Der Jesus mit’nem Knarre

Nina Hagen’s stepfather is German lyricist Wolf Biermann and while I was preparing a kind of reminder for Ché Guevara’s untimely departure, I noticed that Wolf Biermann has made his own version of the famous tribute song Hasta Siempre, Commandante Che Guevara after Carlos Puebla’s song. He made an adaptation of it with an odd wry aside at the end to mock the star quality and cult for the former revolutionary.

Wolf Biermann – Commandante Che Guevara
Carlos Puebla – Hasta siempre comandante Che Guevara
Compay Segundo + Victor Jara + Inti Illimani – Hasta Siempre Comandante
Buena Vista Social Club – Hasta Siempre Comandante Che Guevara

If you can’t get enough of this Cuban classic, there’s lots more of it on Best of both worlds.

In my mind I was preparing a kind of statement dealing the issue whether we should be happy or sad that Ché did not finish his self appointed mission, but I didn’t find the time to write it all down. It’s, as always, a bit of both, really.
Meanwhile I was also preparing a post about ‘revolutionary’ music from Cuba. During the late sixties and early seventies many Latino and Hispanic musicians from the Barrio and all over the US were involved in so-called Chicano Rock. After the success of Santana’s band there was a market and a climate for a fusion of rock with latin, bugaloo, soul jazz and some funk with revolutionary social themes. I learned about this kind of music, first trough Santana off course but later on by the many compilation albums which were released over the last years, like the ones on the Souljazz label.
It was a small surprise to learn only recently with the Si, Para Usted compilation that this kind of musical blend was also occurring on Cuba at the time. It actually makes sense really. The content and social dimension of the music reflects the spirit of Cuba in that era but the Cuban version has less rock in it (except for the Irakere track).

Juan Pablo Torres – Son a Propulsion
Irakere – Bacalao Con Pan
Grupo Monumental – Si, Para Usted
Juan Pablo Torres – Rompe Cocorioco
Grupo Los Yoyi – El Fino
Grupo De Experimentacion Sonora del ICAIC – Sondeando