 476
- 00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:36,269
- J‘ Silence
- 477
- 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:42,270
- J‘ Because the roses
- 478
- 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:45,233
- J‘ And the lilies
- 479
- 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:48,511
- J‘ Are sleeping
- 480
- 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:55,678
- J‘ I don't want them
- 481
- 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:59,759
- J‘ To know my pain
- 482
- 00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:07,553
- J‘ Because if they see me crying
- 483
- 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:10,831
- J‘ They'll die
- 484
- 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:43,754
- OMARA: One ofthe most beautiful things,
- of everything that was happening,
- 485
- 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:49,318
- was that Ibrahim, whom I've known
- and loved for a long time, was there.
- 486
- 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:52,318
- I met him 50 years ago.
- 487
- 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:57,639
- It's my pleasure to present
- the little ladies of Cuarteto d'Aida.
- 488
- 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:04,868
- OMARA: I was singing with the quartet,
- 489
- 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,798
- and he was a backup singer
- for Pacho Alonso.
- 490
- 00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:13,071
- (SING IN SPANISH)
- 491
- 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:25,671
- Ibrahim and I really bonded
- over our love of music.
- 492
- 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:30,479
- That sweetness in his voice...
- it's the same as his personality.
- 493
- 00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:38,236
- There's a song entitled Good Person.
- 494
- 00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:42,148
- They should dedicate that song to him,
- because he was such a good person.
- 495
- 00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:54,275
- He'd had a very difficult childhood
- and had grown up very poor.
- 496
- 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:58,598
- He was a great singer, but he didn't
- have the same opportunities.
- 497
- 00:40:58,720 --> 00:41:03,999
- That's life. How many talented people
- could've succeeded if given a chance?
- 498
- 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:22,313
- - FEMALE: When you're ready, Ibrahim.
- - So...
- 499
- 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:29,994
- You want me to tell you
- the short version of my life story?
- 500
- 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:45,352
- According to my mum,
- my dad was a singer,
- 501
- 00:41:45,480 --> 00:41:48,153
- and I was born at a social club dance.
- 502
- 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:56,594
- I was raised by my mother.
- My mum passed away when I was 12.
- 503
- 00:41:56,720 --> 00:41:59,188
- That is why I always carry this staff.
- 504
- 00:42:00,120 --> 00:42:01,758
- To me, this is my mum.
- 505
- 00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:04,313
- My everything.
- 506
- 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:08,069
- This is how I've always kept her
- with me since I lost her when I was 12.
- 507
- 00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:15,195
- I was on my own, so I had
- to leave school and support myself.
- 508
- 00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:20,115
- I used to work here.
- Myjob was to haul sacks of sugar
- 509
- 00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:24,836
- that weighed over 325 pounds.
- I was just a skinny kid.
- 510
- 00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:28,191
- Look at these scars.
- They'll never go away.
- 511
- 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:36,552
- They tell me that after my mother died,
- 512
- 00:42:36,680 --> 00:42:40,275
- the only way to wake me was to sing.
- 513
- 00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:44,957
- Music is my whole life.
- 514
- 00:42:47,920 --> 00:42:51,071
- JUAN DE MARCOS: The son came down
- to Santiago de Cuba from the mountains.
- 515
- 00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:56,953
- And precisely, this is where
- the Cuban Revolution began.
- 516
- 00:42:57,080 --> 00:43:00,072
- So, the roots come from the same place.
- 517
- 00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:03,596
- J‘ We have to protect Fidel
- 518
- 00:43:03,720 --> 00:43:07,918
- J‘ We have to protect him
- because he's our salvation
- 519
- 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:11,271
- JUAN DE MARCOS: Music is so important
- for us that, during the revolution,
- 520
- 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:14,278
- Fidel even had a quintet
- called Quinteto Rebelde.
- 521
- 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:18,279
- And Quinteto Rebelde used to perform
- live, from the mountains.
- 522
- 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:22,791
- They used to make up covers
- of important Cuban songs,
- 523
- 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:28,074
- but with different lyrics, referring to
- the political situation of the country.
- 524
- 00:43:28,240 --> 00:43:32,438
- J‘ We have to protect him
- 525
- 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:38,236
- - J‘ Winston
- - J‘ It comes in two sizes
- 526
- 00:43:38,360 --> 00:43:41,193
- - J‘ Winston
- - J‘ It's the highest quality
- 527
- 00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:44,596
- J‘ It's got the best filter
- and conserves its flavor
- 528
- 00:43:44,720 --> 00:43:47,473
- J‘ Winston cigarettes
- 529
- 00:43:52,720 --> 00:43:57,874
- (DOO-WOP STYLE SINGING)
- 530
- 00:44:03,360 --> 00:44:08,798
- J‘ They've got the best filter
- and they keep their fiavor
- 531
- 00:44:08,920 --> 00:44:13,038
- J‘ Winston cigarettes
- 532
- 00:44:27,080 --> 00:44:32,393
- There was a political crisis, but the
- musicians had more places to perform,
- 533
- 00:44:32,520 --> 00:44:37,594
- because of the casinos and hotels built
- by Batista and the American mafia.
- 534
- 00:44:39,320 --> 00:44:41,595
- Celia Cruz!
- 535
- 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:45,709
- The Fifties was the golden period
- of the Cuban music.
- 536
- 00:44:47,080 --> 00:44:48,911
- But it was a tough time
- for the Cuban people,
- 537
- 00:44:49,040 --> 00:44:51,679
- because of the corruption
- of Batista 's government.
- 538
- 00:44:51,800 --> 00:44:55,475
- J‘ Winston cigarettes
- 539
- 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:29,912
- When the Revolution triumphed, everyone
- was in the streets celebrating.
- 540
- 00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:33,915
- Everybody was in favor of it.
- 541
- 00:45:34,040 --> 00:45:37,999
- They supported Fidel Castro and all
- the others who gave up their lives
- 542
- 00:45:38,120 --> 00:45:41,908
- so that Cuba could be for the Cubans.
- 543
- 00:45:42,040 --> 00:45:43,996
- We didn't want to be owned by anyone.
- 544
- 00:45:44,120 --> 00:45:47,032
- We didn't want to be slaves.
- Slavery is very difficult.
- 545
- 00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:55,433
- People asked Fidel ifthe segregation
- of social clubs would continue,
- 546
- 00:45:55,560 --> 00:45:59,473
- and Fidel responded,
- "I don't know ifthey will continue,
- 547
- 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:03,309
- but everyone must dance
- with the Revolution."
- 548
- 00:46:05,840 --> 00:46:10,470
- Fidel tried to eliminate the racism
- in Cuba with a pen.
- 549
- 00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:14,036
- Fidel cut all ofthe social clubs,
- and he established
- 550
- 00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:18,358
- a kind of more democratic society,
- or he tried to do it.
- 551
- 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:23,909
- OMARA:
- It was called Operation Peter Pan.
- 552
- 00:46:24,040 --> 00:46:28,113
- There was a propaganda campaign telling
- people to send their children to Miami.
- 553
- 00:46:28,240 --> 00:46:31,198
- It was like an epidemic.
- 554
- 00:46:31,320 --> 00:46:37,316
- Many mothers, including my sister,
- sent their children to North America.
- 555
- 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:39,556
- Being separated from your child
- is very difficult.
- 556
- 00:46:39,680 --> 00:46:43,878
- She changed her mind
- and tried to get her back,
- 557
- 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:45,399
- but the girl didn't want to return.
