Guantanamera#Charts 3
{{short description|Cuban folk song}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Guantanamera
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist =
| album =
| language = Spanish
| released = 1929
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Guajira-son
| length =
| label =
| composer = Joseíto Fernández
| lyricist =
| producer =
}}
"{{lang|es|Guantanamera|italic=no}}" ({{IPA|es|ɡwantanaˈmeɾa|pron}}; {{langnf|es||The woman from Guantánamo}}){{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/2a530e04-c407-11e4-a02e-00144feab7de.html |title=The Life of a Song: 'Guantanamera' |author=Cheal, David |date=March 13, 2015 |website=Financial Times |publisher=Financial Times Ltd. |access-date=May 22, 2016 |quote=His chorus sings the praises of a guajira (peasant woman) from Guantánamo (the Guantanamera of the title)}} is a Cuban patriotic song, which uses a poem from the collection Simple Verses, by the Cuban poet José Martí, for the lyrics. It is an expression of love for Cuba and of solidarity with the poor people of the world.{{Cite web |last=Altman |first=Ross |date=2016-12-22 |title=GUANTANAMERA: JOSÉ MARTÍ TO FIDEL CASTRO |url=https://folkworks.org/guantanamera-jose-marti-to-fidel-castro/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=FolkWorks |language=en-US}}
The official writing credits have been given to Joseíto Fernández, who first popularized the song on radio as early as 1929 (although it is unclear when the first release as a record occurred). In 1966, a version by American vocal group the Sandpipers, based on an arrangement by the Weavers from their May 1963 Carnegie Hall Reunion concert, became an international hit. The song has notably been covered or interpreted by Celia Cruz, Compay Segundo and Wyclef Jean.
Music
The music for the song is sometimes also attributed to Joseíto Fernández,[http://www.josemarti.org/jose_marti/guantanamera/mariaargeliaguan/guantanameraparte1-1.htm Vizcaíno, María Argelia, Aspectos de la Guantanamera, La Página de José Martí] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714233125/http://www.josemarti.org/jose_marti/guantanamera/mariaargeliaguan/guantanameraparte1-1.htm |date=July 14, 2006}}, Part 1, and Manuel, Peter (2006), "The Saga of a Song: Authorship and Ownership in the Case of 'Guantanamera'". Latin American Music Review 27/2, pp. 1–47 who claimed to have written it at various dates (consensus puts 1929 as its year of origin), and who used it regularly in one of his radio programs. Some{{Who|date=April 2010}} claim that the song's structure actually came from Herminio "El Diablo" García Wilson, who could be credited as a co-composer. García's heirs took the matter to court decades later, but lost the case; the People's Supreme Court of Cuba credited Fernández as the sole composer of the music in 1993. Regardless of either claim, Fernández can safely be claimed as being the first to promote the song widely through his radio programs.{{cite web |url=http://www.josemarti.org/jose_marti/guantanamera/mariaargeliaguan/guantanameraparte2-2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031219023502/http://josemarti.org/jose_marti/guantanamera/mariaargeliaguan/guantanameraparte2-2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-12-19 |title= La Guantanamera por María Argelia Vizcaíno #2-2 |website=José Martí |access-date=2016-09-29}}
Pete Seeger version
Shortly after the Weavers' Carnegie Hall reunion concert recording in May 1963, Pete Seeger included the song on his album We Shall Overcome, which was also performed live at Carnegie Hall. Seeger's recording is described by Stewart Mason at AllMusic as the "definitive version" of the song.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/pete-seeger-at-carnegie-hall-mw0000883882 Stewart Mason, "Pete Seeger at Carnegie Hall Review", AllMusic]. Retrieved May 24, 2013.{{cite web |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19793/m1/ |title=Show 34 – Revolt of the Fat Angel: American musicians respond to the British invaders. [Part 2]: UNT Digital Library |last=Gilliland |first=John |year=1969 |author-link=John Gilliland |work=Pop Chronicles |publisher=Digital.library.unt.edu |format=audio |access-date=April 29, 2011}}
The version of the song created by Martí and Orbón was used by Seeger as the basis of his reworked version, which he based on a performance of the song by Héctor Angulo. Seeger combined Martí's verse with the tune,{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} with the intention that it be used by the peace movement at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He urged that people sing the song as a symbol of unity between the American and Cuban peoples, and called for it to be sung in Spanish to "hasten the day [that] the USA ... is some sort of bilingual country."{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jYyyI-5xK8wC&q=guantanamera+seeger&pg=PA6 |title=Audiotopia: Music, Race, and America |author=Josh Kun |page=6 |date=November 2005|publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-93864-9 |access-date=2016-09-29}}
The Sandpipers version
{{Infobox song
| name = Guantanamera
| cover = Guantanamera_-_The_Sandpipers.jpeg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Sandpipers
| album =
| B-side = What Makes You Dream, Pretty Girl?
