Issac Delgado, Manolín, Paulito FG
photo by Ulrich Wode

This project was called "Somos lo que hay", after one of the most popular songs of this age, written by Manolín, and Formell also wrote a song especially for this show. The repertoire included the hit songs of these bands (the more "pegados" themes, approximately 2 per band), and, as a good "espectáculo", a latin jazz opening.

It¹s been so long since that, so I can¹t remember exactly, but here are some: "Y qué tú quieres que te den" and "Somos latinos" by Adalberto Alvarez; "Deja que Roberto te toque", "Con la punta del pie" and "No me mires a los ojos" by Issac Delgado; "Problemas con la suegra" and "Charanguéate" by Charanga Habanera; "No te lo creas" and "De la Habana" by Paulo FG; "Arriba de la bola" and "Somos lo que hay" by Manolín; "Santa palabra" (and another one that I can¹t remember) by NG la banda; "Esto te pone la cabeza mala", "La fruta" and "Llévala a tu vacilón" by Van Van.

Actually, the first concert took place in Varadero on February 12, but it was more like the first dress rehearsal. 3 months later came the great event in Havana, without the government¹s support -- the Cuban press didn¹t pay attention to it. But the international press did it.

That¹s it. That was Team Cuba for us: a couple of unforgettable concerts, for those over 70 000 people who were present.

And then came the European tour. From May 21 Europe enjoyed for 2 weeks "lo que baila La Habana" (what Havana dances), in such cities as Zaragoza, Barcelona, Gijón, Madrid, París and Hamburg.

On May 22 they played in "Plaza Mayor de Madrid", after the performance of the opening act of Miguel Colorado and his band Orquesta Deliciosa (of Spain). 5 days later they came back to Madrid, this time to "Palacio de los Deportes", for over than 5,000 people, playing for almost 3 hours.

In Paris they played on May 29 and 30, in "La Mutualité" theater, and on the 31st they finished their tour in "Hamburger Stadtgarten" in Germany, in the open air.

It was a succes not only in Cuba, but in Europe as well. Thousands of European fans (as well as curious newcomers) traveled hundreds kilometers to see and enjoy this event. And it was a show to enjoy at any case! Never before in Timba's history were so many players and singers so friendly on one stage together. And maybe it was the last time. There were "los que la ponen dura". Singing in duos, trios, as soloist and all together, more than 10 singers!

They also had a not-expected special guest when Cuban singer Lucrecia, who lives in Spain, joined them on stage to sing, dance and improvise to the rhythm of "los que batean 400".

There was in this show an incredibly Cuban atmosphere, and they managed to forget the old troubles and everyone was brimming over with enthusiasm...and they also showed the talent that Cuban musicians have. Juan Formell, as always, did his best writing a lyric which says exactly the way we Cubans are.

The guías of every singer in this song were simply amazing, everyone in his own style and his own way, but with a same goal: to celebrate our Timba and our identity. There were such things: "prepárense bailadores, prepárese el mundo entero, que llegó el Team Cuba para darle una lección de sabor, ¹ta bueno ya de embusteros" (get ready dancers, get ready the whole world, here is Team Cuba to show you what "sabor" means, you already have liars enough); and such as: "somos Cubanos y nos sobra sentimiento, sabrosura y melao" (we are Cubans, we have "sentimiento", : sabrosura" and "melao" more than enough); or such as:"como suena esta Timba, ay, alabao" (Oh, God, this Timba sounds great).

Here are the lyrics to Team Cuba¹s theme song:

Somos negros de pelo lacio We are black people with staright hair
y mulatos de pelo rizao, and mulattos with curly hair
rubios con los ojos claros blue-eyed blonds
que no son blanco, eso son jabao. not whites, but jabao.

Somos lo que hay, We are what there is,
lo que baila La Habana, what Havana dances
la Timba Cubana, Cuban Timba
la pachanga y la sofocación. "pachanga" and "sofocación" [taking your breath away]

Y como poco a poco And so, little by little
se empezó a mezclar we started mixing
el español con el africano Spaniards and Africans
nació el criollo, nació el Cubano "criollo" was born, the essence of Cuba was born,
y esta Timba que es para gozar. and Timba, which is ment to enjoy.

Somos lo que hay, We are what there is,
lo que baila La Habana, what Havana dances.
la Timba Cubana, Cuban Timba,
la pachanga y la sofocación. "pachanga" and "sofocación".

Y como no se sabe And nobody knows
cuándo fue que Dios when God
la clave nos regaló, gave us the "clave"
la trampa y la magia del 3 mas 2 the trick and the magic of 3 + 2
que nos hizo tan especiales. which made us so special.

Somos lo que hay, We are what there is
lo que baila La Habana, what Havana dances,
la Timba Cubana, Cuban Timba,
la pachanga y la sofocación. "pachanga" and "sofocación".

Llegó mi team con swing, qué swing mi team. My team with swing arrived, what swing my team!

Coro 1:

Team, que Team, Team, what a team,
somos lo mejor de la Timba, we are the best of Timba,
el Team Cuba. Team Cuba.
Somos la gente que la pone dura, We are those who "put it strong"
esto es tremendo team que team, this is a really great team,
qué swing! with swing!

Coro 2:

Somos negro, mulato y jabao. We are blacks, mulato and jabao.

Coro 3:

Aquí están, Here are,
los que batean 400. those who bat 400.

At end came such coros as this one by Tosco (very popular at that time): "yo no quiero lío, yo no estoy en ná...yo soy el juez" (I don¹t want to argue, I¹m a good guy...I¹m the judge). And last, Manolín¹s call to peace: "A mí me gustan todas, a mí me gusta Van Van, Paulito y la Charanga, Adalberto, Issac Delgado, y NG la banda que es la que manda" (I like every band, I like Van Van, Paulito and Charanga, Adalberto, Issac Delgado, and NG la banda which leads).

There was not a single record company which payed attention to this project, so unfortunately Team Cuba couldn¹t go so far, and continues being what it was: a hope. Now it's a sweet memory to those who were present and enjoyed it, and for everyone else, it¹s only an uncertain hope, and a dream that we would love to see come true, but this time better organized....with an available CD as well.

Special THANKS to: Kevin Moore, Ulrich Wode, Julio Montalvo, Alexis y Angel Arce, Joaquín Betancourt, Iván "Melón" González and Alain Pérez.