Composed by Carlos Brito and Rosario Sansores, arranged by Alex Alvear
This songs has to be one of Ecuador's most popular songs, know in many places around the world. The original version is a soulful Pasillo, a traditional style of Ecuadorian music. I had performed a version of it as a Cuban Rumba while I was in college and later decided to do an arrangement of it for Mango Blue. The intro is inspired on the Ruben Blades & Son del Solar sound of the 80's and their version of "Todos Vuelven". The song begins with an open Rumba and some really great playing by Manolo (Bongo), Ernesto (congas) and Gonzalo (Cajon). Gonzalo sang counter melodies known as "Dianas" used very much in traditional Rumba. As the band comes in we move into a straight-ahead Salsa with backbeat groove and quote the intro again which leads us to an interlude featuring the saxes who in turn lead us into the Coro (call/response). Rebecca plays a killer piano solo which builds towards the Mambo (interlude) with new sax riffs which in turn lead us to an amazing drum feature by the great Eric Doob. Just when it seems to end we go into a Timba breakdown as we cut the coro in half. This is extremely common in Salsa and Timba and it serves as an additional push to take the energy even higher. We then take it out quoting the Mambo one more time. I initially went back to the main melody but after having played it many times we noticed the song had so much build-up that it wasn't working. Even the dancers would think the song was over... I believe it was Gonzalo who suggested we go back to a Coro to take it out and it totally works now!
As it often happens in Latin music, some lyrics might be singing about something very sad, in contrast to some very driving and cheerful beats. This song's lyrics are quite sad and nonetheless beautiful.
lyrics
SOMBRAS (Spanish)
CUANDO TU TE HAYAS IDO
ME ENVOLVERAN LAS SOMBRAS
CUANDO TU TE HAYAS IDO
CON MI DOLOR A SOLAS
EVOCARE EL IDILIO EN LAS AZULES HORAS
CUANDO TU TE HAYAS IDO
ME ENVOLVERAN LAS SOMBRAS
Y ENLA PENUMBRA VAGA
DE UNA PEQUEN~A ALCOBA
DONDE UNA TIBIA TARDE TE ACARICIABA TODA
TE BUSCARAN MIS MANOS, TE BUSCARA MI BOCA
Y ASPIRARE EN EL AIRE AQUEL OLOR A ROSAS
CUANDO TU TE HAYAS IDO
ME ENVOLVERAN LAS SOMBRAS
SOMBRAS (English)
When you leave me
I will be engulfed in shadows
When you leave me
I will evoke our idyll in my lonesome blue hours
When you leave me
I will be engulfed in shadows
And in the lazy darkness of a small alcove
Where on a warm afternoon I caress you whole
My hands will seek you, my mouth will seek you
And I will breathe in the air that scent of roses
When you leave me
I will be engulfed in shadows
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
