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RADIO ANNOUNCER IN SPANISH:
It is with deep sorrow and sympathy

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that I must inform our country
that today,

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the Commander in Chief
of the Cuban Revolution,

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Fidel Castro Ruz, has passed away.

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NEWSREADER IN SPANISH:
To honor Fidel Castro's death,

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Cuba declares nine days
of national mourning.

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- Compay Segundo came here?
- Compay Segundo never came here.

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- He never came?
- Segundo was near 60th.

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They told him,
"Buena Vista Social Club is that way."

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- And he went that way?
- Yes. That came out in a documentary.

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He never came to
Buena Vista Social Club.

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He never set foot in it.

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- And this is the place?
- This is the place.

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This is the real thing.

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This is the real
Buena Vista Social Club.

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This is the place where it used to be.
The society for black people.

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People... For workers. Black workers.

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And it's a famous place, but it used to
be a very famous place in the past, too.

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Not only now, right now, after these
sessions, and the album and everything.

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It used to be,
really, an important place.

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- This was the cloakroom.
- Right.

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People would arrive...

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They'd arrive here
and check their coats and hats.

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Then, they would start dancing.

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All ofthis area
was the Buena Vista Social Club.

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It was a society for black people.

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They used to perform here, and they used
to dance here, as well.

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And right now, it is a gym.
And very modern, by the way.

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- It was a huge dance hall.
- Imagine that this wall didn't exist.

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This is the original floor. And on this
floor, the people used to dance,

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and they enjoyed life.

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(PIANO PLAYS)

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(AUDIENCE WHISTLING, CHEERING)

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(AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)

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IBRAHIM FERRER:
Like in a film or in a dream...

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Now? You're going to be famous now?

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Now your voice is messed up
and you can barely walk?

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When you have to walk with a cane
and everything?

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Now?

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Well, what do these people know,
really, about Cuba?

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What do they know
about the history of our country?

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What do they know
about the things we have been through?

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FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Is this
turned on? Can you hear me? Very well.

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OK, well, many thanks for coming.

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Welcome to this press conference
for the first-ever live performances

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ofthe Buena Vista Social Club.

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The album has now sold nearly
half a million records worldwide.

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It's been awarded a Grammy,

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and Wim Wenders is here filming
for a documentary.

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- How did it all take off, initially?
- NICK GOLD: Sorry, I don't understand.

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He's saying what was your path?

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Oh, right. Together with Juan de Marcos

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we'd already discussed doing
a big band album,

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with the style ofthe Fifties.

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At the same time,
we wanted to do an album

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with musicians from the east of Cuba,

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together with some African guitarists.

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| asked Ry if he'd want to come along,
and he said, "Yes."

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But then, the Africans didn't
show up, so we did what we did.

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JUAN DE MARCOS:
I wanted to present a project

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based on the Cuban roots
and based on our ancestors.

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Nick and me, we were talking,

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and he said, "Yes,
I'd like to do this project with you. "

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NICK GOLD: Ry Cooder's a hero of mine.

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It was in the days of faxes, so I sent
a fax to Ry to explain what I was doing.

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Immediately, a call came in,
and the receptionist said,

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"There's a call for you on line two."

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I said, "OK. Who is it?"
And they said, "It's Ry Cooder."

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So I picked up the phone,
"Yeah, very funny. Ry Cooder."

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I picked up the phone and said hello,
and the voice came down the phone,

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"Is that Nick Gold?" And I was, "Ah."

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The studio's wonderful.
As soon as you walk in,

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you feel very much at home here.

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The drawbacks are quite funny, really.

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The main drawback we're having at
the moment is rain coming in the roof.

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There's a history here. Music has been
recorded here for 50 years.

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I don't know. Maybe I'm romancing it,
but I think you can feel it.

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When I was at school,
I was working at a jazz shop in London.

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And I found a record
by a guy called Arsenio Rodriguez.

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It was unlike anything I'd ever heard,
and I fell in love with Cuban music.

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Hi.

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This is where all the tapes are,
for the last 40 years.

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You've got recordings of everyone.

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It's beautiful.

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When Marcus started telling me
of his dream project, and he said,

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"You know, this pianist is alive
and playing, in Cuba."

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And then he'd say, "This trumpet player
is alive and playing in Cuba."

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I assumed that none ofthem would be
playing or that they would be dead.

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He said he'd found Arsenio's
original pianist,

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Rubén Gonzalez.

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I lived two doors down from Arsenio

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and I'd hear him playing his tres
every day.

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He said, "Come over here."
He was blind.

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He ran his hand over my face, like so.

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I asked him, "What?" And he said,
"You're a handsome guy."

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So, I told him, "No, man.
Ijust really like music."

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He nicknamed me Pretty Boy,
and Ijoined his band the next week.

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J‘ Come here, my dark-skinned woman,
I'm going to die, my dark-skinned woman

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J‘ Come here, my dark-skinned woman
I'm going to die, my dark-skinned woman

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Up to the Forties,
it was forbidden to play congas in Cuba.

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It reminded people ofthe power,

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the sound ofthe drums ofthe original
Africans during the times of slavery.

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The first one that introduced the congas
in his band was Arsenio Rodriguez.

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Arsenio is one of the greatest
Cuban musicians in our history.

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He created the foundation of everything.
Of salsa, of mambo,

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of everything that's happening in
danceable Latin music worldwide.

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I'd perform, and he'd say, "Do it like
this, not that. It'll sound better."

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And I became a master of Cuban music.

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I had a piano, but over time,
termites got into the wood.

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The little creatures
started eating away at the wood,

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and eventually
they destroyed the piano.

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NICK GOLD: The door was unlocked,
and he literally ran to the piano.

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Well, ran as, as much as he could. He
wasn't... You know, he was an old man.

