Hola mis amigos. ¡Es viernes!
Welcome to today’s Friday Canción. Today’s song is throwback song by the very famous and well-loved Gloria Estefan, Oye Mi Canto. Earlier this week I was in my car and heard Conga come on. A conga is a human Cuban drum; the word can also refer to a kind of dance or a Cuban carnival. Gloria Estefan credits that song with paving the way for her being able to successfully share more Spanish language music with the world. Songs like Mi Tierra, on the album of the same name, delve into the culture and identity of being Cuban, of being Latino.
Oye Mi Canto is almost as well-known as Conga and was recorded in both English and Spanish. They were released in 1989. I’ve included both videos and sets of lyrics in today’s post.
Oye Mi Canto
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgzguCY79bA&w=560&h=315]
Libre… libre para expresar
Lo que siento en el corazón
No tengo que callar
Tienes… esa libertad también
Que es difÃcil de compartir
Y tú lo sabes bien
Hay que buscar la solución
En vez de decir adiós
Alguien tiene que escuchar
Oye este canto que ya va a empezar
Pronto los años pasarán
Y no quiero un dÃa despertar
Y ver que es tarde ya
Algo… algo tiene que pasar
Si miramos alrededor
Está por comenzar
Hablamos de amor… palabra común
Y no lo ofrecemos nunca
Alguien tiene que escuchar
Oye este canto que ya va a empezar
Alguien tiene que escuchar
Oye este canto que ya va a empezar
Oye mi canto
Oye mi canto
Oye mi canto
Creo en el amor pero sin condiciones
Oye mi canto
Y en ayudarnos sin tener otras razones
Oye mi canto
Los celos y el odio son ya tradiciones
Oye mi canto
Hay que dejarlas atrás
No buscar explicaciones
Oye mi canto
Oye mi canto…
Hear My Voice
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ4Pd0XGiy4&w=560&h=315]
Take me only for what I am
You’ve got a right to speak your mind
You’ve gotta take the stand
No one has the right to say
This is right or that is wrong
It isn’t just one way
Find common ground, go in between
Things aren’t always what they seem
Someday it’ll be alright
Changes happen overnight
People, let’s give each other room
If we’re gonna work it out
We better make it soon
Love is, love is such a common word
When it’s pride we mistake for love
Isn’t that absurd
Why always take
The upper hand
It’s better to understand
Someday it’ll be alright
Changes happen overnight
Someday it’ll be alright
Changes happen overnight
I believe in love but with no conditions (oye mi canto)
And giving in sometimes
Doesn’t make it submission (oye mi canto)
Hate is so common it’s almost tradition (oye mi canto)
Come on let’s leave it behind
And make that transition
Oye oye oye oye mi canto (oye mi canto)
Oyé lo oyé lo (oye mi canto)
Me tienes que oÃr, oye mi canto (oye mi canto)
Oyé lo oye mi canto (oye mi canto)
(Oye mi canto)
Oye mi canción es de corazón (oye mi canto)
(Oye mi canto) oye oye mi canto
There are some longer verses in the English version but the spirit is the same. Let’s find a way for love to triumph.
On that note, I wish you a happy weekend! ¡Buen fin de semana!
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