Song Analysis Until Even Carlos Puebla Commander
Analysis of a Latin American song
Throughout this essay I intend to analyze and discuss the different themes that are within the song ‘Until always commander’ by Carlos Puebla. I will discuss why he wrote this song and how he affected people after publication in the media. This song has a moving message for its listeners and is a song dedicated to one of the greatest leaders in Latin America.
Until always, commander ’, or simply‘ until always ’, it is a 1965 song by Cuban composer Carlos Puebla. The lyrics of the song is an answer to the farewell letter from the revolutionary Che Guevara when he left Cuba, to foster the revolution in the Congo and then in Bolivia, where he was captured and killed. The letters report key moments of the Cuban revolution, describing Che Guevara and his role as a revolutionary commander. The song became an icon after Guevara’s death, and many leftist artists made their own versions of the song later. The title is part of Guevara’s well -known ‘until victory always!
Carlos Manuel Puebla is a Cuban composer. The singer of the Cuban Revolution is considered. He got politically involved with Fidel Castro and Che Guevara during the 1959 revolution. This inspired him to write new songs like ‘And in that came Fidel’, ‘Agrarian reform’ and ‘They are literacy’. His music, as well as his political commitment, made him a very popular singer. Then he was called ‘The singer of the Cuban Revolution’ and became a Cuba ambassador and his music before the world.
‘Where the sun of your bravery
He fenced to death ’
This refers to the fact that after the death of Guevara, many of those who were outside the socialist movement in Latin America not only saddened by his death, but that his death became revered. It is argued that Guevara, when he died for those of Latin America and for the socialist cause, further lit hope, along with the cause. In this sense, his death was exalted as evidence that the socialist cause was more powerful than death and that even if the capitalist forces killed you, the cause would continue.
‘The clear one stays here,
The endearing transparency,
of your dear presence
Commander Che Guevara.’
In this line, Carlos Puebla emphasizes the transparency of the legendary character Che Guevara in implying that his very essence was ‘endearing’. This means that, despite being a public figure, it allowed everyone to know the true Che Guevara. This verse is perhaps one of the most important since it portrays the feelings of Cubans who admire Che for all their efforts in the Cuban revolution and really describes it as one with the people.
‘Todo Santa Clara wakes up to see you.’
Santa Clara is located in the capital province of Las Villas, in the center of Cuba. This place is very important because it was one of the decisive moments of the 1959 Cuban revolution. More importantly, the battle of Santa Clara was directed by Che Guevara as the last offensive and the culminating point of the revolution. The battle lasted from May to December 1958 until Che successfully won the battle. It was this battle that created Guevara as the Cuban hero who is considered today. In addition, today a monument is raised in Santa Clara in honor of Guevara.
‘The endearing transparency,’
This refers to how Guevara’s behavior in rebel groups was transparency, since he often struggled, ate and slept next to individuals under his command. It is also said that Guevara expected a lot of those under his command, but that he expected even more of himself, which is evident because he never let his asthma be an obstacle to his revolutionary work.
‘You come burning the breeze
with spring soles
To plant the flag
With the light of your smile.’
The representation of Pueblas del Che Guevara is very sentimental and personal. He says that his brave revolutionary actions were not only carried out with courage, but also with love and happiness. This reference to a flag is relevant for the fact that Guevara was not considered Argentine, Cuban, Bolivian or other, but was considered a citizen of multiple Latin American countries. This reference to plant a flag with a smile could be said that it is an allusion to its point of view of having a citizenship that was not easy to define or link a country, or a flag. But instead, he oriented to have loyalty to his cause and plant a flag to his ideals, not to a specific country. It is then the light of its ideals in which the flag is rooted, not a specific citizenship.
‘!Until always, commander!’
At the end of the farewell letter to Fidel Castro, Che writes: ‘Until victory, homeland or death! Often it translates as ‘until victory always, homeland or death’. Similarly, the title of Carlos Puebla’s song incorporates part of the slogan, but is dedicated to Che. Che is also known as ‘commander’. Therefore, Carlos Puebla chose to use Che’s words in the title as a kind of farewell. It can be translated as ‘Always Unit, Commander’. In addition, it means ‘always faithful’ and has the meaning of being always remembered. In addition, it carries out the meaning of Che of the revolution’s vision.
In conclusion, the song ‘Until always commander’ can be seen as a memorial to Che Guevara. The writer Puebla has created a song that can be adapted to any time of time and many countries that are experiencing political disturbances use this song as a source of inspiration to move forward.
Bibliography
- Music newsletter. – El Vedado, Havana, Cuba: Music Directorate, Casa de las Américas, 1972.
- Bremme, Bettina (2000): Der Lateinamerikanische Film. Stuttgart: Schmetterling-Verl.
- Bruzual, Alejandro (2006): Word, music and culture in Latin America. Pittsburgh, pa.: Inst. Ibero -American Literature.
- Günther, Robert (1982): Die Musikkulturen Lateinamerikas IM 19. Jahrhundart. Regensburg: Bosse.
- Illiano, Roberto (2009): Music and dictorship in Europe and Latin America. Turnhout: Breols.
- Lieder und Mythen in der Volkskultur Lateinamerikas. Bonn: dt. Volkshochschul-Verb., 1987
- Olsen, Dale and Sheehy, Daniel (2000): The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music. New York;London: Routledge.
- Latin American Music Magazine. – Austin, Tex. : UNIV. of Texas Press, 1980.
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