- 558
- 00:46:45,520 --> 00:46:48,512
- In the end, my sister moved to Miami,
- to be closer to her daughter.
- 559
- 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:52,077
- It was awful.
- 560
- 00:46:53,120 --> 00:46:57,671
- One must accept these things.
- You can't control people.
- 561
- 00:47:00,240 --> 00:47:04,472
- J‘ The era is giving birth to a heart
- 562
- 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:07,956
- J‘ It can't take any more pain
- or it will die
- 563
- 00:47:08,080 --> 00:47:11,390
- J‘ We must keep running
- 564
- 00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:14,239
- HEROIC VIETNAM
- 565
- 00:47:17,320 --> 00:47:21,233
- That's how I ended up
- going solo in 1967.
- 566
- 00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:24,079
- My sister was scared to become
- a soloist.
- 567
- 00:47:24,200 --> 00:47:26,111
- She was very shy, and so was I.
- 568
- 00:47:26,240 --> 00:47:29,994
- I had to see ifl had it in me
- to become a soloist.
- 569
- 00:47:30,280 --> 00:47:35,149
- This is a show I did in Vietnam,
- China and Korea.
- 570
- 00:47:37,920 --> 00:47:42,072
- For all those years, Ibrahim
- was singing backup for Pacho Alonso.
- 571
- 00:47:43,360 --> 00:47:48,150
- He told me he wanted to be a
- lead singer and I said it would happen.
- 572
- 00:47:50,600 --> 00:47:52,955
- But it hadn't happened yet.
- 573
- 00:47:56,280 --> 00:48:01,673
- He wasn't capable
- of stepping over people.
- 574
- 00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:05,952
- He waited patiently
- for his time to come.
- 575
- 00:48:10,320 --> 00:48:15,155
- Come here, Ibrahim.
- All of you know Ibrahim, right?
- 576
- 00:48:15,280 --> 00:48:22,152
- Give me a close-up of his face, please.
- 577
- 00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:26,119
- Smile, Ibrahim, smile.
- 578
- 00:48:26,240 --> 00:48:31,678
- Ibrahim is a fantastic singer.
- He is also a great songwriter.
- 579
- 00:48:31,800 --> 00:48:35,759
- Why don't you sing something?
- Look, she's waving at you.
- 580
- 00:48:36,880 --> 00:48:41,749
- Let's play that song of yours,
- Vamos a Entrarle a Palos a Ese.
- 581
- 00:48:42,360 --> 00:48:43,793
- (MUSIC INTRO)
- 582
- 00:48:46,920 --> 00:48:50,515
- J‘ Somebody really needs
- to beat that guy up
- 583
- 00:48:56,720 --> 00:49:00,190
- OMARA: He told me,
- "They say I have an ugly voice."
- 584
- 00:49:00,320 --> 00:49:02,834
- "Ibrahim, who said that?"
- 585
- 00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:05,679
- He had a sweet, delicious voice.
- 586
- 00:49:13,680 --> 00:49:15,079
- THE BEST DANCE ORCHESTRA
- IN THE WORLD
- 587
- 00:49:18,720 --> 00:49:21,029
- IBRAHIM FERRER:
- After that, Pacho didn't let me sing.
- 588
- 00:49:21,160 --> 00:49:26,439
- At one point,
- he told me he was sick of me.
- 589
- 00:49:26,560 --> 00:49:29,711
- But I didn't want to leave,
- because I founded this band.
- 590
- 00:49:31,200 --> 00:49:35,910
- For a long time, Cuban music
- 591
- 00:49:36,040 --> 00:49:39,191
- was the most important tropical music
- in the world.
- 592
- 00:49:39,320 --> 00:49:44,713
- Sadly, because ofthe American embargo,
- relations with the world were lost.
- 593
- 00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:48,909
- JUAN DE MARCOS:
- There was a kind of evaluation
- 594
- 00:49:49,040 --> 00:49:52,715
- of every artist by the Culture Ministry.
- 595
- 00:49:52,840 --> 00:49:58,073
- And then they say, well, you are "A",
- or you are "B", or you are "C"
- 596
- 00:49:58,200 --> 00:50:00,998
- And then they pay you a salary.
- 597
- 00:50:01,120 --> 00:50:03,315
- This system is good for something.
- 598
- 00:50:03,480 --> 00:50:08,076
- It gives security to the worker's life,
- not to the rich.
- 599
- 00:50:08,200 --> 00:50:09,997
- That is why
- there are no rich people living here.
- 600
- 00:50:10,120 --> 00:50:14,033
- I never left the piano.
- I'm always playing something on it.
- 601
- 00:50:14,160 --> 00:50:16,674
- Cuban music was completely forgotten,
- 602
- 00:50:16,800 --> 00:50:23,558
- and then jazz and rock emerged...
- 603
- 00:50:26,440 --> 00:50:28,635
- ...and an endless list of songs
- from outside Cuba.
- 604
- 00:50:31,480 --> 00:50:36,110
- Eventually, I quit.
- In the end, I felt like a failure.
- 605
- 00:50:41,680 --> 00:50:43,113
- (MUSIC INTRO)
- 606
- 00:50:55,320 --> 00:51:01,589
- J‘ Silence
- 607
- 00:51:01,720 --> 00:51:07,750
- J‘ Because the roses
- 608
- 00:51:07,880 --> 00:51:12,271
- J‘ And the lilies
- 609
- 00:51:12,400 --> 00:51:18,748
- J‘ Are sleeping
- 610
- 00:51:18,880 --> 00:51:23,317
- J‘ I don't want them
- 611
- 00:51:23,440 --> 00:51:29,629
- J‘ To know my pain
- 612
- 00:51:29,760 --> 00:51:37,155
- J‘ Because if they see me crying
- they'll die
- 613
- 00:51:40,920 --> 00:51:48,429
- J‘ Because if they see me crying
- they'll die
- 614
- 00:51:51,960 --> 00:51:58,752
- J‘ Because if they see me crying
- 615
- 00:51:58,880 --> 00:52:05,911
- J‘ They'll die
- 616
- 00:52:09,920 --> 00:52:12,832
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
- 617
- 00:52:14,840 --> 00:52:15,875
- Thank you.
- 618
- 00:52:17,040 --> 00:52:21,079
- (SPEAKING IN SPANISH)
- 619
- 00:52:40,360 --> 00:52:43,830
- (PLAYS INTRODUCTION)
- 620
- 00:52:50,240 --> 00:52:54,233
- J‘ Pio Leyva is a loser with no prestige
- 621
- 00:52:54,360 --> 00:52:58,035
- J‘ You talk trash,
- but you know you love me
- 622
- 00:53:04,560 --> 00:53:08,189
- J‘ Ibrahim wants to sing
- but no one will give him a chance
- 623
- 00:53:08,640 --> 00:53:11,473
- J‘ Ibrahim wants to sing
- but no one will give him a chance
- 624
- 00:53:11,600 --> 00:53:15,832
- J‘ If you sit him in a rocking chair
- he can't hold himself up
- 625
- 00:53:19,200 --> 00:53:24,593
- I've got faith in my San Lazaro,
- they call him the beggar.
- 626
- 00:53:24,720 --> 00:53:29,191
- He opens the path
- 627
- 00:53:29,320 --> 00:53:32,835
- and helps the destitute.
- 628
- 00:53:34,000 --> 00:53:40,235
- I put out flowers for him,
- and a lot of cologne.