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop, easy listening, latin, folk
| length = 3:10
| label = A&M
| writer = Héctor Angulo, José Martí, Pete Seeger
| producer = Tommy LiPuma
| prev_title = Everything in the Garden
| prev_year = 1966
| next_title = Louie Louie
| next_year = 1966
}}
The most commercially successful version of "Guantanamera" in the English-speaking world was recorded by the easy listening vocal group the Sandpipers in 1966. Their recording was based on the Weavers' 1963 Carnegie Hall reunion concert rendition and was arranged by Mort Garson and produced by Tommy LiPuma. In addition to the group's vocals, the version includes Robie Lester on background vocals and narration by producer LiPuma.{{cite news |author=Michael Bourne |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/90s/1995/BB-1995-09-16-OCR-Page-0051.pdf#search=%22sandpipers%22 |title=The Billboard Interview: Tommy LiPuma |newspaper=Billboard magazine |date=1995 |access-date=2017-06-14}} It reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100{{cite book |first=Joel |last=Whitburn |year=2003 |title=Top Pop Singles 1955–2002 |edition=1st |publisher=Record Research Inc. |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |isbn=0-89820-155-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/618 618] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/618 }} and No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite book |first=Graham |last=Betts |year=2004 |title=Complete UK Hit Singles 1952–2004 |edition=1st |publisher=Collins |location=London |isbn=0-00-717931-6 |page=92}}
= Charts =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| align="left" |Chart (1966)
! style="text-align:center;" |Peak |
|---|
| align="left" |Canadian RPM Top Tracks
| style="text-align:center;" |10 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|3|song=Guantanamera |access-date=June 4, 2018}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|3|artist=The Sandpipers|song=Guantanamera|refname=}} |
| New Zealand (Listener){{Cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=1386#n_view_location |title=Flavour of New Zealand, 25 November 1966 |access-date=September 19, 2019 |archive-date=April 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403205938/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=1386#n_view_location |url-status=dead }}
| style="text-align:center;" |7 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(S).html|access-date=13 September 2018}}
| align="center" |2 |
| {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|7|artist=Sandpipers}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|9|artist=The Sandpipers}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|3|artist=The Sandpipers}} |
| {{singlechart|West Germany|22|artist=The Sandpipers|song=Guantanamera|songid=15153|year=1966}} |
Celia Cruz version
"Guantanamera" is one of the songs most commonly identified with Cuban singer Celia Cruz (1925–2003). It appears on at least 241 different records or compilations of hers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/search/?q=guantanamera+celia+cruz&type=all|title=Searching for "guantanamera celia cruz"on Discogs|website=DISCOGS|access-date=2019-03-19}} her earliest commercial recording of it being on the Mexican label Tico Records{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Celia-Cruz-Guantanamera/release/6162803 |title=Celia Cruz - Guantanamera |website=Discogs |year=1968 |language=en |access-date=2018-12-22}} in 1968. She mentions her special memories of singing "Guantanamera" nine times in her posthumous 2004 autobiography.{{cite web |url=https://celiacruz.com/project/celia-cruz-my-life-an-autobiography/ |title=Celia Cruz, My Life, an autobiography |date=June 24, 2017 |language=en |access-date=2018-12-22}}
= Charts =
| class="wikitable" |
| align="left"|Chart (2010)
! style="text-align:center;"|Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|US Billboard World Digital Songs Sales{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/celia-cruz/chart-history/wdt/|title=Celia Cruz Chart History - Billboard World Digital Songs Sales|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=June 3, 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"|2 |
Wyclef Jean version
{{Infobox song
| name = Guantanamera
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Wyclef Jean featuring Lauryn Hill, Celia Cruz, and Jeni Fujita
| album = Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival
| released = October 8, 1997
| studio =
| venue =
| length = 4:30
| label = Columbia
| writer = Jerry Duplessis, Lauryn Hill, Pete Seeger, Julián Orbón, Joseíto Fernández, José Martí
| producer = Wyclef Jean
| chronology = Wyclef Jean
| prev_title = Anything Can Happen
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = No, No, No
| next_year = 1997
}}
