Virginia Guantanamera: "When I Come Back, I Come Back, Compay"

May 28, 2023

Thus, as "a humble country girl who sings to life" defines herself the Cuban composer and singer Virginia Orihuela Bigñotte, known as Virginia Guantanamera, in her most recent album A mi gusto y a mi aire, from Egrem, which she recently presented at the Delirio Habanero, at the National Theater of Cuba.

About this production, her friend, also singer Issac Delgado, wrote: "Virginia has a solid voice and a defined timbre, she gives the impression of knowing her from somewhere, she has a common voice that reaches very easily and preserves that essence of eastern Cuba. She stands out very well when she performs, since she has her particular stamp."

With this opinion from the popular singer also agrees the musicologist and producer Heydi González. Virginia is "an exceptional singer, owner of a sweet voice, but at the same time strong and deep, that with this recording reaffirms the role of women in Cuban music and in popular dance music."

She also said that she is a dignified woman and one of the main figures of the genre in Cuba, at the level of any of the male orchestras that perform this type of music in the country.

Author of the ten songs that make up the cd, the artist demonstrates her loyalty to her homeland, with the song titled A Guantánamo, and to her Island of Cuba, which she will never leave.

According to her own words: "If I didn't do it before, I'll do it even less now. We Cubans have to be all united, and it's the time to prove it," she said emotionally and firmly to this writer.

Virginia, who has lived in the Canary Islands for several years, knocked on the doors of that great musician and producer Juan Manuel Ceruto again, so that he would take charge of the production, direction and arrangements of A mi gusto y a mi aire. And of course, she was right again.

Ceruto is today one of the best arrangers in the country, and to make the album he gathered magnificent musicians.

For Virginia, the language in the lyrics of a song is what makes it into a great song. Hence the interest she puts in all the songs she writes, whatever the genre.

Soon Virginia will return to Cuba, and she would like to begin the presentation of this album in her home, Guantánamo, and help on-site many musicians from this eastern region.

"I want to present it in an open-air plaza, so that all the people dance it together with me and finish here in Havana. When I come back, I come back, compay."