"Attend to me, I want to tell you something that you may not expect, perhaps painful." These are the first verses of "Us", a famous Cuban bolero by the composer from Pinar del Río Pedro Junco.
It is probably the love story most told of Cuban music. You can find references and legends woven about the song on the internet, but be careful, many are far from reality, they idealize the love of a couple and the life of the artist.
My first reference on "Us", came through the book Golden Boleros that I enjoy reading from time to time, while I sing songs with my grandmother.
"He died very young. She had tuberculosis, that's why he left her"she told me one day. I swallowed dryly and understood Junco's reasons for saying "goodbye."
"I need to talk to you"
"Nosotros" was performed for the first time in February 1943, at the Pinar del Río CMAB Radio Station, by the singer Tony Chiroldes.
There are different versions about who the song was addressed to. One of the stories indicates that it was for Maria Victoria Mora Morales, a society lady, born in San Juan and Martínez, who was Junco's girlfriend.
They met at the Secondary School in Pinar del Río. The young woman's family opposed the romance because the musician had a reputation as a womanizer, but they could not prevent the passion between them.
However, this was not his only love. Junco had other relationships during his university years, some even with women older than him, like the poetess Pink America Cohalla, and even with married ladies, so it is unknown for sure who the lyrics were written for. "Us".
"For your sake, I say goodbye"
Love for another often involves the denial of our desires. The renunciation of pleasure for the stability of a family, the success of a professional project, or as in this case, for the physical and mental health of the loved one.
Junco suffered this firsthand. In 1939 it was diagnosed with tuberculosis and his physical condition weakened. Around 1943 he was admitted to the Damas de la Covadonga Clinic, in Havana, with respiratory problems.
Being very weak, the musician asked his friend Tony Chiroldes that would sing "Us" on the radio. This way his beloved would know that he was ending the engagement, that he still loved her but was letting her go. In this gesture he also freed himself to leave in peace.
Who was Pedro Junco Jr.?
Pedro Buenaventura Jesús del Junco-Redondas He was born in Pinar del Río, on February 22, 1920. He studied piano at a branch of the Orbón Conservatory and stood out at a very young age for his talent for musical composition.
He had a baritone voice, but more than singing his entertainment was composing music. He is the author of at least 30 boleros among which "I would like", "I am sad", "I am as I am", "The sea told me so" stands out. The song that made him most famous was "Us".
Peter Junco Jr. He died in Havana, on April 25, 1943. That night his bolero "Soy como soy" was premiered on the radio and it is said that the musician was able to listen to it from his hospital bed. His death certificate stated death due to anoxemia, bronchopneumonia. They buried him in his hometown.
"Us" It has been performed by hundreds of artists. Among its best-known versions is the one performed by the Aragón Orchestra in the rhythm of cha cha chá, as well as that of Julio Iglesias, Pedro Vargas, Omara Portuondo, Los Panchos, Plácido Domingo and Luis Miguel.
Lyrics of the bolero "Nosotros"
Listen to me, I want to tell you something that you may not expect, perhaps painful.
Listen to me, even if my soul hurts, I need to talk to you, and so I will.
We, who were so sincere, that since we saw each other loving each other we have been.
We, who from love made a wonderful sun, such a divine romance.
We, who love each other so much, must separate, don't ask me more.
It's not a lack of affection. I love you with the soul.
I swear to you that I adore you and in the name of this love and for your good...
I say goodbye to you.
What do you think?
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