Buena Vista Social Club

en
00:00:10 This is a famous photo of mine.
00:00:13 Taken during the October missile
00:00:19 The whole Malecon was full of
00:00:23 We were expecting a US invasion.
00:00:27 I took this one in 1959,
00:00:32 Fidel laid a wreath
00:00:36 It's called 'David and Goliath'.
00:00:39 The little man and the giant.
00:00:42 These are Che Guevara and Fidel
00:00:45 Who won?
00:00:48 Fidel.
00:00:51 Che let him win.
00:01:51 Ah, the Buena Vista Social Club!
00:01:55 Compay Segundo!
00:02:23 We should ask these people.
00:02:26 Let's ask the old folks where
00:02:52 He'll know.
00:02:54 - We're looking for the Social Club.
00:02:59 Oh, that's long gone.
00:03:01 The Buena Vista was... let's see.
00:03:13 - It was No 48.
00:03:16 OK, tell us where
00:03:24 Look, you go up that way,
00:03:30 - You used to dance there?
00:03:34 I was born near there.
00:03:37 Go on the dual carriageway.
00:04:01 It's that house, the one with
00:04:08 It's been gone since 1944.
00:04:13 I remember they used to throw
00:04:17 In its day, the best bands
00:04:25 Know what I eat when I've had
00:04:32 You take a piece of chicken neck
00:04:35 When it's no longer bloody,
00:04:39 You can still see
00:04:45 You eat that and you won't
00:04:49 That's how I stay fit.
00:05:58 From Alto Cedro,
00:06:02 I get to Cueto,
00:06:50 The love I have for you,
00:06:56 My mouth is watering.
00:07:19 Juanita and Chan Chan,
00:07:25 How her bottom shakes.
00:07:47 Clear the path of dry cane leaves.
00:07:51 Because I want to sit down
00:07:55 On that trunk over there.
00:10:09 Asleep in my garden.
00:10:18 Amid the gladioli and the roses.
00:10:24 And the white lilies.
00:10:31 My soul feels sad and heavy.
00:10:42 From the flowers I wish to hide
00:11:00 I don't want
00:11:07 the torments
00:11:19 If they knew
00:11:32 for my sorrows,
00:11:44 Silence,
00:11:55 The gladioli and the lilies.
00:12:07 I don't want them
00:12:18 For if they see me crying,
00:14:47 Omara Portuondo!
00:15:13 I, Ibrahim Ferrer Planas...
00:15:17 was born in a small town,
00:15:20 in Santiago de Cuba.
00:15:23 San Luis.
00:15:26 I am the son of Aurelia Ferrer.
00:15:30 Registered as her natural son.
00:15:36 I say this because...
00:15:40 I'd like you all
00:15:44 who I am and what I am.
00:15:47 At the age of twelve...
00:15:50 I lost my mother.
00:15:53 I had already lost my father.
00:15:56 I was an orphan.
00:15:59 I was my mother's only child.
00:16:03 So I had to look after myself.
00:16:09 I was at school,
00:16:13 But I had to abandon
00:16:17 Life at that time wasn't
00:16:24 It was harder.
00:16:25 You had to fend for yourself.
00:16:33 Do you need a hand?
00:16:54 Ruben and I were just
00:16:58 Ruben loves to improvise,
00:17:02 So, I started singing.
00:17:06 Two Gardenias for you.
00:17:11 With them I mean to say
00:17:14 Pay them all your mind.
00:17:21 Ry Cooder heard it, too.
00:17:26 When he arrived, I had just sung
00:17:33 And he recorded it.
00:17:36 Two Gardenias for you.
00:17:39 With them I mean to say...
00:17:43 I love you.
00:17:53 Pay them all your mind.
00:18:05 Two gardenias for you.
00:18:08 With all the warmth of a kiss.
00:18:16 Kisses you'll never find
00:18:27 They'll live beside you,
00:18:40 And you'll believe they're saying
00:18:51 But if one evening,
00:19:02 It's because they'll
00:19:05 that you've betrayed me
00:19:58 My name is Omara Portuondo.
