Chan Chan (song)

For the Hindi song, see Water (soundtrack).

UK Single Cover for "Chan Chan" from Buena Vista Social Club.

"Chan Chan" is a son composition by Cuban bandleader Compay Segundo, revolving around two central characters, 'Juanita' and 'Chan Chan'.^[1] The song was one of Compay's last compositions and was written in 1987.^[2] "Chan Chan" had already been recorded by the composer himself various times, but worldwide success came with a version with Compay and other Cuban artists Eliades Ochoa and Ibrahim Ferrer as the first song on the album Buena Vista Social Club.

Comments

Compay Segundo textual cite:

I didn't compose Chan Chan, I dreamed it. I dream the music. I sometimes wake up with a melody on the head, I hear the instruments, all very clear. I look over the balcony and I see nobody, but I hear it as if it was played on the street. I don't know what it was. One day I woke up listening to those four sensible notes, I put them a lyric inspired on a children tale from my childhood, Juanita y Chan Chan, and you see, now it's sung everywhere.

The most complete explanation^[3] says: 'The song relates the story of a man and a woman (Chan Chan and Juanica) who are building a house, and go to the beach to get some sand. Chan Chan collects the sand and puts it on the 'jibe'. Juanica shakes it, and to do so she shakes herself, making Chan Chan aroused. [...] The origin of this tale is a farmer song learnt by Compay Segundo when he was twelve years old.'

There is a repeated motif throughout the song:

De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí

From Alto Cedro I go towards Marcané I get to Cueto, head for Mayarí

Alto Cedro, Marcané, Cueto and Mayarí, are four towns near each other in Holguín Province, on the east side of Cuba.

References

• ^ PBS notes on Chan Chan
• ^ PBS Interview with Compay Segundo
• ^ La Jiribilla: Con Chan Chan en el corazón
• ^ El Camaleón: Chan Chan
• ^ Cuba Music: Chan Chan

Links

Cuba portal

• Guitar strings
• Language Resource Center: Buena Vista Social Club
• A 30' sound clip is available at Cuba Music