Wyclef Jean's version of the song is not a cover of the original, but an incorporation with additional lyrics/music.{{Cite web |title=Wyclef Jean :: The Carnival :: Ruffhouse/Columbia Records |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_thecarnival.html |access-date=2021-03-03 |website=www.rapreviews.com}} The album version of the song featured singing by Jeni Fujita alongside Celia Cruz (who re-recorded her vocals for the song), with an additional rap verse by Lauryn Hill.{{Cite web |last=Bonita |date=2017-03-30 |title=Wyclef Jean & Lauryn Hill's Collabo From The Carnival Was 1 Of Their Last And Best (Audio) |url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2017/03/this-rare-1997-wyclef-lauryn-hill-collab-was-1-of-their-best-last-audio/ |access-date=2021-03-03 |website=Ambrosia For Heads |language=en-US}}
The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-23 |title=Wyclef Jean |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/wyclef-jean/9817 |access-date=2021-03-03 |website=GRAMMY.com |language=en}} The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Rhythmic Airplay chart, and peaked within the top 40 in several countries, including the United Kingdom. Former United States President Barack Obama listed the song on his 2022 summer playlist.{{Cite web |title=Barack Obama Shares 2022 Summer Playlist: Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Rosalía, and More |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/barack-obama-shares-2022-summer-playlist-kendrick-lamar-beyonce-harry-styles-rosalia-more/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=pitchfork.com|date=July 26, 2022 }}
= Charts =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| align="left"|Chart (1997)
! style="text-align:center;"|Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Germany|29|artist=Wyclef Jean|song=Guantanamera|songid=3553}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|28|artist=Wyclef Jean|song=Guantanamera|accessdate=April 6, 2023}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|32|artist=Wyclef Jean|song=Guantanamera|accessdate=April 6, 2023}} |
| {{singlechart|New Zealand|15|artist=Wyclef Jean|song=Guantanamera|accessdate=April 6, 2023}} |
| {{singlechart|Scotland|47|date=19970921|accessdate=April 6, 2023}} |
| {{singlechart|Sweden|48|artist=Wyclef Jean|song=Guantanamera|accessdate=April 6, 2023}} |
| {{singlechart|Switzerland|19|artist=Wyclef Jean|song=Guantanamera|accessdate=April 6, 2023}} |
| {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|25|artist=Wyclef Jean}} |
| {{singlechart|UKrandb|10|date=19970921|accessdate=April 6, 2023}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrhythmic|29|artist=Wyclef Jean}} |
Other recordings
The song has been recorded by multiple solo artists, including Bárbara y Dick who took the song to no. 1 in Argentina,Billboard, April 2, 1966 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-04-02.pdf Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, ARGENTINA, This Week 1, Last Week 3] Demis Roussos, Willy Chirino, Julio Iglesias, Joan Baez, Albita, Jimmy Buffett, Bobby Darin, Raul Malo, Joe Dassin, Muslim Magomayev, José Feliciano, Tony Mottola, Biser Kirov, Puerto Plata, Trini Lopez, La Lupe, Nana Mouskouri, Tito Puente, Raulín Rodríguez, Andy Russell, Gloria Estefan, Phil Manzanera, Robert Wyatt (under the title "Caimanera"), Zucchero Fornaciari, Julie Felix, Ansuman Roy, and by such groups as The Mavericks, Inti-Illimani, Buena Vista Social Club, Los Lobos, Pozo-Seco Singers, Todos Tus Muertos, The Spinners and the Gipsy Kings.
In popular culture
File:Placo de Guantanamera (Guantanamo).jpg
- The song is featured prominently in the 1968 Cuban film Lucía.
- The tune of this song is a commonly used in British football chant, such as "There's only one [insert player/manager name]". For example, it was used for Paul Gascoigne ("There's only one Paul Gascoigne"), but modified for Gary Stevens ("There's only two Gary Stevens") since there were two players of the same name active at the same time.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nP1gwO3Clw0C&pg=PT74 |title=Step Across This Line |chapter=The People's Game |first= Salman |last=Rushdie |date=December 26, 2008 |publisher=Random House |isbn=9781407021379 }} Other chants using the same tune include "You only sing when you're winning", and "You're getting sacked in the morning".{{cite news |author=Tom Lamont |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/03/football-chants-manchester-united |title=Tom Lamont on the chant-makers of British football |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=2016-09-29}} It is also used on the soundtrack of Pro Evolution Soccer 2014, a football video game developed and published by Konami. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum's 2019 television commercial campaign also features this chant.[https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/food--cooking/getting-the-root-love-ginger/IMavfy5THqV7DtD6enswlI/# King, Bill. "Getting to the root of my love of ginger," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wednesday, August 7, 2019.] Retrieved August 21, 2019 Real Madrid also use this tune to sing "Reyes de Europa".
