Guatemala Feliz
Posted by Victor on September 14, 2003 at 23:49:46: Previous Next
I know this is off-topic, but I've never posted this on my website before, and today (15 Sep) is independence day for Guatemala, where I grew up.
Re: Guatemala Feliz
Posted by T a r i k h on September 15, 2003 at 05:24:42: Previous Next
In Reply to: Guatemala Feliz posted by Victor on September 14, 2003 at 23:49:46:
Happy independence day then ;-)
Garifuna Version
Posted by Victor on September 15, 2003 at 08:07:36: Previous Next
In Reply to: Guatemala Feliz posted by Victor on September 14, 2003 at 23:49:46:
: I know this is off-topic, but I've never posted this on my website before, and today (15 Sep) is independence day for Guatemala, where I grew up.
My brother sent me this version. I've never heard it sung in Garifuna before.
You grew up there?!
Posted by LucksKind on September 15, 2003 at 09:24:53: Previous Next
In Reply to: Garifuna Version posted by Victor on September 15, 2003 at 08:07:36:
Before you left, I am assuming you were old enough to have
memories of your Life there?
Re: You grew up there?!
Posted by Victor on September 15, 2003 at 10:39:55: Previous Next
In Reply to: You grew up there?! posted by LucksKind on September 15, 2003 at 09:24:53:
:
: Before you left, I am assuming you were old enough to have
: memories of your Life there?
Certainly. I lived there for 10 years ending when I was 16. The longest my hair was at that time was just below the earlobes. It was extremely rare to see any male with long hair there unless they were hippie tourists at Lake Atitlan, etc.
My dad was breaking new ground by wearing a beard. That was deemed to be dangerous because people would think he was a guerilla. I have no idea where the theory is for that notion, but it was there.
feliz dìa
Posted by Alan on September 15, 2003 at 10:44:51: Previous Next
In Reply to: Guatemala Feliz posted by Victor on September 14, 2003 at 23:49:46:
Yeah Guatemala is beautiful!
By the way i'm mexican and tomorrow is our independence day , also i live in Chiapas southeast of Mexico next to Guatemala, i've visited Guatemala many times it's like 5 hours of road from the capital of Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutierrez and it's such a beautiful country i love Antigua.
Hablas español?? feliz dìa de independencia a todos los Guatemaltecos!!!!!!!!
Re: feliz dìa
Posted by Victor on September 15, 2003 at 18:46:53: Previous Next
In Reply to: feliz dìa posted by Alan on September 15, 2003 at 10:44:51:
: Hablas español?? feliz dìa de independencia a todos los Guatemaltecos!!!!!!!!
Si, pero no tengo mucho opportunidad de practicarlo.
My madre piense que Chiapas y Guatemala son casi un paiz.
Re: Guatemala Feliz
Posted by BRGallagher on September 15, 2003 at 12:16:18: Previous Next
In Reply to: Guatemala Feliz posted by Victor on September 14, 2003 at 23:49:46:
Listened to both (instrumental and vocal) versions--truly inspirational! Thanks for sharing.
Re: Guatemala Feliz
Posted by Victor on September 15, 2003 at 20:08:58: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Guatemala Feliz posted by BRGallagher on September 15, 2003 at 12:16:18:
: Listened to both (instrumental and vocal) versions--truly inspirational! Thanks for sharing.
Just so you know that vocal version is specific to a minority creole group that have their own language. You may have noticed that the language was unusual.
Here are additional versions:
Spanish version with all verses
The pattern goes, verse, verse, chorus, verse, verse, chorus, etc. until all 8 verses are complete. The last two lines of the second of each pair of verses is repeated as the first two lines of the next chorus.
Additionally, Guatemala has an unofficial national anthem that is loved by the people far more than the official one. It is called "Luna de Xelaju". I have two versions:
Marimba
Guatemalan marimbas are unique. Their uniqueness can be heard in this song. Between the keys are spacers. These spacers rattle when the marimba is played. As far as I know, only Guatemalan marimbas are like this.
If you ever travel to Guatemala and fly in, you may be greeted by a marimba band playing a selection like this. The one at the airport usually is in two pieces and played by 8 people I think.
Popular music
I don't particularly care for this version as much, but I provide it as an example of the country's favorite song as pop music.