16 Years After the Death of Celia Cruz

July 16, 2019

Celia Cruz passed away at the age of 78, on July 16, 2003. Úrsula Hilaria Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso is the most important singer that the island of Cuba has produced throughout its entire history.

Her charisma, talent and personality led her to become the 'Queen of Salsa'. Similarly, her unique style, unparalleled image and gift for enchanting the masses with her music, during 55 years of career, made her one of the main female artists in the history of Latin American music who spread throughout the world that sugar! that delighted everyone who knew her or heard her songs, sung with her prodigious and extraordinary voice.

Today, 16 years after her death, we remember some of the most famous phrases from her songs that made her popular throughout the entire world.

'La negra tiene tumbao' - "If you want to get there straight ahead it's better to walk facing forward, so there are no stumbles and you come here conquering everything".

'Te busco' - "I search for you lost between dreams, the noise of people wraps me in a veil; I search for you flying in the sky, the wind has carried you like an old handkerchief".

'La vida es un carnaval' - "Everyone who thinks that life is unequal has to know that it's not like that, that life is a beautiful thing, you have to live it. Everyone who thinks that they are alone and that things are bad has to know that it's not like that, that in life no one is alone, there is always someone…"

'Ríe, llora' - "Laugh, cry because everyone gets their turn; laugh, cry live your life and enjoy it all".

'Quimbara' - "My life is just this: good rumba and guaguancó".

Among her ten most famous songs are:
- La negra tiene Tumbao: It is the first single from the album that bears the same name and that was published by Sony Music on November 6, 2001. The song written by Sergio George and Fernando Osorio, was nominated for Song of the Year, Recording of the Year and Best Music Video, in 2002.
- Ríe y llora: It was part of the last studio album titled 'Regalo del alma' recorded by Celia Cruz and which was published on July 29, 2003.
- La vida es un Carnaval: This song was written by her herself along with Sergio George and Víctor Daniel, and released as the first single from Cruz's studio album Mi Vida Es Cantar (1998).
- Quimbara: It is a song performed by Cuban Celia Cruz and Dominican singer Johnny Pacheco. The single was written by Júnior Cepeda and released as the first single from Cruz and Pacheco's joint studio album Celia & Johnny (1974).
- Burundanga: This song written by the Queen of Salsa was part of the album Irresistible (1995). With this song she made a duet with the renowned Spanish singer Lola Flores.
- Vasos vacíos: It is the first and most awarded compilation album by the Argentine group Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, released in 1993. And it was immortalized in the voice of Celia Cruz.
- Te busco: A composition by Víctor that tells the love story of a fundamentalist follower of the Castrista regime and a dissident of the system, recorded by Celia Cruz. It was part of the album Azúcar Negra (1993).
- Guantanamera: It is a well-known Cuban popular song. The best-known lyrics, adapted by Julián Orbón, are based on the first stanzas of Versos sencillos, by Cuban poet José Martí. The musical composition is officially attributed to José Fernández Díaz, better known as Joseíto. It was recorded by Celia Cruz in 1967.
- Oye cómo va: It is a mambo composed by Tito Puente in 1963 and popularized by Carlos Santana in 1970. And it was included by Celia Cruz in her musical repertoire.
- Que le den candela: This single belongs to the album Irrepetible (1994).