00:20:01 I was born here in Havana
00:20:12 My father was a famous
00:20:18 He was one of the first Cubans
00:20:22 They took Cuban baseball
00:20:26 My parents used to relax after lunch
00:20:35 They would sing duets.
00:20:37 And that's how my love of
00:20:42 I started singing La Bayamesa
00:20:47 My father would sing the lead voice,
00:20:51 The song I've recorded here,
00:20:56 has won a Grammy.
00:20:58 I've known it since
00:21:03 What matter if I love you,
00:21:09 A love which is in the past
00:21:13 I was the love of your life,
00:21:20 But now I'm part of the past,
00:21:26 If all the things we want
00:21:34 then you'd love me
00:21:38 as twenty years ago.
00:21:41 With sadness we watch
00:21:48 A part of our souls
00:22:28 Here on the beach,
00:22:32 Here on the beach,
00:22:46 I was born in 1907.
00:22:50 On the coast, by the sea.
00:22:56 I lived there with my father.
00:23:00 He was a train driver,
00:23:06 I lived in Siboney
00:23:09 That's when my grandmother died.
00:23:12 Then I moved to Santiago de Cuba
00:23:17 I wasn't allowed to leave Siboney
00:23:23 She put it this way:
00:23:25 "Until I die, my grandson..."
00:23:31 I used to light her cigars.
00:23:37 I was only five.
00:23:40 And she'd say "Light me a cigar".
00:23:43 And I did, from the age of five.
00:23:48 I'd light it, and my grandmother
00:23:52 So, you could say I've been
00:24:17 I'll have to work hard.
00:25:04 On a tree trunk,
00:25:12 carved her name with joy.
00:25:21 And the tree,
00:25:28 let a flower fall
00:25:36 I am the tree,
00:25:45 You are the girl
00:25:53 I'll always treasure
00:26:01 But tell me, what became
00:26:48 I learned that as a young boy.
00:27:03 Music is so beautiful.
00:27:07 My name is
00:27:10 I was born in Santiago de Cuba
00:27:17 My mother, Jacoba Bustamante,
00:27:22 And so die my father.
00:27:23 We were a musical family.
00:27:25 I was born a country boy,
00:27:29 From the moment I woke up,
00:27:33 I had music in my blood.
00:27:36 I heard music when I went to bed,
00:27:40 In 1958, I was no bigger
00:27:46 I started playing as a kid
00:27:51 In the red light district.
00:27:55 I played and passed the hat:
00:28:00 That's how I made money.
00:28:03 I took all the money home
00:28:39 Along the road by my house...
00:28:42 a merry cart-driver went by.
00:28:52 His songs came from the heart.
00:28:55 Like a jolly country boy he sang.
00:29:03 I'm going to the rail crossing,
00:29:14 And so end another day
00:29:37 I work without respite
00:29:43 And if I can manage that
00:29:51 My days of passing the hat
00:29:56 I'll never forget it,
00:30:05 I'm a country lad and cart-driver,
00:30:16 The country is the Garden of Eden,
00:30:21 Let's ride our horses
00:31:01 Hello, how are you?
00:31:04 We've been waiting ages.
00:31:08 I thought maybe the cops
00:31:29 Make yourselves at home.
00:31:34 Once, in Santiago de Cuba,
00:31:39 the president of
00:31:43 It was called 'EL Cocuye'.
00:31:47 Once, a delegation of Africans
00:31:55 One of the women became
00:32:01 And when she left, she gave
00:32:06 My mother was a firm believer
00:32:09 I have one the same.
00:32:15 We call him the Beggar.
00:32:18 He's very powerful.
00:32:25 He's the one who leads the way
00:32:29 The other Lazarus is the same.
00:32:32 But that's one I take with me.
00:32:39 I lay flowers for him.
00:32:42 Sometimes I light a candle.
00:32:45 I give him honey.
00:32:50 See?
