Chan Chan is a song that has great meaning for Cuban music history. It is written in 1987, and was one of Buena Vista Social Clubs last songs. The lyrics describe a couple, Chan Chan and Juanica, who go to the beach to build their house out of sand, and as they collect it, Juanica shakes the sifter and Chan Chan is aroused. The lyrics at the first glance don’t say much, however they are extremely close to the leader of Buena Vista Social Club, Compay Segundo. To explain in more depth, from an interview with Segundo the two characters “are legends of Cuban folklore; the lyrics capture the life and culture of the ‘guajiro,’ or peasant of rural Cuba.” As well the song, in Cuban son style, has a softer percussion melody that often heard. As well it has only 4 notes, even if it seems like more, the entire song is played with four tones mixed together and layered to create the international hit. “I didn’t compose Chan Chan, I dreamed it. I dream the music. I sometimes wake up with a melody on the head, I hear the instruments, all very clear. I look over the balcony and I see nobody, but I hear it as if it was played on the street. I don’t know what it was. One day I woke up listening to those four sensible notes, I put them a lyric inspired on a children tale from my childhood, Juanita y Chan Chan, and you see, now it’s sung everywhere.” – Compay Segundo