- 629
- 00:53:40,360 --> 00:53:46,469
- Every time I leave, I spray him,
- and I spray myself as well.
- 630
- 00:53:51,040 --> 00:53:57,559
- J‘ [need you
- 631
- 00:53:57,680 --> 00:54:01,719
- J‘ There is
- 632
- 00:54:01,840 --> 00:54:07,437
- J‘ A soft whisper
- 633
- 00:54:07,560 --> 00:54:12,953
- J‘ In the silence
- 634
- 00:54:13,080 --> 00:54:17,073
- J‘ Of a blue night
- 635
- 00:54:20,280 --> 00:54:22,794
- (CONTINUE SINGING)
- 636
- 00:54:22,920 --> 00:54:27,675
- JUAN DE MARCOS: It was a thing of love.
- We never thought to make money.
- 637
- 00:54:27,800 --> 00:54:31,873
- I've been poor all my life,
- and I'm so proud of being poor.
- 638
- 00:54:32,000 --> 00:54:35,993
- I'm much more proud of the period
- when I didn't have a cent.
- 639
- 00:54:38,120 --> 00:54:42,352
- This music was made with love.
- 640
- 00:54:42,480 --> 00:54:46,871
- We were all in love with the kind
- of things that we were doing.
- 641
- 00:54:47,000 --> 00:54:51,551
- These old guys were so happy.
- We are back on the road.
- 642
- 00:54:51,680 --> 00:54:54,638
- They felt themself useful again.
- 643
- 00:55:05,680 --> 00:55:12,472
- J‘ There is a soft whisper
- 644
- 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:18,833
- J‘ In the silence
- 645
- 00:55:18,960 --> 00:55:23,954
- J‘ Of a blue night
- 646
- 00:55:32,720 --> 00:55:35,393
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUD)
- 647
- 00:55:37,280 --> 00:55:39,999
- NICK GOLD: We had everyone from
- the album. And it was partly amazing,
- 648
- 00:55:40,120 --> 00:55:43,237
- because they hadn't played together
- since they'd been in the studio.
- 649
- 00:55:43,360 --> 00:55:44,429
- (MUSIC INTRO)
- 650
- 00:55:46,480 --> 00:55:48,038
- (AUDIENCE CHEERS)
- 651
- 00:56:13,080 --> 00:56:15,548
- (SING IN SPANISH)
- 652
- 00:56:29,680 --> 00:56:33,389
- JUAN DE MARCOS: In physics,
- there's something that's very rare.
- 653
- 00:56:33,520 --> 00:56:37,911
- If you have two particles that
- are separated and if you touch one,
- 654
- 00:56:38,040 --> 00:56:39,792
- the other one is going to move.
- 655
- 00:56:39,920 --> 00:56:42,559
- This is the same thing
- that happened to me
- 656
- 00:56:42,680 --> 00:56:45,069
- during the first show in Amsterdam.
- 657
- 00:56:45,200 --> 00:56:48,158
- Ifelt myself in touch with my country.
- 658
- 00:56:48,280 --> 00:56:53,149
- (SINGING IN SPANISH)
- 659
- 00:57:08,120 --> 00:57:11,237
- (WHISTLING, CHEERING)
- 660
- 00:57:19,840 --> 00:57:20,795
- AUDIENCE MEMBER: Bravo!
- 661
- 00:57:21,880 --> 00:57:23,598
- (PROLONGED APPLAUDS)
- 662
- 00:57:34,160 --> 00:57:36,037
- NICK GOLD:
- People were going crazy for them.
- 663
- 00:57:39,200 --> 00:57:40,918
- Our American distributor
- came over and said,
- 664
- 00:57:41,040 --> 00:57:43,315
- "We've got to do this in Carnegie Hall."
- 665
- 00:57:45,840 --> 00:57:50,072
- To get Cubans to do a show in America
- was very difficult at the time.
- 666
- 00:57:57,760 --> 00:58:02,276
- (SINGS IN SPANISH)
- 667
- 00:58:05,120 --> 00:58:07,634
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUD)
- 668
- 00:58:11,960 --> 00:58:13,916
- (WHISTLING, CHEERING)
- 669
- 00:58:22,440 --> 00:58:23,759
- Thank you.
- 670
- 00:58:24,320 --> 00:58:28,393
- Thank you. Thank you, family.
- Thank you, thank you. Thank you.
- 671
- 00:58:41,280 --> 00:58:44,750
- IBRAHIM:
- I've been Ibrahim Ferrer all my life.
- 672
- 00:58:44,880 --> 00:58:49,795
- I've been singing for 60 years,
- and in those 60 years,
- 673
- 00:58:51,000 --> 00:58:54,037
- I've been the same person,
- with the same voice.
- 674
- 00:58:54,560 --> 00:58:56,039
- Actually not the same voice,
- 675
- 00:58:56,160 --> 00:58:58,037
- because my voice
- is not as good as it used to be.
- 676
- 00:58:58,160 --> 00:59:03,951
- Now? Now your voice is messed up
- and you can barely walk? Now?
- 677
- 00:59:07,920 --> 00:59:11,754
- OMARA: How is it possible that people
- really enjoy this song?
- 678
- 00:59:13,360 --> 00:59:15,954
- It's unfathomable. They even sing along.
- 679
- 00:59:16,840 --> 00:59:19,195
- It's a song about suffering.
- 680
- 00:59:20,040 --> 00:59:23,669
- Have you got any idea how much my
- parents suffered?
- 681
- 00:59:32,000 --> 00:59:35,470
- RUBEN GONZALEZ:
- I've never had success like this. Ever.
- 682
- 00:59:35,600 --> 00:59:42,312
- I don't know, am I going insane?
- Or am I dreaming?
- 683
- 00:59:47,360 --> 00:59:49,954
- COMPAY SEGUNDO: Imean, look, I'm 93.
- 684
- 00:59:51,480 --> 00:59:57,669
- It's a bit late, but the flowers of
- life come to everyone sooner or later.
- 685
- 00:59:59,240 --> 01:00:03,631
- And when the flowers come,
- they only come once.
- 686
- 01:00:04,960 --> 01:00:08,555
- That's why you have to pay attention
- when the flowers arrive.
- 687
- 01:00:12,360 --> 01:00:14,635
- JUAN DE MARCOS:
- In the center of the USA,
- 688
- 01:00:14,760 --> 01:00:18,435
- my aunt brought a Cuban flag
- to the stadium,
- 689
- 01:00:18,560 --> 01:00:21,074
- and we were performing there
- for the first time.
- 690
- 01:00:21,200 --> 01:00:23,839
- Cuban artists coming from the island.
- 691
- 01:00:23,960 --> 01:00:26,758
- We are a small country.
- We have nothing.
- 692
- 01:00:26,880 --> 01:00:31,271
- We have no resources, but we have
- created the music that we have.
- 693
- 01:00:32,400 --> 01:00:34,311
- It was a realized dream.
- 694
- 01:00:37,160 --> 01:00:41,153
- It's my pleasure to, on behalf of
- the people who played on this record...
- 695
- 01:00:41,280 --> 01:00:42,872
- NEWS ANCHOR:
- Ry Cooder picked up the Grammy
- 696
- 01:00:43,000 --> 01:00:44,558
- for Best Tropical Latin Performance.