00:32:56 I give him perfume.
00:33:02 Lots of perfume.
00:33:05 Every time I go out,
00:33:08 And I spray myself.
00:33:17 His little shot of rum.
00:33:20 I like it, so I assume
00:33:32 My wife makes him a meringues sometimes.
00:33:37 We put them here.
00:33:40 We offer them to him.
00:33:43 So that's how he gets
00:33:49 We Cubans can be thankful,
00:33:57 that we are the way we are.
00:33:59 If we cared about possessions, we
00:34:04 But we Cubans are very fortunate.
00:34:08 We're a small country.
00:34:10 But we're very strong.
00:34:14 We've learned how to resist...
00:34:18 the good and the bad.
00:34:35 Cienfuegos has its Guaguanco.
00:34:47 Today I am very moved.
00:34:51 I will sing to my land.
00:34:59 To that famous region...
00:35:01 known as the Pearl
00:37:10 That's the last one.
00:37:16 It's the one Juan de Marcos wanted.
00:40:13 My name is Ruben Gonzalez
00:40:17 I was born in Santa Clara,
00:40:25 At the age of nine, I started
00:40:32 My family had bought a piano.
00:40:35 It was a fine one, a John Stowers.
00:40:38 It was also a pianola.
00:40:42 When I saw that instrument,
00:40:46 I really liked it.
00:40:52 So I began practising
00:40:57 When my mother saw I had talent
00:41:01 she arranged for me to study
00:41:10 I studied with her until
00:41:20 She'd say to me "Ruben, you'll be
00:41:25 "You have great skill
00:45:33 I was ignored, so I lost touch.
00:45:36 But I wasn't going to starve.
00:45:38 I polished shoes, cleaned the
00:45:44 I had a family to support.
00:45:47 I'm not ashamed to say that.
00:45:52 We moved from Santa Clara
00:45:56 But being in the capital
00:46:00 I said to myself "There are
00:46:07 So, I started studying
00:46:11 Playing other instruments.
00:46:14 But it turned out that
00:46:19 was a man called came to know as Arsenio.
00:46:24 He had a great band.
00:46:27 And he heard me play.
00:46:29 But Arsenio was blind.
00:46:33 Not from birth.
00:46:35 He had an accident
00:46:39 Anyway, one day he said:
00:46:41 Ruben, would you like
00:46:45 I said yes, of course.
00:46:47 He'd had a pianist who'd left.
00:46:52 He'd gone to Europe.
00:46:56 I played in Arsenio's band
00:47:00 I had a few hits.
00:47:21 People always said Arsenio
00:47:26 He'd get really angry when
00:47:34 He'd stand there, listening.
00:47:37 Then leap in the direction
00:47:40 But of course, he was blind.
00:47:43 So they'd all run away.
00:47:46 And whoever it was would say
00:47:51 And poor Arsenio would
00:47:54 And get really angry.
00:47:58 Because people were
00:48:01 He was a big fat guy,
00:48:07 He used to make me laugh.
00:48:10 I swear, I won't smoke again.
00:48:14 Well, just a little bit.
00:48:20 And I won't drink either.
00:48:24 I used to drink a lot.
00:48:31 I've a good bodyguard here.
00:48:43 This is Arsenio Rodriguez
00:48:56 May 24, 1946.
00:48:59 His band toured a lot in Mexico,
00:49:06 Most of them are dead now.
00:49:10 This one is still alive.
00:49:14 His name is Pascualito.
00:49:19 He died in Spain.
00:50:14 The one thing I don't want is to die.
00:50:19 That Man up there,
00:50:22 are making sure I'm still around
00:50:30 You know, some people
00:50:37 As long as I have blood
00:50:40 I'll go on loving women.
00:50:42 Women, flowers and romance...
00:50:47 are the most beautiful things in life.
00:50:50 One night of romance...
00:50:55 I haven't forgotten it,
00:51:00 I have five children.
00:51:02 You met Salvador and Basilio.
00:51:09 I have five children.