- The album Comedy by Paul Kelly and the Messengers features a hidden song, fading to silence, singing "there's only one David Gower".Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/Aco8F9TimH0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195807/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aco8F9TimH0 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aco8F9TimH0| title = There's only one David Gower - Paul Kelly & the Messengers | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
- Tony Lockett, a player in the Australian Football League, was praised in the song "One Tony Lockett", using the tune of "{{lang|es|Guantanamera|italic=no}}", performed by James Freud and the Reserves.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/James-Freud-And-The-Reserves-One-Tony-Lockett/release/712078 |title=James Freud and the Reserves - One Tony Lockett (CD) |year=1999 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=2016-09-29}}
- The song is played in The Godfather Part II, at the café in Havana where Michael Corleone talks with his brother Fredo Corleone.{{cite web |last1=Movie Port |title=Godfather Part 2:"I know it was you Fredo" and Cuban Revolution |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEIBCPTm_c |website=YouTube |access-date=22 March 2020}}
- Richard Stallman wrote and sang a version titled Guantanamero, an ironic commentary on the Guantanamo prison and the War on Terror.{{cite web |url=https://stallman.org/guantanamero.html |title=Guantanamero - Richard Stallman |website=stallman.org}}
- On the American sitcom series of Gimme a Break!{{'}}s third season episode "Samantha's Protest", Samantha (Lara Jill Miller) leads a protest with other protesters against the demolition of a local historic Spanish site with the first few phrases of the song, which even the site's new owner (Abraham Alvarez) – who happens to be Hispanic – joins in momentarily before stopping himself. {{cite web |last1=Movie Port |title= Gimme a Break S3E13 Samantha's Protest |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOiFpx2cWCk&t=483s |website=YouTube |access-date=22 June 2023}}
- On the Saturday Night Live episode of October 27, 1990, Patrick Swayze and Dana Carvey perform a fake ad about a fake compilation album called "Super Feud" show in which two famous singers, Valendez and Montenero, brag about how much fan mail they receive - starting with "one ton of fan mail," followed by "two tons of fan mail" - to the tune of {{lang|es|Guantanamera|italic=no}}. {{cite web |url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/feud/n9963|title=Saturday Night Live "Feud"|website=www.nbc.com}}
- Pakistani pop star Alamgir recorded an adaptation in the 1980s interspersed with unrelated Urdu lyrics, titled Albela Rahi, which has become an informal signature tune and title for the singer (now based in the United States).{{cite web | title=Alamgir's Albela Rahi is no surprise | website=The Express Tribune | date=February 4, 2013 | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/502555/alamgirs-albela-rahi-is-no-surprise | access-date=October 29, 2021}}
- In a flashback scene on season 3 episode 3 of Money Heist, Berlin (Pedro Alonso) danced to the song recording by Compay Segundo after telling the Professor his plan of breaking into the vault of gold bars at the Bank of Spain.{{cite web |title=Money Heist {{pipe}} Guantanamera {{pipe}} Part 3 Episode 3{{pipe}} Netflix |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm9-5Es_Txk | website=Youtube | date=14 July 2019 |access-date=24 April 2022}}
- In 2014 the multimedia music project Playing for Change recorded and produced a track joining together over 75 Cuban musicians around the world, from Havana and Santiago to Miami, Barcelona, and Tokyo.{{cite web | title=Guantanamera {{pipe}} Playing For Change {{pipe}} Song Around The World |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blUSVALW_Z4 | website=Youtube | date=1 July 2014 |access-date=27 April 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.exilio.com/Marti/Marti.html José Martí's poem Versos Sencillos], from which the verses of Guantanamera were taken.
- http://www.cubamusic.com/Store/Artist/66/joseito-fernandez
{{Celia Cruz}}
{{The Sandpipers}}
{{Money Heist}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Association football songs and chants
Category:Cuban patriotic songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Jerry Duplessis