- 697
- 01:00:44,680 --> 01:00:47,831
- Guitarist Ry Cooder has played
- with The Rolling Stones, Little Feat
- 698
- 01:00:47,960 --> 01:00:51,839
- and Randy Newman, but the musicians
- he's talking about the most these days
- 699
- 01:00:51,960 --> 01:00:54,394
- are the ones who have just won
- a Grammy Award.
- 700
- 01:00:58,280 --> 01:01:02,319
- OMARA: When Wim Wenders was making
- the documentary,
- 701
- 01:01:02,440 --> 01:01:06,956
- Ibrahim said, "Omara, you've recorded
- with the whole world.
- 702
- 01:01:07,080 --> 01:01:09,878
- I'd love for you to record a song
- with me." I said, "Well, all right."
- 703
- 01:01:11,560 --> 01:01:13,630
- J‘ I don't want
- 704
- 01:01:15,400 --> 01:01:20,520
- J‘ The flowers to know
- 705
- 01:01:23,040 --> 01:01:26,430
- J‘ The torments
- 706
- 01:01:26,560 --> 01:01:32,430
- J‘ Ofmylife...
- 707
- 01:01:40,720 --> 01:01:43,473
- Ry and I go back for more than 20 years,
- and we're very old friends.
- 708
- 01:01:43,720 --> 01:01:45,517
- When he came back from recording
- Buena Vista,
- 709
- 01:01:45,640 --> 01:01:48,552
- he was beaming with joy
- and he was so contagious
- 710
- 01:01:48,680 --> 01:01:51,638
- that I realized
- it must have been very special.
- 711
- 01:01:51,760 --> 01:01:55,673
- And then I heard the music,
- and then I knew it was very special.
- 712
- 01:01:55,800 --> 01:01:58,917
- He told me all these stories
- about these old guys,
- 713
- 01:01:59,040 --> 01:02:03,192
- and that they were 90 and 80,
- and that they were more full of life
- 714
- 01:02:03,320 --> 01:02:05,993
- than anybody else he ever met.
- I wanted to see for myself.
- 715
- 01:02:08,360 --> 01:02:12,717
- Let's ask these people, the old folks,
- the old folks ofthe barrio,
- 716
- 01:02:12,840 --> 01:02:16,435
- "Hey, where was
- Buena Vista Social Club?"
- 717
- 01:02:17,440 --> 01:02:20,796
- Oh, this guy knows. We're looking
- for the Buena Vista Social Club.
- 718
- 01:02:20,920 --> 01:02:21,989
- Buena Vista Social Club?
- 719
- 01:02:22,120 --> 01:02:24,350
- - Where the society used to hang out?
- - It no longer exists.
- 720
- 01:02:24,480 --> 01:02:27,438
- Buena Vista Social Club
- has got to be over there.
- 721
- 01:02:27,600 --> 01:02:30,034
- So, you need to go that way.
- 722
- 01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:34,995
- Well, if you go up this street,
- to 60th, it's there.
- 723
- 01:02:41,280 --> 01:02:42,235
- The nominees are...
- 724
- 01:02:42,400 --> 01:02:44,709
- NICK GOLD: The film
- really pushed it over the edge.
- 725
- 01:02:44,840 --> 01:02:49,197
- It was selling more and more and more.
- It was a real phenomenon.
- 726
- 01:02:59,120 --> 01:03:01,076
- IBRAHIM, WE WOULD LIKE
- TO MEET YOU
- 727
- 01:03:06,080 --> 01:03:10,676
- J‘ Oh, Candela, Candela, Candela,
- I'm burning
- 728
- 01:03:10,800 --> 01:03:15,032
- J‘ Oh, Candela, Candela, Candela,
- I'm burning
- 729
- 01:03:15,160 --> 01:03:18,948
- J‘ A rodent put on a dance
- for some great amusement
- 730
- 01:03:19,080 --> 01:03:23,198
- J‘ He chose a mouse as his drummer
- to play for the whole day
- 731
- 01:03:23,320 --> 01:03:27,472
- J‘ An elegant and amiable cat
- came along as well
- 732
- 01:03:27,600 --> 01:03:29,352
- J‘ Good evening, my friend...
- 733
- 01:03:29,480 --> 01:03:31,550
- I'm eating a grape.
- 734
- 01:03:36,600 --> 01:03:38,556
- - (PHONE RINGS)
- - Tell Santiago hello from all of us.
- 735
- 01:03:38,680 --> 01:03:43,879
- - Tell him to give you the ration card.
- - Get me a ration card, you hear me?
- 736
- 01:03:45,000 --> 01:03:49,357
- J‘ The mouse got up on the palm tree
- roof and announced politely
- 737
- 01:03:49,480 --> 01:03:54,156
- J‘ And now if you want to dance
- find yourself another drummer
- 738
- 01:03:54,280 --> 01:03:58,512
- J‘ Ah, Candela, Candela, Candela,
- I'm burning
- 739
- 01:03:58,640 --> 01:04:03,111
- J‘ Oh, Candela, Candela, Candela,
- I'm burning
- 740
- 01:04:03,240 --> 01:04:06,357
- J‘ Oh, Candela, Candela, Candela,
- I'm burning
- 741
- 01:04:06,480 --> 01:04:12,112
- J‘ Listen, Faustino Oramas and friends,
- I need someone to put out the flames
- 742
- 01:04:12,240 --> 01:04:15,312
- J‘ Oh, Candela, Candela, Candela,
- I'm burning
- 743
- 01:04:15,440 --> 01:04:21,037
- J‘ If you are lost, dial seven zeros,
- that way the fire brigade might turn up
- 744
- 01:04:21,160 --> 01:04:25,312
- J‘ Oh, Candela, Candela, Candela,
- I'm burning
- 745
- 01:04:25,440 --> 01:04:31,117
- J‘ Oh, Candela, Candela, Candela,
- I'm burning
- 746
- 01:04:33,600 --> 01:04:36,160
- You know he wanted to kiss me on stage.
- 747
- 01:04:42,640 --> 01:04:45,234
- - Each candle is worth five years.
- - Cheers.
- 748
- 01:04:52,760 --> 01:04:55,228
- The kangaroos didn't eat this.
- 749
- 01:05:00,200 --> 01:05:02,475
- I still have to pinch myself
- 750
- 01:05:04,680 --> 01:05:08,229
- - to make sure I'm not asleep, dreaming.
- - (LAUGHS)
- 751
- 01:05:08,360 --> 01:05:14,629
- I never thought I would be
- so successful.
- 752
- 01:05:31,360 --> 01:05:32,509
- It was astonishing.
- 753
- 01:05:34,560 --> 01:05:35,879
- JUAN DE MARCOS: The day before,
- 754
- 01:05:36,000 --> 01:05:39,072
- Elton John was performing at Hyde Park
- for 8, 000 people.
- 755
- 01:05:39,720 --> 01:05:41,676
- We brought 14,000.
- 756
- 01:05:43,720 --> 01:05:47,395
- At the end, Ibrahim was jumping.
- He became a superstar.
- 757
- 01:05:47,920 --> 01:05:49,956
- Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
- 758
- 01:05:51,960 --> 01:05:55,032
- Everybody's going to be
- remembering Ibrahim for a century.
- 759
- 01:05:55,720 --> 01:05:57,392
- (SINGS IN SPANISH)
- 760
- 01:05:57,520 --> 01:05:59,112
- (AUDIENCE SINGS ALONG)
- 761
- 01:06:14,160 --> 01:06:15,673
- Fire's out.