00:51:17 I want to have one more.
00:51:27 See you some other day.
00:51:48 One day, out of the blue...
00:51:51 there was a knock on my door.
00:51:55 It was Juan de Marcos.
00:51:57 I was shining my shoes at the time
00:52:01 I said
00:52:04 He said "I've been looking for you.
00:52:11 I told him I didn't want
00:52:14 But he said "No, man, I need you"
00:52:20 Tomorrow? I said.
00:52:23 Well, let me have a shower.
00:52:27 All I had time for was
00:52:30 and wipe the shoe polish
00:52:34 So we came here, to the Egrem.
00:52:37 And here, in the Egrem studios,
00:52:42 He was with Compay Segundo.
00:52:52 When Ruben saw me,
00:53:00 That's a number I'd made
00:53:04 It's called Candela, by
00:53:09 There goes a dancing rat,
00:53:13 While a mouse drums out a tune
00:53:17 A cat comes along, too.
00:53:19 Good evening, friend
00:53:22 Anyway, I started singing.
00:53:27 And Ry, who was in the booth,
00:53:33 He heard me...
00:53:35 and decided to record it.
00:53:40 So I said OK.
00:53:44 And that is how it all started.
00:53:46 Fire! Fire!
00:53:50 Faustino Oramas and friends,
00:53:57 Just dial seven zeros
00:55:14 My name is Orlando López 'Cachaito'.
00:55:17 I want to tell you how
00:55:22 I started playing I was nine.
00:55:25 When I was 11, I joined
00:55:32 Starting with my great-grandfather,
00:55:35 I was going to study the violin.
00:55:38 But my grandfather said I had to
00:55:44 I was a bit of afraid of the bass.
00:55:49 But in the end I got used to it.
00:55:52 My style of playing is...
00:55:57 Well, I need to concentrate.
00:56:01 I've studied classical music,
00:56:08 I don't know, to me music
00:56:16 I've played with many orchestras
00:56:22 And this is how I met Ruben.
00:56:24 I'd played with so many pianists,
00:56:28 Now it turns out we're a great duo.
00:56:32 My great strength is that
00:56:36 I can also sight-read very fast.
00:56:39 So before he plays a note,
00:59:38 My name is Amadito Valdes.
00:59:42 I use my father's name as he was
00:59:47 I followed in his footsteps.
00:59:50 In the field of percussion,
00:59:55 Whoever plays it must be
01:00:02 and use his imagination.
01:00:05 Because this is an instrument
01:00:09 in its physical design,
01:00:12 It's a humble instrument.
01:00:15 But one that lends
01:00:19 to popular dance music.
01:00:48 My name is Manuel Mirabal Vazquez
01:00:54 I started playing at
01:00:57 So I've been playing the trumpet
01:01:00 It was great playing with
01:01:03 If it hadn't been for the Buena Vista,
01:01:08 No one would remember Ibrahim,
01:01:15 To see Compay, at the age of 90,
01:01:19 And Ruben playing the piano.
01:01:22 I think this is the key to
01:02:33 My name is Barbaro Alberto
01:02:36 In musical jargon, everyone
01:02:45 I've played Cuban country music
01:02:51 I play the laud, which is
01:02:55 The Moors took it to Spain
01:03:01 There they made a laud
01:03:07 The medieval troubadours
01:03:11 where is modified again.
01:03:13 This resulted in the Cuban laud
01:03:55 Tula's bedroom
01:03:59 She fell asleep
01:04:03 Call the firemen.
01:04:06 Bring lots of hoses.
01:04:09 Tell them Tula's bedroom
01:05:41 Barbarito is on the loose!
01:05:45 He's crazy.
01:05:48 Arrest him.
01:07:27 My name is Pio Leyva.
01:07:29 'EL Montunero de Cuba'.
01:07:33 My name is Manuel Licea,
01:07:52 Domino!
01:07:55 You can't beat me, Puntillita.
01:07:58 At dominoes, I'm number one.
