El Negro Zumbon - This Week's Song Selection

El Negro Zumbon has been performed by a number of artists over the years including Perez Prado, Xavier Cugat, Abbe Lane, Lolita Garrido, Amalia Rodrigues, and the first being the late film actress, Silvana Magnano. It's the kind of tune you've heard from time to time - it's very familiar and tends to linger in your head long after. And there's an interesting story behind this song:

El Negro Zumbon was actually born from the 1951 Italian film, Anna. And if you research the song, you'll find it is generally titled El Negro Zumbon (Anna). In the movie, Silvana Magnano plays a nun working as a nurse in a hospital. When two former paramours have a shoot-out in the hospital, Magnano's character, Anna, reminisces about her former life as a nightclub performer. As she cares for one of the former lovers, she has second thoughts about her calling but decides to continue her spiritual life.

Here's a YouTube clip from the movie, Anna - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-HNZLg6ntI

Now back to the song: First, a translation of the lyrics -

Here comes the black man
Happily dancing ‘the baion’
He plays the drum
And calls to the woman

Here comes the black man
Happily dancing ‘the baion’
He plays the drum
And calls to the woman

I feel like dancing this new beat
When they see me pass by, they ask:
“Girl, where are you going?”
I’m going to dance… ‘the baion’

Admittedly, the lyrics are pretty simplistic and so often lyrics are just that. But they inspire a mood - particularly when you hear the music.

The version we've posted this week is one of the newest renditions of El Negro Zumbon - performed by Portland-based group Pink Martini. They have dubbed themselves - musical archaeologists - and I would have to agree. Their three albums - Sympathique, Hang on Little Tomato, and Hey, Eugene - gives us a musicological history lesson as well as a veritable potpourri of tunes that have or may become a part of your life. And there are some tantalizing bits of trivia behind many of the songs Pink Martini chose for their albums. As time goes by, we'll revisit the songs - and the stories.

Next week - Ottmar Liebert!

Translation courtesy of alwaysontherun.net