- 762
- 01:06:15,800 --> 01:06:16,869
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUD AND CHEER)
- 763
- 01:06:20,600 --> 01:06:22,352
- JUAN DE MARCOS:
- Ibrahim got a second chance.
- 764
- 01:06:22,480 --> 01:06:26,439
- He was touched by the hand of God,
- whoever God is.
- 765
- 01:06:31,760 --> 01:06:39,474
- I don't know why they have denied
- my visa request.
- 766
- 01:06:41,440 --> 01:06:47,959
- At least I don't feel like a terrorist.
- 767
- 01:06:52,080 --> 01:06:58,110
- NICK GOLD SPEAKS SPANISH:
- All of us here recognize
- 768
- 01:06:58,240 --> 01:07:03,268
- that these are very prestigious awards.
- 769
- 01:07:03,400 --> 01:07:09,509
- They are proof that...
- (IN ENGLISH) That's wrong, isn't it?
- 770
- 01:07:09,640 --> 01:07:13,428
- (IN SPANISH)...the world recognizes
- your importance, as well.
- 771
- 01:07:13,560 --> 01:07:15,710
- Ibrahim, I love you. Thank you.
- 772
- 01:07:15,840 --> 01:07:17,398
- (ROOM APPLAU DS)
- 773
- 01:07:24,040 --> 01:07:26,395
- (WHISTLING, CHEERING)
- 774
- 01:07:29,320 --> 01:07:31,276
- - (IN SPANISH) Three Grammy's?
- - Yes. Three.
- 775
- 01:07:31,400 --> 01:07:32,389
- Three.
- 776
- 01:07:32,520 --> 01:07:35,159
- BEST TRADITIONAL TROPICAL
- ALBUM 2003 - BUENOS HERMANOS
- 777
- 01:07:39,720 --> 01:07:42,757
- - Thank you.
- - My goodness,
- 778
- 01:07:42,880 --> 01:07:45,917
- thank you for everything.
- 779
- 01:07:52,960 --> 01:07:56,714
- BARBARITO: Compay used to play
- with a travelling country band.
- 780
- 01:07:56,840 --> 01:07:58,034
- They were missing a lute player.
- 781
- 01:07:59,280 --> 01:08:02,829
- Back then, I was a kid
- who was known as a lute player.
- 782
- 01:08:02,960 --> 01:08:07,351
- He said, "We're going to Matanzas to
- ask Barbarito if he wants to join us."
- 783
- 01:08:07,480 --> 01:08:12,031
- When he had the chance,
- he came to Matanzas, on the eighth...
- 784
- 01:08:12,160 --> 01:08:16,551
- It was on September 9th, 1977.
- 785
- 01:08:17,880 --> 01:08:23,477
- I remember exactly, because the day
- before, I had buried my father.
- 786
- 01:08:23,600 --> 01:08:27,388
- These people appeared, looking for me
- to go and play music with them,
- 787
- 01:08:27,520 --> 01:08:32,469
- and I didn't want to go, because I had
- just buried my father the day before.
- 788
- 01:08:32,600 --> 01:08:36,673
- So, my mother started packing
- a suitcase with some of my clothes.
- 789
- 01:08:36,800 --> 01:08:41,112
- She said, "He's going. His father
- wanted him to become a musician."
- 790
- 01:08:42,040 --> 01:08:44,600
- And that's how I met Compay.
- 791
- 01:08:48,880 --> 01:08:55,718
- Look at the ocean. This is such
- a beautiful place, isn't it?
- 792
- 01:08:55,880 --> 01:08:58,075
- My grandmother
- would send me out to run errands,
- 793
- 01:08:58,200 --> 01:09:02,671
- but sometimes I would go swimming
- in the ocean.
- 794
- 01:09:03,720 --> 01:09:09,590
- But when I got home, my grandma
- would grab my leg and lick it
- 795
- 01:09:09,720 --> 01:09:12,792
- to see if I was salty from swimming.
- 796
- 01:09:17,400 --> 01:09:20,676
- My grandmother
- is buried in this cemetery.
- 797
- 01:09:20,800 --> 01:09:23,314
- She was laid to rest
- when I was seven years old.
- 798
- 01:09:24,280 --> 01:09:27,590
- I asked,
- "Why are they carrying her in a box?"
- 799
- 01:09:27,720 --> 01:09:29,915
- They told me, "She's going to a party,
- 800
- 01:09:30,040 --> 01:09:33,669
- and they're carrying her in a box,
- so she doesn't have to walk,
- 801
- 01:09:33,800 --> 01:09:36,553
- and they're keeping her covered
- to protect her from the sun."
- 802
- 01:09:36,680 --> 01:09:39,956
- And I said, "That's so nice."
- 803
- 01:09:41,840 --> 01:09:44,229
- For my grandmother, Ma Regina.
- 804
- 01:09:54,720 --> 01:09:58,315
- J‘ Guantanamera
- 805
- 01:09:58,440 --> 01:10:01,079
- J‘ Guajira guantanamera
- 806
- 01:10:03,240 --> 01:10:06,152
- (AUDIENCE) J‘ Guantanamera
- 807
- 01:10:06,280 --> 01:10:11,229
- J‘ Guajira guantanamera
- 808
- 01:10:11,360 --> 01:10:18,072
- I've fulfilled the three obligations
- of a man, according to Jose Marti.
- 809
- 01:10:18,200 --> 01:10:24,469
- I've planted a tree, I've had a child
- and I've written a book.
- 810
- 01:10:24,600 --> 01:10:28,115
- I have fulfilled all those obligations.
- 811
- 01:10:28,240 --> 01:10:34,998
- I feel satisfied with what
- I've accomplished in my life.
- 812
- 01:10:35,120 --> 01:10:38,237
- J‘ I'm an honest man
- 813
- 01:10:39,280 --> 01:10:41,840
- J‘ From where the palm tree grows
- 814
- 01:10:51,480 --> 01:10:55,439
- J‘ And before I die
- 815
- 01:10:55,560 --> 01:10:59,553
- J‘ I want to sing out my soul
- 816
- 01:10:59,680 --> 01:11:02,558
- The flowers of life.
- How lovely they are.
- 817
- 01:11:02,680 --> 01:11:06,593
- Sooner or later,
- they come to you in their splendor.
- 818
- 01:11:06,720 --> 01:11:07,948
- Thank you, Maestro.
- 819
- 01:11:08,160 --> 01:11:09,639
- THE FLOWERS OF LIFE
- 820
- 01:11:16,480 --> 01:11:22,715
- Without love flowers will die,
- and without kisses love will disappear.
- 821
- 01:11:25,760 --> 01:11:29,594
- Excellent. Spoken like a true poet.
- 822
- 01:11:30,440 --> 01:11:34,433
- (SINGS)
- 823
- 01:11:35,760 --> 01:11:37,876
- That's life for you.
- 824
- 01:11:43,400 --> 01:11:50,078
- Music is closer to the true world
- than the material world.
- 825
- 01:11:54,560 --> 01:12:01,432
- It's so terrible that he has
- that disease. Can they fix that?
- 826
- 01:12:02,800 --> 01:12:05,951
- His problem is
- sometimes his mind just goes.
- 827
- 01:12:06,080 --> 01:12:09,868
- The master ofthe piano,
- 828
- 01:12:10,000 --> 01:12:14,152
- the great Ruben Gonzalez.
