With Francisco Céspedes everything is a mystery, although he offers some clues to be deciphered, says once again “Start over,” as in one of his songs, because for him that is what means singing in Cuba.
Tomorrow, when the clock strikes nine in the evening, at the Karl Marx Theater he will be presenting his concert Donde está la vida, to inaugurate the VI Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival. He will sing before a large audience after a twenty-four year absence from the stage of the land of his birth fifty-eight years ago.
Authentic, cheerful, nostalgic and excited at the same time he spoke with OnCuba about a life that could be summed up in his songs and, of course, this longed presentation that have us expecting.
Panchohas already, aspeople who love him call him, left alittle behindthosecrazyyears ofVida loca and Remolino,his existence ismore sedate. He has changedhis lifestylebecausehealthissues but not the joyand sympathythat characterizes him.
Panchois like a whirlpool; that´s why he likes to renew himself and made “his” to the enjoyment of many, that unforgettablesongof his friendAmauryGutiérrez.He sayshe believesafterthe concert he will feelmore fulfilledpersonally and professionally.You can tellthe joyandspecialshinein his eyes when he is talking aboutCuba. Luckily that loveis reciprocal, because inthis landhis songs haveaccompanied severalgenerationsof Cubansover the years.
“Ifhealthallows me I willsharewith my audienceovertwenty songsduring the concert,” he said.
You have up totenphonogramsrecorded. What are thesongs that will representyourwork?
“I will sing my songs, by Amaury Gutierrez, by Manzanero and of course by Bola, which is a religious issue for me. For sure I will sing Drume negrita, Remolino, Señora, Morena, Alma mía, among many others. I think I will sing twenty songs. ”
Who has not ever hummed Vida Loca? They say it’s one of the most radiated Spanish songs of all times, as well as the disk that contains it; is named the best selling Cuban album, because as Cespedes says “Cuban music is that made by Cubans even if done on the other side of the world, our essence betrays and identifies us”.
Pancho, if you had to save a song which would it be?
“Do not ask me that because it’s not easy for any musician to answer it, but I tell you Donde está la vida is a very special song for me.”
And a disc?
“It’s difficult because each marked a stage in my career and in my life. There are times when I’ve compiled emotions, sadness. But undoubtedly Vida Loca has been a very important album. In Cuba I understand it has circulated widely although I never had interest in explicit movement in the recording houses around here. ”
But were you aware of the impact your music had on Cuba?
“Yes, because I’ve never stopped coming. It all started one afternoon when good friend Juan Formell told me once that they had him crazy asking about me who knew we were very close. ‘Come so you explain this, “he told me then. After they have been many and very cute shows of my people who have followed me to this day. ”
You said you have never stayed nor have gone nowhere and…
“It is true; stay and leave are just buzzwords that were used at the time I decided to show my music elsewhere. Whenever I have the opportunity I come back to reconnect with my people, my friends, my memories, my loves and this land I love, because as I have said, Cuba, you will always be eternal fashion for this aching heart. So I’ve never left. ”
What feelings do you experience just a few hours away from your concert for the Cuban people?
“It’s really magical when you want to sing and people want to listen to you, and my audience has proved it, because it followed me. In one of his numerous trips to the island, I sang with Pablo Milanes in one of his shows, but I never did it officially and lovingly as this time to the general public. It is true that there were some difficulties before my presentations in my country, but now, in the hands of this remarkable man and artist who is Leo Brouwer, I am one of the luckiest men on the planet. I almost have no words to describe the emotion I feel and great joy to introduce in Cuba. I dedicate this concert as myself have spent many of my records all my Cuban brothers who walk through the world carrying the nostalgia and making light of life beyond hope. I have a mixture of euphoria with joy that I have very motivated and happy to give my audience what they most enjoy doing in life, my show with my music. ”
And when you are not singing nor composing what other passions do you have?
“I love fishing, besides the music that is my passion. I spend much of my time at sea, near Yemaya and the infinite blue sky around me in Cancun, where I live. ”
What do you prefer: composing or singing?
“Both. Singing is a passion that energy scenario is unmatched, with the public is a shared pleasure. In the intimacy is where I write, is a private pleasure, to myself. I always sleep very close to my guitar, paper and pen. I’m always writing, no rest. Some songs are very bad and go straight to the trash and other pleased me and I am glad that my audience likes them. I also like to sing songs of the greats like Bola de Nieve, whom I love dearly, and I admire and have him ‘encarnaó’ (his spirit haunst him)” he laughed.
So we’ll have you more frequently with your music here?
“I hope so and you will have me till you get bored of me because I’ve been waiting for this twenty-four years and I am a happy man. This presentation I want to thank each of those who have applauded me and have taken a song out of me and caused by the kiss that life gives. ”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp75cxTYMSY?rel=0