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JUAN DE MARCOS: I wanted to have
the most important Cuban trumpet player

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of the last 40 years...

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Guajiro Mirabal.

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I worked at The Tropicana
for 30 years.

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I have devoted myself to be
an inspiration for Cuban music.

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Not to toot my own horn, but
I was the best in Cuba. Really, I was.

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Eliades Ochoa.

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What's up, cowboy? Good to see you.

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JUAN DE MARCOS: Eliades Ochoa
is like the flag of country music.

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This is my neighborhood. I was born
just down the road from here.

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I was born here,
in the humble mountains

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ofthe province of Santiago de Cuba.

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- J‘ I'm a guajiro
- J‘ l was born just over there

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In Santiago, there's something...

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We are a fusion of Spanish
with African and Cubans.

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In every corner, there is someone
playing a guitar or a conga.

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Here, you drink rum without ice.

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People party into the early hours.

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My mum didn't have a job, nor did my
dad, and there were six of us kids.

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Life was hard. Very hard.

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When I was a kid, I earned a living
playing in the brothels and bars.

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This was the red-light district.

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All these streets here had rooms,
side by side, full of prostitutes.

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They helped me a lot.

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J‘ I am Afro-Cuban

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JUAN DE MARCOS: Pio Leyva
was one of the greatest soneros.

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PIO LEYVA: Nobody taught me how to sing.

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I sing because... I don't know.
It comes from my heart.

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JUAN DE MARCOS: The main bass
player of the old generation

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was definitely Cachaito L6pez.

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CACHAITO LOPEZ: The violin
was my instrument of choice,

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but my grandfather forced me to learn
bass, because it's a family tradition.

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My family has 30 bass players,
approximately.

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Barbarito Torres.

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JUAN DE MARCOS: He is the greatest
lute player of his generation.

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BARBARITO TORRES: My godfather was
one of Cuba's greatest lute players:

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Luciano Monet.

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So, at the age often,
I was given a lute.

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I started to incorporate different
styles into country music: funk, rock.

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(WHISTLING, CHEERING)

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Then they started calling me
the Jimi Hendrix ofthe lute.

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Here, in my head,
there's an ocean of music.

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When I improvise it all mixes together,
and what comes out is my creation.

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ANNOUNCER: Barbarito has gone crazy.

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SINGER: When I arrived
at the recording studio,

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Ry Cooder told me to listen to a tape
and copy the musician's style exactly.

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When he played the tape, there was
a traditional Cuban song on it...

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(SINGS IN SPANISH)

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There was a lute solo in the song.
When I heard it, I said, "That's me."

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The musician on Ry's tape was me.

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I'm 90 years old and then some.
So, what's my secret?

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- Your secret is what interests me.
- Don't overindulge.

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- Don't overindulge in anything.
- In anything.

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(ALL LAUGH)

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Look, look. Listen up.

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For example, if I'm having chicken,
I only eat a small portion,

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so that I don't get bored
with what I'm eating.

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That way, the next day, I'll still have
the desire to go back to that chicken.

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(COMMOTION, LAUGHTER)

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- The second secret.
- The second secret deals with love.

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- That's what I'm interested in.
- When it comes to love,

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I use the same strategy
as when I eat chicken.

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(ALL LAUGH)

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Compay is like being in front
of a Bible, because he knew everything.

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He was living for a century.

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I'm one ofthe original son players
from Santiago.

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The music I play is son,
and I'm not going to stop now.

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(CLICKS FINGERS)

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(SON MUSIC INTRO)

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JUAN DE MARCOS: Son music represents
the essence of the Cuban people.

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For us Cubans, music is like our food.
When we have had really tough times,

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we have created styles of music
that helped our people to survive.

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Son is the music of the late slaves,
during the end of the 19th century.

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People from different parts of Africa
brought their kind of music,

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which mixed with European music.

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Well, in fact, son is the root of all
danceable tropical music

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in the whole of the Americas.

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COMPAY SEGUNDO:
l was born here in 1907.

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People would play son into the morning.

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We have a saying, "until the hot
chocolate", meaning until sunrise.

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I created the duo Los Compadres,
"the buddies".

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The one who sang lead was Compa y Primo,
or Buddy Number One,

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and since I sang second vocals,

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l was Compa y Segundo,
or Buddy Number Two.

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Somebody told me,
"You should be in Havana.

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People love your guitar playing. "

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J‘ Mama, I want to know
where those singers are from

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So, whatldid
was travel as far as Bayamo.

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And in Bayamo,
I went straight to the cigar factory.

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I had learned how to roll cigars
by the time I was 14.

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l'd work until I made enough money
to pay my bus fare to Las Tunas.

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J‘ Ay mami, where are they from?
Are they from Havana?

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J‘ Are they from Santiago?
From the noble land?

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J‘ They are from the mountains, Santiago

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J‘ And sing on the plains, Havana

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J‘ You'll see, you'll see

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Eventually, [got to Havana, in 1934.

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Havana was a really happening place.

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There was a lot of music in the cafes
and social clubs.

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There were social clubs for whites
and social clubs for blacks.

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During the Thirties,
the racism was really tough.

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00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,994
My dad was a musician.
He performed with Arsenio.

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He had to play for one peso
until the last drunk left the party.

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00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:32,193
Black musicians were not able to play
in societies for white people.

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There were social clubs
for black people, poor black people,

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for example,
the Buena Vista Social Club.

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CACHAITO LOPEZ:
The most popular was Buena Vista.

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The dance hall was small,
but the patio was enormous.

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I was playing in clubs
just about every day.

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RUBEN GONZALEZ: In the cabarets,

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the orchestras
were always made up of white people.

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Over at the National, there were always
blacks, but not too dark.

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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