- 829
- 01:12:14,280 --> 01:12:16,191
- (AUDIENCE WHISTLES, CHEERS)
- 830
- 01:12:18,800 --> 01:12:20,756
- (MUSIC INTRO)
- 831
- 01:12:20,880 --> 01:12:23,440
- (WILD CHEERING)
- 832
- 01:12:31,360 --> 01:12:36,354
- MALE INTERVIEWER:
- How do you remember the music so well,
- 833
- 01:12:36,480 --> 01:12:38,436
- and you don't forget?
- 834
- 01:12:39,720 --> 01:12:47,195
- I think that it's the influence
- of spirits, ofthings spirits enjoy.
- 835
- 01:12:48,120 --> 01:12:52,238
- I have got a lot of spirits
- of musicians surrounding me.
- 836
- 01:12:53,480 --> 01:12:56,836
- So many of my friends have passed away.
- 837
- 01:12:56,960 --> 01:13:04,116
- When you remember something,
- it's because your spirit is in it.
- 838
- 01:13:09,760 --> 01:13:11,591
- FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
- Will you ever stop playing?
- 839
- 01:13:11,720 --> 01:13:13,676
- No way.
- 840
- 01:13:13,800 --> 01:13:16,872
- I will play my last note in the grave.
- 841
- 01:13:32,680 --> 01:13:36,559
- (APPLAUSE)
- 842
- 01:13:48,680 --> 01:13:50,352
- J‘ Ruben
- 843
- 01:13:59,000 --> 01:14:01,719
- MALE ANNOUNCER: Don Ruben Gonzalez.
- 844
- 01:14:09,840 --> 01:14:11,637
- This is for my mum.
- 845
- 01:14:14,760 --> 01:14:16,432
- (CROWD APPLAU DS)
- 846
- 01:14:23,960 --> 01:14:25,279
- (AUDIENCE CHEERS)
- 847
- 01:14:39,200 --> 01:14:46,151
- J‘ lam from Carabali,
- a black slave from Africa
- 848
- 01:14:47,000 --> 01:14:53,712
- J‘ Without freedom I cannot live
- 849
- 01:14:54,640 --> 01:15:01,671
- J‘ White man has crushed my heart
- 850
- 01:15:02,280 --> 01:15:09,709
- J‘ So mistreated body so weakened
- 851
- 01:15:09,920 --> 01:15:16,519
- J‘ So mistreated body so weakened
- 852
- 01:15:42,640 --> 01:15:45,234
- J‘ Manigua, manigua, mama
- 853
- 01:15:45,360 --> 01:15:47,555
- J‘ Search for the mountain
- 854
- 01:15:49,560 --> 01:15:54,429
- J‘ One step fon/vard, machero
- if you've got a saddle, you can ride
- 855
- 01:15:54,560 --> 01:15:58,075
- (CONTINUE SINGING IN SPANISH)
- 856
- 01:16:33,240 --> 01:16:38,678
- J‘ lam Carabali,
- I am Mandinga and] want my freedom
- 857
- 01:16:38,800 --> 01:16:40,950
- (SONG CONTINUES)
- 858
- 01:17:03,720 --> 01:17:06,154
- (WILD CHEERING)
- 859
- 01:17:06,280 --> 01:17:08,714
- MALE ANNOUNCER: Ibrahim Ferrer.
- 860
- 01:17:08,840 --> 01:17:12,628
- My Lazaro saved this for
- me until the year 2000.
- 861
- 01:17:14,320 --> 01:17:17,312
- IBRAHIM FERRER: Now my voice is shot
- and I can barely walk.
- 862
- 01:17:19,080 --> 01:17:23,437
- You're supposed to be
- famous when you're 15 or 20.
- 863
- 01:17:25,560 --> 01:17:30,190
- But there's a saying. "It's never
- too late if the outcome is good. "
- 864
- 01:17:32,760 --> 01:17:35,911
- Before this,
- I didn't want to live any more.
- 865
- 01:17:36,040 --> 01:17:39,669
- Thank goodness Juan De Marcos
- came along
- 866
- 01:17:39,800 --> 01:17:43,031
- and roused me from my rocking chair.
- 867
- 01:17:51,440 --> 01:17:56,878
- His final concert
- was Marciac Jazz Festival. That was...
- 868
- 01:17:57,000 --> 01:17:59,673
- We were going to cancel it,
- and he said no.
- 869
- 01:18:04,040 --> 01:18:06,031
- MALE ANNOUNCER: Ibrahim Ferrer.
- 870
- 01:18:06,160 --> 01:18:07,752
- (WHISTLING, CHEERING)
- 871
- 01:18:09,400 --> 01:18:11,755
- IDANIA: By then,
- his condition was so advanced
- 872
- 01:18:11,880 --> 01:18:17,671
- that they had to give him oxygen
- every two songs.
- 873
- 01:18:20,120 --> 01:18:21,553
- (SINGS IN SPANISH)
- 874
- 01:18:21,680 --> 01:18:24,399
- IDANIA: And four days later,
- he was gone.
- 875
- 01:18:25,160 --> 01:18:29,950
- J‘ The soul surrenders
- 876
- 01:18:30,080 --> 01:18:35,791
- J‘ With sweet and total renunciation
- 877
- 01:18:35,920 --> 01:18:40,596
- J‘ And when that miracle fulfils
- 878
- 01:18:40,720 --> 01:18:44,679
- J‘ The wonder of love
- 879
- 01:18:46,120 --> 01:18:52,958
- J‘ There are festival bells
- 880
- 01:18:53,080 --> 01:18:56,231
- J‘ Singing in my heart
- 881
- 01:18:58,320 --> 01:19:03,110
- J‘ In my heart
- 882
- 01:19:03,240 --> 01:19:06,596
- IDANIA: He gave everything he had
- at that concert.
- 883
- 01:19:11,000 --> 01:19:16,791
- He passed away as the most popular,
- the most famous Cuban singer
- 884
- 01:19:16,920 --> 01:19:18,956
- ofthe 20th century.
- 885
- 01:19:21,240 --> 01:19:24,755
- I don't know ifl should tell you this.
- 886
- 01:19:26,920 --> 01:19:30,390
- Tonight, and every other night,
- 887
- 01:19:30,520 --> 01:19:35,355
- but especially on this day, August 3rd,
- 888
- 01:19:35,480 --> 01:19:42,955
- our beloved friend, Ibrahim Ferrer,
- performed here, on this stage.
- 889
- 01:19:43,080 --> 01:19:45,275
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
- 890
- 01:19:57,000 --> 01:20:00,834
- J‘ Two gardenias
- 891
- 01:20:00,960 --> 01:20:02,518
- (WHISTLING, CHEERING)
- 892
- 01:20:06,760 --> 01:20:08,910
- J‘ For you
- 893
- 01:20:10,640 --> 01:20:13,552
- J‘ With them I want to say
- 894
- 01:20:16,800 --> 01:20:18,552
- J‘ [love you
- 895
- 01:20:22,080 --> 01:20:24,753
- J‘ [adore you
- 896
- 01:20:26,120 --> 01:20:30,272
- I‘ My life
- 897
- 01:20:33,560 --> 01:20:37,997
- J‘ Give them all your attention
- 898
- 01:20:38,120 --> 01:20:44,275
- J‘ They are your heart and mine
- 899
- 01:20:45,680 --> 01:20:49,753
- COMPAY SEGUNDO: The son has
- spread all over the world.
- 900
- 01:20:49,880 --> 01:20:54,192
- That fiower has returned,
- and the tree has bloomed again.