01:08:02 You might be the best singer.
01:08:08 - Shall we join them?
01:08:12 Hey, come to the studio!
01:08:15 Now I'm thrashing this guy at dominoes,
01:08:20 - OK, you're winning three-two.
01:08:23 Let's see how the recording
01:08:29 - See? You can't play with me.
01:08:38 I'm happy to have had
01:08:41 to co-ordinate and take part in
01:08:44 It's brought together all the
01:08:48 who'd been practically
01:08:52 People like Ruben Gonzalez...
01:08:56 one of the three greatest
01:09:01 Ibrahim Ferrer, one of the greatest
01:09:06 who had sadly been forgotten
01:09:12 And people like Puntillita,
01:09:15 Compay Segundo, Eladies Ochoa.
01:09:18 This album will have
01:09:23 on Cuban music.
01:10:20 Recording, please.
01:10:26 There's a party at the ranch
01:10:41 The roastpig is ready.
01:10:48 They're bringing the house down
01:10:55 The Comay dancers are coming.
01:11:09 The bongo, triple and guiro
01:13:18 Your kisses rained down
01:13:24 With uncontrollable desires
01:13:30 Yet in spite ofit all.
01:13:33 Your departure was my downfall.
01:13:39 The end of all my dreams.
01:13:45 And they will not be revived
01:13:55 That day...
01:14:00 of our last meeting...
01:14:04 in love.
01:20:12 Whenever I ask you
01:20:19 you always answer
01:21:18 Look, what a beautiful building.
01:21:23 It's extraordinary.
01:21:26 - And these avenues are so beautiful.
01:21:44 You're calling Cuba?
01:21:56 So much activity.
01:22:02 Look at the gun that guy has.
01:22:14 All the greats are there.
01:22:17 That's Charlie Chaplin.
01:22:19 - Laurel and Hardy. Remember them?
01:22:27 And this is one of the
01:22:31 Which one is he?
01:22:33 Who was the greatest
01:22:37 The one who used to
01:22:40 And played the highest note ever
01:22:47 This one was blind, remember?
01:22:49 - He was a pianist. And her?
01:22:54 It says it here.
01:22:59 They're all here.
01:23:21 - Who's the one in the middle?
01:23:28 See if I can remember his face.
01:23:43 This is the life!
01:23:47 This is so beautiful.
01:23:49 You can see the whole of New York
01:23:54 There's a plane taking off now.
01:24:02 They won't fly over
01:24:43 Where is the Statue of Liberty?
01:25:10 I thought the Statue of Liberty
01:25:16 You can't see it from here.
01:25:21 You can't see the crown
01:25:24 Yes, you need to get closer.
01:25:27 - At least we know where it is.
01:26:38 Let's move into the sun.
01:26:40 You want sun?
01:26:45 Ruben, had you ever been here?
01:26:48 - Yes, many years ago.
01:26:52 Oh no, not up here.
01:26:58 - But who did you go with?
01:27:04 Was that in the 1920s?
01:27:07 I don't know.
01:30:02 I want you to know
01:30:06 that I find myself in New York,
01:30:10 I've always longed...
01:30:12 to see this city.
01:30:15 I'm not an American,
01:30:18 But I'll learn a few words soon.
01:30:23 So I can hold my own
01:30:39 I wish I could bring my wife
01:30:45 So they could see how
01:30:50 This is so lovely, so lovely.
01:30:54 Look, Radio City.
01:30:56 At least I'm getting to see it.
01:31:06 I'm so happy to be here.
01:31:35 So beautiful.
01:31:40 About two years ago.
01:31:43 I decided to retire.
01:31:46 I didn't want to sing any more
01:31:49 Life can be very hard.
01:31:54 I was tired of singing and
01:34:06 I tell you, my staff is
01:34:11 It's been with me for 58 years.
01:34:15 And that's how long
01:34:24 Ibrahim Ferrer
01:34:51 This Revolution is eternal
01:35:24 Karl Marx
01:35:36 We believe in dreams