This week, I’ve had Ibrahim Ferrer’s version of “Silencio” #OnRepeat. This version also features Omara Portuondo, another one of my favorite vocalists who is a part of the group, Buena Vista Social Club.
In case I haven’t written about Ibrahim Ferrer before, Ferrer is singer from Cuba who was a part of several different groups, including Afro-Cuban All Stars and, most notably, The Buena Vista Social Club. The group became popular in the 1990s when a documentary film about a club in Cuba under the same name and an album featuring some of Cuba’s older musicians were released. Although Ferrer, along with other members have passed on, their incredible musical contributions live on through recordings such as “Silencio.” Another great song by Ibrahim Ferrer to check out is “Dos Gardenias,” if you haven’t already done so.
“Silencio” is a sad song about someone who doesn’t want the flowers in their garden to know their sorrows because their sorrows might cause their flowers to die. The meaning of the lyrics don’t have the same meaning in English because some words get lost in translation, so please take the above translation with a grain of salt. The song itself is beautifully performed by Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo; their voices perfectly reflect the sorrow and the beauty of the flowers that you hear in the lyrics. Ibrahim’s voice is so complex in its simplicity; it is very un-assuming.
Take a listen below:
Are there any songs where you think singers perfectly portray what is written in the lyrics? Leave a comment below!