- 901
- 01:20:58,960 --> 01:21:05,399
- OMARA: That marvelous man, such a great
- singer, great artist, great friend,
- 902
- 01:21:05,520 --> 01:21:08,239
- a great Cuban: Ibrahim Ferrer.
- 903
- 01:21:09,840 --> 01:21:14,152
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
- 904
- 01:21:15,680 --> 01:21:19,309
- J‘ By your side, they'll live on
- 905
- 01:21:20,520 --> 01:21:26,675
- J‘ And they'll speak to you
- like when you are with me
- 906
- 01:21:26,800 --> 01:21:33,069
- J‘ And you will even believe
- that they'll tell you
- 907
- 01:21:33,200 --> 01:21:35,475
- J‘ [love you
- 908
- 01:21:35,600 --> 01:21:41,948
- J‘ But if one afternoon
- 909
- 01:21:43,720 --> 01:21:48,635
- J‘ The gardenias of my love die
- 910
- 01:21:48,760 --> 01:21:53,595
- J‘ It's because
- they have guessed that you betrayed me
- 911
- 01:21:53,720 --> 01:21:57,599
- J‘ Because another love exists
- 912
- 01:21:57,720 --> 01:21:59,551
- (SONG CONTINUES)
- 913
- 01:22:19,200 --> 01:22:23,079
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
- 914
- 01:23:23,280 --> 01:23:26,909
- ELIADES OCHOA: I believe
- I was born with music in my blood.
- 915
- 01:23:27,800 --> 01:23:30,553
- I like people to know my origins,
- where I'm from.
- 916
- 01:23:30,680 --> 01:23:32,636
- I like it because it brings me life.
- 917
- 01:23:32,760 --> 01:23:37,151
- It gives me the desire to keep
- making music every moment,
- 918
- 01:23:37,280 --> 01:23:40,113
- on any stage, anywhere in the world.
- 919
- 01:23:40,880 --> 01:23:44,031
- That's the strength I receive
- when I think about where I'm from.
- 920
- 01:23:52,360 --> 01:23:59,277
- J‘ Along the road by my house
- a cart driver with his wares passed by
- 921
- 01:24:03,720 --> 01:24:09,750
- J‘ With his sentimental songs
- the happy guajiro sang
- 922
- 01:24:15,080 --> 01:24:18,356
- J‘ I'm a guajiro and I have my cart
- 923
- 01:24:18,480 --> 01:24:20,710
- J‘ And I lead a good life
- in the countryside
- 924
- 01:24:26,680 --> 01:24:32,277
- J‘ The countryside is paradise,
- the most beautiful place in the world
- 925
- 01:24:32,400 --> 01:24:38,077
- J‘ On horseback,
- we'll ride up the mountain
- 926
- 01:25:11,400 --> 01:25:16,918
- J‘ I work without resting
- so one day I may marry
- 927
- 01:25:22,720 --> 01:25:28,113
- J‘ And when that day comes
- I'll be a very lucky guajiro
- 928
- 01:25:42,880 --> 01:25:45,599
- J‘ Reap the fruit of your sweat
- 929
- 01:25:45,720 --> 01:25:47,711
- (SONG CONTINUES)
- 930
- 01:25:51,240 --> 01:25:53,515
- The traditional music of Cuba,
- 931
- 01:25:53,640 --> 01:25:56,916
- son has given me everything I have,
- up to now.
- 932
- 01:25:57,040 --> 01:26:00,430
- And ifl live a few more years,
- son will continue to provide.
- 933
- 01:26:09,080 --> 01:26:13,312
- the 'Buena Vista Social Club"
- to perform at the White House.
- 934
- 01:26:13,440 --> 01:26:15,271
- FEMALE NEWSCASTER:
- This is the first time
- 935
- 01:26:15,400 --> 01:26:17,595
- that the popular group
- will play the White House,
- 936
- 01:26:17,720 --> 01:26:21,076
- just as diplomatic relations
- are being re-established
- 937
- 01:26:21,200 --> 01:26:23,236
- between the USA and Cuba.
- 938
- 01:26:23,360 --> 01:26:27,990
- We are always thinking of our friends
- who are no longer here physically.
- 939
- 01:26:37,760 --> 01:26:41,514
- We're going to keep playing as a group
- and keep playing the same music.
- 940
- 01:26:41,640 --> 01:26:44,837
- We're still playing the same music
- as a tribute,
- 941
- 01:26:44,960 --> 01:26:47,428
- and we've added some younger members.
- 942
- 01:26:52,840 --> 01:26:56,389
- Everyone associates
- Buena Vista Social Club with Cuba.
- 943
- 01:27:00,920 --> 01:27:03,388
- This is the first time
- I ever played the piano.
- 944
- 01:27:06,480 --> 01:27:08,550
- GUAJIRO: When I was a kid,
- I learned by listening to him.
- 945
- 01:27:11,120 --> 01:27:14,510
- He was always my teacher and my mentor.
- 946
- 01:27:17,640 --> 01:27:20,757
- We get along really well,
- grandpa and grandson.
- 947
- 01:27:20,880 --> 01:27:21,869
- And the glucose?
- 948
- 01:27:31,880 --> 01:27:33,871
- Bye. Bye.
- 949
- 01:27:34,600 --> 01:27:38,912
- He does this thing.
- Say he's whistling a melody...
- 950
- 01:27:39,360 --> 01:27:42,158
- (VVHISTLES MELODY)
- 951
- 01:27:42,280 --> 01:27:45,875
- - I fall asleep.
- - Then he picks up where he left off.
- 952
- 01:27:46,000 --> 01:27:48,150
- (CONTINUES WHISTLING MELODY)
- 953
- 01:27:50,440 --> 01:27:52,158
- Easy now.
- 954
- 01:28:14,320 --> 01:28:19,314
- - Good to see you again.
- - Good to see you again. How are you?
- 955
- 01:28:19,440 --> 01:28:23,831
- - Good.
- - Hey there, Ry.
- 956
- 01:28:23,960 --> 01:28:29,273
- The people ofthe United States chose
- a man to be president, and it was Obama.
- 957
- 01:28:29,400 --> 01:28:33,279
- He's a gentleman.
- Very thoughtful, very calm.
- 958
- 01:28:34,440 --> 01:28:40,310
- He is biracial, like I am.
- He is a mix of black and white. So am I.
- 959
- 01:28:41,120 --> 01:28:46,956
- You are here for an historic moment
- in U.S.-Cuban relations.
- 960
- 01:28:47,080 --> 01:28:50,993
- What is your opinion on the progress
- of relations between the two countries?
- 961
- 01:28:51,120 --> 01:28:54,351
- We don't like
- to talk a lot about politics.
- 962
- 01:28:54,480 --> 01:29:01,033
- It would be like me giving my lute
- to Obama and the mike to RaL'II to sing.
- 963
- 01:29:01,160 --> 01:29:06,996
- But if we can make things better
- by playing at the White House, great.
- 964
- 01:29:09,880 --> 01:29:12,838
- BAND MEMBER: Look at all the barriers.
- 965
- 01:29:13,800 --> 01:29:18,999
- We're the first Cuban musicians
- to play there in 50 years.
- 966
- 01:29:19,120 --> 01:29:21,190
- Cubans who live in Cuba, that is.
- 967
- 01:29:27,280 --> 01:29:30,113
- Welcome to the White House.
- Thank you for coming.
