Chan Chan

This video shows Rose busking with Cuban musicians playing "Chan Chan"on the Malecon, La Habana, Cuba, March 27th, 2007.

Sorry about the poor sound quality. It was admittedly a very windy day but unfortunately my camera has amplified the wind noise to almost hurricane levels and I don't know how to fix it! The sound quality gets slightly better after about 30 seconds.

Here are some notes on the location and the song:

The location is the Malecon, the main avenue running along the seawall on Havana's north shore, with views up to Castillo del Morro (also known as "El Morro" and "Morro Castle"), the fortress built to guard the bay of Havana.

On a windy day the waves crash onto the seawall, kicking up a spectacular display of sea spray. The rocky shore does not provide the best conditions for bathing and although some people swim, most Cubans visit the Malecon mainly to sit on the wall, socialise with friends, fish, watch the sea and generally relax.

The song, "Chan Chan", is our favourite Cuban song. And I think it must be Cuba's favourite too because, on our recent trip in March 2007, and a similar one in 2005, we heard it played everywhere throughout Cuba, far more even than "Guantanamera".

The song is about a man named Chan Chan and his girlfriend Juanica. It was written (or should that be "dreamt up" -- see below) by the late Compay Segundo in 1987. The most famous recorded version is the first track on the Buena Vista Social Club album. It's one of those songs you can instantly recognise from the opening guitar chords.

Segundo has said he did not compose the music but simply woke up one morning with the tune in his head!

Pope John Paul II liked the song too. Segundo performed it for him on a visit to the Vatican.

By coincidence we visited/travelled through three of the four towns mentioned in the first verse (i.e. Alto Cedro, Marcane and Cueto, but not Mayari). These are small towns in Holguin province.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Chan Chan
• Malecon
• Havana
• Cuba
• Buena Vista Social Club
• BVSC

[Qbanqty]

Hi, great video. The name of Chan Chan's girlfriend is Juanita.