Customer Reviews

Cuba Classics 1: Canciones Urgentes

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Silvio Rodriguez has long been, alongside Pablo Milanes, one of communist Cuba's most prominent singer/songwriters. For me, having grown up among Cuban refugees, I've always had a hard time dealing with some of his very political lyrics, but as an amateur musician and an admirer of art, I've always respected him as being an incredible composer. This compilation by David Byrne gathers some of Silvio's best works, although that is a somewhat daring task in such a short album, given his prolific musical career which is still far from an end. There are no bad songs here, but the very best ones are "Unicornio" and "Sueño con Serpientes". Here's the complete listing:

Sueño de una noche de verano (6:23)
Causas y azares (5:21)
Como esperando abril (3:18)
Playa girón (3:20)
Canto arena (4:18)
La maza (5:49)
Canción urgente para Nicaragua (2:57)
Suenő con serpientes (5:34)
Unicornio (4:34)
Nuestro tema (3:57)
No hacen falta alas (7:33)
O melancolia (5:19).

If you want to dig more into his music (by the way, his last name is spelled Rodriguez, with a "z" at the end, not an "s") 'Dias y Flores', 'Unicornio' and 'Rabo de Nube' are three amazing productions.

Esta compilación puede considerarse como un punto de partida, pero no el mejor, ni el más representativo. Este disco está enfocado al mundo angloparlante, por lo que las canciones que contiene dan cuenta más de la música cubana que de las líricas de Silvio, las que la mayoría de las veces van acompañadas unicamente de guitarra acústicas y con ritmos sencillos.

Sin embargo es una buena forma de acercar a quienes no hablan nuestro idioma al increíble universo musical de Rodríguez. Además la edición es muy buena, y contiene las letras en ambas lenguas y con una biografía del trovador.

I have many CD from Silvio Rodriguez. If you are like me, we both don't need a review. Looking at song listing is enough to know. Buy, if you are looking for only one Silvio Rodriguez's CD, i recommend this one. Many people only want a single CD from an artist, others want star with one, and after a while, return for more. In both cases, this CD is for them.

I recomend pass reviews below for people who are looking for 5 or 6 CD from Silvio Rodriguez. After all, probably if you are one from those, you already have this CD. Finally, pass reviews forget to mention "Días y Flores", it is a "must to have" CD in a Silvio Rodriguez basic colection.

Unfortunately, the great Silvio Rodríguez is virtually unknown outside the Spanish-speaking world. Aware of that, I've recently started giving presents of this sampler to friends who have never heard of him, . . . and some of them have subsequently gone on to buy one or another of his classic albums. Of course, no compilation could ever do justice to the wide range of his oeuvre, but this gem of a collection is a good start for those who otherwise might never be aware of this great genius.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with the review of this CD by Antonio Rioseco. This CD is for marketing Silvio to the gringo. It has the 'de rigueur' revolutionary songs like " Cancion urgente para Nicaragua" & "Playa Giron" but it is far from the essence of this singer/songwriter. I suggest exploring his triptychs (Triptico 1, 2, 3 and Silvio, Rodriguez and Dominguez). My favorites are the second ones in each series (Triptico 2 y Rodriguez) which include some of his best poems put to music. I love "Llover sobre mojado" & "El tiempo esta a favor de los pequenos" and Rodriguez's "Casiopea". So don't go for the Silvio Light go for something more filling.

Cuban "trova" music has suffered a lot because of the compilations. They tend to reduce the music to "hits". And this compilation represents that manipulation (I dont care if it comes from Byrne or whatever) for Silvio Rodriguez music. If you want to really enjoy Rodriguez begin by his old albums (Al final de este viaje, Unicornio, Mujeres, etc). You can follow to the 80s big albums (especially "Triptico"), and then probably you will like to try the 90s solo work ("Silvio", "Rodriguez", "Dominguez") Trova is not about hits. Get the albums. Dont by this one, you will loose your money.