- 968
- 01:29:30,240 --> 01:29:32,356
- - Thanks for everything.
- - Put your instruments there.
- 969
- 01:29:32,480 --> 01:29:35,233
- FEMALE: Can I get everybody
- lined up against the fence, please?
- 970
- 01:29:39,400 --> 01:29:41,231
- Very nice.
- 971
- 01:29:41,880 --> 01:29:44,599
- (BAND PLAYS)
- 972
- 01:29:48,240 --> 01:29:49,559
- (SINGING)
- 973
- 01:30:03,400 --> 01:30:05,868
- OBAMA: Give it up
- for the Buena Vista Social Club.
- 974
- 01:30:06,080 --> 01:30:07,559
- (AUDIENCE CHEERS AND APPLAUDS)
- 975
- 01:30:08,520 --> 01:30:10,670
- It's wonderful to have you here.
- I was explaining to them
- 976
- 01:30:10,800 --> 01:30:15,351
- that when the documentary about
- the Buena Vista Social Club came out,
- 977
- 01:30:15,480 --> 01:30:17,675
- Iwas told it was around 1998.
- 978
- 01:30:18,680 --> 01:30:21,956
- I bought a CD. Now, for those of you
- who are too young to remember...
- 979
- 01:30:22,080 --> 01:30:24,150
- (LAUGHTER)
- 980
- 01:30:24,280 --> 01:30:27,352
- It was this round thing.
- You had to slide it...
- 981
- 01:30:28,320 --> 01:30:30,151
- I remember records.
- 982
- 01:30:30,280 --> 01:30:31,838
- (LAUGHTER)
- 983
- 01:30:33,240 --> 01:30:36,516
- So, we are thrilled to have them here.
- 984
- 01:30:36,640 --> 01:30:41,395
- You know, for nearly two decades,
- this group has been
- 985
- 01:30:41,520 --> 01:30:44,557
- a symbol ofthe strong bonds
- between the American and Cuban people.
- 986
- 01:30:44,680 --> 01:30:47,717
- The bonds of friendship and culture,
- and of course, music.
- 987
- 01:30:47,840 --> 01:30:50,798
- So I just hope they enjoy their stay,
- 988
- 01:30:50,920 --> 01:30:54,629
- and I hope that I look
- as good as they do, in a few years.
- 989
- 01:30:56,160 --> 01:30:58,355
- The President came in
- and shook everyone's hand,
- 990
- 01:30:58,480 --> 01:31:03,076
- and said he was happy we are here,
- just as if he were a Cuban.
- 991
- 01:31:07,520 --> 01:31:13,117
- - For the picture. Whiskey.
- - No, no. Cuban rum.
- 992
- 01:31:13,240 --> 01:31:17,233
- - What's next for you guys?
- - What's next?
- 993
- 01:31:17,360 --> 01:31:21,194
- - We get up early to do our next show.
- - See what we have to deal with?
- 994
- 01:31:21,320 --> 01:31:27,873
- J‘ From Alto Cedro, going to Marcané,
- get to Cueto, going to Mayari J‘
- 995
- 01:31:28,000 --> 01:31:30,912
- - To Mayari and to other places...
- - To San Antonio.
- 996
- 01:31:31,040 --> 01:31:34,077
- - To Santiago de Cuba and everywhere.
- - Thank you very much.
- 997
- 01:31:34,200 --> 01:31:37,556
- (FEMALE OVER RADIO)
- After a long absence from the USA,
- 998
- 01:31:37,680 --> 01:31:40,831
- the Buena Vista Social Club
- is coming back on tour,
- 999
- 01:31:41,000 --> 01:31:43,639
- bringing those hot Caribbean beats.
- 1000
- 01:31:50,280 --> 01:31:52,555
- This is an important concert for us.
- 1001
- 01:31:52,680 --> 01:31:56,275
- In the 20 years we've been playing,
- we've never played in Miami.
- 1002
- 01:31:56,480 --> 01:32:00,234
- I know this place pretty well.
- I played here with Benny More in 1959.
- 1003
- 01:32:01,600 --> 01:32:04,353
- There is a lot of anxiety,
- but their blood pressure is OK.
- 1004
- 01:32:05,400 --> 01:32:09,109
- This is very special.
- We have not done this before,
- 1005
- 01:32:09,240 --> 01:32:11,800
- because we didn't have the opportunity.
- But now we do.
- 1006
- 01:32:12,480 --> 01:32:14,550
- Luna, we're starting.
- 1007
- 01:32:15,200 --> 01:32:17,589
- Idania. Let's go.
- 1008
- 01:32:21,240 --> 01:32:23,515
- CONCERT ANNOUNCER:
- The family you know and love...
- 1009
- 01:32:23,640 --> 01:32:24,959
- (CROWD WHISTLES AND CHEERS)
- 1010
- 01:32:25,080 --> 01:32:29,153
- (MUSIC INTRO)
- 1011
- 01:32:36,920 --> 01:32:39,753
- The audience energized us.
- 1012
- 01:32:42,960 --> 01:32:47,158
- This is my family in Miami.
- We hadn't seen each other in 44 years.
- 1013
- 01:32:47,280 --> 01:32:49,589
- We used to play together
- when we were kids.
- 1014
- 01:32:51,440 --> 01:32:54,477
- FEMALE NEWSCASTER: Air Force One
- coming in fora landing in Havana.
- 1015
- 01:32:54,600 --> 01:32:58,479
- The first U. S. president to touch soil
- in 90 years.
- 1016
- 01:33:53,920 --> 01:33:56,354
- These are my superstars.
- 1017
- 01:34:14,760 --> 01:34:20,073
- This step cannot be skipped,
- so the music is clean and fragrant.
- 1018
- 01:35:10,560 --> 01:35:14,075
- Things are completely different
- than in 1996,
- 1019
- 01:35:14,200 --> 01:35:15,918
- when we recorded
- the Buena Vista Social Club.
- 1020
- 01:35:17,160 --> 01:35:20,118
- The flowers of life came late,
- but they came.
- 1021
- 01:35:20,240 --> 01:35:24,153
- The flowers of life came late,
- but they came.
- 1022
- 01:35:25,040 --> 01:35:31,639
- Our national poet, Jose Marti, said,
- "Music is the soul of a people. "
- 1023
- 01:35:31,760 --> 01:35:33,751
- I am part of a people.
- 1024
- 01:35:36,160 --> 01:35:41,996
- Our African roots survive
- in the Cuban rhythms,
- 1025
- 01:35:42,120 --> 01:35:45,556
- in spite of being brought here
- by the Spanish as slaves.
- 1026
- 01:35:45,680 --> 01:35:50,595
- Of course, you can kill a man,
- but you can't keep him from singing,
- 1027
- 01:35:50,720 --> 01:35:54,349
- because that's what makes us human.
- 1028
- 01:36:04,560 --> 01:36:09,839
- I want to keep singing until the end.
- If I'm allowed.
- 1029
- 01:36:12,240 --> 01:36:14,470
- (CROWD CHEERS)
- 1030
- 01:37:06,000 --> 01:37:07,149
- (AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
- 1031
- 01:37:11,160 --> 01:37:15,676
- (J‘ "Ay Candela" by Ibrahim Ferrer)
- 1032
- 01:40:44,840 --> 01:40:47,035
- Subtitles (English SDH): BTI Studios
- 1033
- 01:45:19,640 --> 01:45:20,436
- English SDH
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