La Vida es un Carnaval

When I went to Chile the first time to learn Spanish they told us to prepare beforehand by listening to music in Spanish. Now at that time I had of course heard the names of different types: salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton, mariachi, cumbia etc. But I could not tell you the difference in them (with the exception of reggaeton and mariachi), and I still probably can't, ha! I also didn't really know any artists. I knew that Hillsong United had some of their praise and worship songs in Spanish and I downloaded a few of those. Then I messaged my friend Gabe from college who is actually Brazilian but he also speaks Spanish and is latino. He gave me a list of different artists to listen to and one of them was Celia Cruz. I'm pretty sure she is a huge star (so don't hold this against me) but the first times I listened to her no me gustó (I didn't like her). However, after hearing this song by her over and over again on my ipod and in Zumba and having it also pop up in various places I go, I've become somewhat addicted to it.

The song is called La Vida es un Carnaval- Life is a Carnival. It has a positive message for us living in this troubled world. And it seems to be a very troubled world these days with what's going on in the Middle East, the politics of our own nation, poverty, hunger, abortion, the protests in Chile over Hidroaysen and education... the list could go on and on. Also on a personal level, tragedies (death) seem to keep striking and have been for the past year or so. The most recent is that a parishioner that I saw very often passed away and he will be greatly missed. So I hope that this song and the lyrics will help all of us to remember that even when life deals you a tough hand, even though there are injustices, there are also many things to celebrate and to keep a good attitude (and to keep on singing) can help you through. For the English speakers I will provide lyrics underneath the video but remember I'm not an expert in Spanish- yet!

Todo aquel que piense                                           Everyone who thinks

que la vida es desigual,                                          that life is unequal,

tiene que saver que no es asi,                               has to know that it's not like that,

que la vida es una hermosura,                               that life is beautiful,

hay que vivirla.                                                          you have to live it.

Todo aquel que piense                                           Everyone who thinks

que esta solo                                                           that they're alone

y que esta mal,                                                         and that is bad,

tiene que saber que no es asi,                               has to know that it's not like that,

que en la vida no hay nadie solo,                           that in life no one is alone,

siempre hay alguien.                                                there's always someone.

Ay, no ha que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval,   Oh, don't cry, life is a carnival,

es mas bello vivir cantando.                                  it's more beautiful to live singing.

Oh, oh, oh, ay, no hay que llorar,                           Oh, don't cry,

que la vida es un carnaval                                     life is a carnival

y las penas se van cantando.                                and the pain will go singing

Todo aquel que piense que                             Everyone who thinks

la vida siempre es cruel,                                  life is always cruel,

tiene que saber que no es as                         has to know that it's not like that,

que tan solo hay momentos malos,               it's just that there are bad moments,

y todo pasa.                                                      and everything passes.

Todo aquel que piense                                    Everyone who thinks

que esto nunca va a cambiar,                          that this is never going to change,

tiene que saber que no es asi,                         has to know that it's not like that,

que al mal tiempo buena cara,                         give a brave face to the bad time,

y todo pasa.                                                        and everything passes.

Para aquellos que se quejan tanto.                  For those who complain so much.

Para aquellos que solo critican.                        For those who only criticize.

Para aquellos que usan las armas.                   For those who use weapons.

Para aquellos que nos cantaminan.                  For those who contaminate us.

Para aquellos que hacen la guerra.                  For those who make war.

Para aquellos que viven pecando.                    For those who live sinning.

Para aquellos que nos maltratan.                      For those who mistreat us.

Para aquellos que nos contagian.                     For those who make us sick.

Fuente/Source: musica.com