El Cantante

Jerry Masucci, Héctor Lavoe

About El Cantante

"El Cantante" is the 1978 signature song of Puerto Rican salsa singer Héctor Lavoe and first single of the album Comedia. The song was written by Rubén Blades and produced by Willie Colón. The 2006 movie about Lavoe's life, El Cantante, takes its title from the song.


Year:
1992
4:36
1,200 
#2

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Yo, soy el cantante 
Que hoy han venido a escuchar 
Lo mejor, del repertorio 
A ustedes voy a brindar 

Y canto a la vida 
De risas y penas 
De Momentos malos 
Y de cosas buenas 

Vinieron a divertirse 
Y pagaron en la puerta 
No hay tiempo para tristezas 
Vamos cantante comienza! 

Eh le leee! le lee! 

Me paran, siempre en la calle 
Mucha gente que comenta 
"Oye Hector! tu estas hecho, 
Siempre con hembras y en fiestas!" 

Y nadie pregunta 
Si sufro si lloro 
Si tengo una pena 
Que hiere muy hondo 

Yo soy el cantante 
y mi negocio es cantar 
a los que me siguen 
mi canción vine a brindar 

Yo, soy el cantante 
Muy popular donde quiera 
Pero cuando el show se acaba 
Soy otro humano cualquiera 

Y sigo mi vida 
Con risas y penas 
Con ratos amargos 
Y con cosas buenas 

Yo soy el cantante 
Y me negocio es cantar 
Y a los que me siguen 
Mi canción vine a brindar 

Hoy te dedico, mis mejores pregones!
Hoy te dedico, mis mejores pregones!
Hoy te dedico, mis mejores pregones!
Son mejor que los de ayer, comparenme criticones! 
Hoy te dedico, mis mejores pregones! 
Si no me quieren en vida, cuando muera no me lloren! 

Yo soy el cantante, vamo' a celebrar, 
no quiero tristezas lo mios es cantar, cantar! 
Hoy te dedico, mis mejores pregones! 
Yo te canto de la vida, olvida tus penas y tus dolores! 
Hoy te dedico, mis mejores pregones! 

Si ya tu ves, regrese y te peque esta. 

Oh le lo la laaa, a la laa laaa! Escucha 
mi pregón que diceeee! 
Lo le lo la le lo la le la laaa laaaa!

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Héctor Lavoe

Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (September 30, 1946 – June 29, 1993), better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Lavoe was born and raised in the Machuelito sector of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Early in his life, he attended a local music school and developed an interest inspired by Jesús Sánchez Erazo. He moved to New York City when he was 17 years old. On his first week living in the city, he worked as the vocalist of a sextet formed by Roberto García. During this period, he performed with several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and the Johnny Pacheco band. more »

1 fan

Written by: Ruben Blades

Lyrics © DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origins
"El Cantante" is originally a song composed by Panamanian singer-songwriter Rubén Blades. However, it was Héctor Lavoe, a Puerto Rican singer, who made the song famous worldwide.
Genre Classification
"El Cantante" is classified as salsa music, which is a fusion of various Caribbean and African musical influences.
Significant Lyrics
The title "El Cantante" translates to "The Singer" in English, and the lyrics to the song revolve around the tribulations and pains of being a performer.
Release Year
"El Cantante" was released in 1978 under the label Fania Records.
Lavoe's Signature Song
Although it wasn't written by him, "El Cantante" is considered to be Héctor Lavoe's signature song. It resonated deeply with him and his personal struggles, and it's this that allowed him to deliver such emotional performances of the song.
Album Success
The song "El Cantante" is part of the album titled “De Ti Depende,” which was a commercial success and is considered by many as a classic and a must-have in any salsa music collection.
Biographical Film
A film called "El Cantante" was released in 2006, starring Marc Anthony as Héctor Lavoe and Jennifer Lopez as his wife, Puchi. The film tells the story of Lavoe's life and career, featuring the song "El Cantante" prominently.
Rubén Blades' Role
Despite being the original composer, Blades did not perform the song much himself. Rather, he often expressed joy that Lavoe had made the song so famous, bringing attention to his writing in the process.
Tragic Connections
In some ways, “El Cantante” was prophetic, as it delves into the dark side of fame. Lavoe struggled with drug addiction and depression, ultimately dying tragically from AIDS-related complications.
Continuing Legacy
Today, "El Cantante" remains a beloved song within the Latin music community and is often covered by contemporary artists, ensuring its legacy continues.

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