The Buena Vista Social Club – a beautiful discovery
You are always with me
“When your words and sounds stir my soul I’ll gladly surrender to you each and every time; whenever that is and wherever it is that you have come from. What a beautiful never ending discovery! You’ve reached out, rescued me, and shown me love and support. I am never alone when you’re with me and you are always with me…music.”
Good music has the power to move, to befriend and to break international barriers. It will always reveal itself and will always stand the test of time. Its truth can never be suppressed even if previously hidden away for years like a precious jewel. In the end its beauty has to rise to the surface, it has to shine and to come alive.
Shazam! – One of my favourite apps, where you can grab any song you hear in an instant, right out of the sky! (Or the nearest speaker)
This was the case with ‘Chan Chan’ by the Buena Vista Social Club – I grabbed it because it grabbed me first and it wouldn’t let me go. A few years ago (I don’t know exactly when or where) I heard the song and I linked it to my ‘Spotify’ playlist straight away. It was new to me. All I thought at the time was that it was different, really good and I liked it. I didn’t think to question whom the band members were, where they were from or indeed how many made up the band? When the song would come up every so often on my playlist, it would stay with me for days – there was something special and unique about the sound; a wave of calm sincerity masterfully mixed with a sense of delicate yet a strong self-assurance. The music would gently pour out from the speakers and fill my spirit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KODWcrncnUU&list=RDKODWcrncnUU&index=1
Although Spanish in lyrics, ‘Chan Chan’ doesn’t confuse my English thinking brain; I know a few Spanish words yes, but it is certainly not a prerequisite to know fluent Spanish to be able to fully immerse oneself and enjoy the sheer beauty and elegance of this delightful sound. Music, good music is universal; I believe it’s about the vibration of a sound that can truly reach out and connect.
Some time passed and I heard a direct connection to the (Orquesta) Buena Vista Social Club again, this time on local radio, BBC radio London. I heard a live version of the track, Dos Gardenias; sublime I thought. I could hear the presenter, Robert Elms was enchanted; his joy was irrepressible. If there ever was a time to ‘hear’ someone smiling from ear to ear, this was it.
But who were this Buena Vista Social Club? I learned that they were from Cuba but that was about as far as I got with my curiosity at the time; it stopped at that.
Cue the trumpets, the drums, the piano and much more. In fact cue the whole energetic sound of Cuban musical joy as it makes world history. My curiosity was stirred yet again, this time in April of this year, 2018 as BBC 4 presented the Oscar-nominated documentary, Buena Vista Social Club, by filmmaker Wim Wenders. The documentary tells the story of how music producer Ry Cooder visited Cuba and fell in love with the music in the 1970’s. It was something that had stayed with him for decades and it was only then he was drawn back to Cuba in search of the legendary artists and musicians where he hoped to find and bring together from that era. With much determination, he was indeed successful with his aim. A musical collective of broad musical talents and ages came together and gelled; The Buena Vista Social Club was formed.
Time is a funny thing; it feels like it stands still, drags, goes too quick or just appears to play games like ‘hide (for a very long time) and seek’
For me, The Buena Vista Social Club wanted to play that game. Their story represents many layers of waiting patiently without realising and finally being recognised and appreciated the world over. The Buena Vista Social Club eponymous first album was released in 1997 and currently lies this year, 2018 in the top ten world music chart.
It took twenty years for the band members to all come together and another twenty years for me to discover their delightful music and rich story. Curiosity can lead to finding many beautiful things in life such as warmth, class, charm and joy. The Buena Vista Social Club represents all of those things. To me, it has been a revelation that is uplifting and sheer magic.