This song has a funny story but first I would like to say that musically tit is inspired in the beautiful Jibaro music tradition from Puerto Rico. Nonetheless the main groove for the verses is a Cumbia. As we move to the Coro section we have a cool A Caballo feel with steady bass drum while the piano and bass play a "VanVanish" montuno and tumba'o. The Mambo (interlude) starts off with a Timba breakdown and returns later to the A Caballo groove.
Now the story. So Gonzalo and I spent many hours back and forth thinking about the songs we were going to choose, the order, the vibe of the album, etc., and we finally decided on doing 12 tunes. We were now ready to hit the studio. After spending a couple of hours getting the sounds in order with Antonio Oliart at WGBH, we were finally ready to go to track. What should we play? I say "Seis"! We did a couple of takes but we were still a bit cold. We talked about sections in the song and went back to recording until we got "the" take. We did some minor overdubs to correct little clams here and there and we were finally done! As we're high-fiving each other in celebration Gonzalo started his laptop to check the order of the songs. His voice then came in through the headphones: "Alex, Seis was NOT in the list!..." We laughed really hard and well, the CD now has 13 tunes. I though this would make a wonderful case study on A.D.D.
Oh yes, it's also a love song
lyrics
SEIS (Spanish)
SON TUS OJOS LA LUZ ARDIENTE
QUE ILUMINAN MI NOCHE OBSCURA
SOY BARCO SIN CONTINENTE
SI NO TENGO TU DULZURA
COMO EL SOL QUE APAGA LA SOMBRA
ERES AGUA DE MI SEQUIA
SOY MANANTIAL DE ALEGRIA
CUANDO MI BOCA TE NOMBRA
TE QUIERO ENTREGAR MI CORAZON
PORQUE ERES TU MI INSPIRACION
TE QUIERO ENTREGAR MI CORAZON
Y POR TODA LA VIDA MI CORAZON
TE QUIERO ENTREGAR MI CORAZON
PARA TI COSITA BUENA MI CANCION
TE QUIERO ENTREGAR MI CORAZON
CON RESPETO, AMOR Y DEVOCION
SEIS (English)
Your eyes are the burning light
That illuminate my dark night
I'm a ship without a shore if I don't have your sweetness
Like the sun turning out the shadows
You are the water of my draught
I am a fountain of joy when my mouth utters your name
I want to give you my heart
Because you are my inspiration
I want to give you my heart
And throughout my life to you my heart
I want to give you my heart
For you my darling my song
I want to give you my heart
With respect, love and devotion
credits
from MANGO,
track released January 26, 2011
Alex Alvear - Bass, Vocals
Rebecca Cline - Keyboards
Karina Colis - Timbal
Ernesto Diaz - Congas
Eric Doob - Drums
Gonzalo Grau - Minor Percussion, Bckgnd. Vocals & Keyboards
Gilenny Guzman - Bckgnd. Vocals
Manolo Mairena - Misc. Percussion, Bckgnd. Vocals
Felipe Salles - Tenor Sax
Jared Sims, Alto Sax
Produced by: Gonzalo Grau
Mixed by: Fernando Aponte
The music of the Cabo Verde diaspora as played by a band hailing from the Lusophone underground of Luxembourg, recorded in Portugal, reissued by a New York label. This well-travelled sound has been enriched by its journeys. It's an upbeat, synth-infused fast-paced homage to Funaná. Karl Grundmann
Almost impossible to pick a favourite from this bunch, they're all so cool. For now, I'm singling out the Kinks one because it's such an original song choice but ask me tomorrow and it'll be a different one! themichaelmoran