Music Around the World: Aruba

Our World Tour stops today on the island of Aruba, located in the Southern Caribbean famous for its beaches, architecture, and artistic social scene. Previously whenever I heard Aruba, I just thought about Friends because it's where Rachel and Barry were supposed to have gone on their honeymoon, so I was very glad to have the chance to dive a little deeper and learn a little more about this beautiful place. And now for a Fact Dump:

-Capital City: Oranjestad

-Official Languages: Dutch, Papiamento

-Government: Parliamentary representative democracy within a constitutional monarchy, currently under the leadership of King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt, and Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes

-Seized from Spain by The Netherlands in 1636, reached an official agreement with The Netherlands for independence in 1983, ratified their current constitution in 1985 became its own constituent country in 1986, transition to full independence suspended indefinitely in 1990

-Land Area: 69 square miles (unranked)

-Population: 116,576 estimated as of 2019 (193rd most populous nation in the world)

-Religion: 75% Roman Catholic, 6% no religious affiliation, 5% Protestant, 4%, other religious affiliation, 2%, Jehovah's Witness, 1% unspecified religious affiliation

-Drive on the right side of the road

Aruban music is a blend of native, African, and European themes while also being heavily influenced by Venezuela, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Martinique, Trinidad, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. Traditional styles in Aruba include the waltz, the danza (a ballroom dance similar to the waltz that originated in Puerto Rico), the mazurka (a lively, triple meter Polish dance similar to a polka), and tumba (a style of music originated in the Congo and named after the prevalent drums used in the genre). Music is a big deal to the people of Aruba, and it's ingrained into their main celebrations and festivals. I had a lot of fun listening to these Aruban artists this week, so let's jump in so I can share them with you!

Aruba Dushi Tera by Alan B. Campbell Orchestra (written by J. Lampe, R. Weaver, H. Booi)

The National Anthem of Aruba translates to Aruba, Sweet Land in English. With lyrics by musician Juan Chabaya Lampe (who we'll get more into later in the post) and Hubert Lio Booi and music composed by Rufo Wever, this anthem is a little more of an upbeat waltz than some of the more march-like anthems we've heard during this series. An English translation of the original Papiamento lyrics is below.

Aruba, appreciated native land/Our venerated cradle/You may be small and simple/But yet, you are respected/Oh, Aruba, sweet land/Our boulder so beloved/Our love for you is so strong/That nothing can destroy it/Oh, Aruba, our sweet land/Our boulder so beloved/Our love for you is so strong/That nothing can destroy it

Daddy Cool by Boney M (written by F. Farian, G. Reyam)

Robert "Bobby" Farrell was born in San Nicolaas, Aruba, about 12 miles southeast of the capital city of Oranjestad. Starting his 35-year career as a DJ, he was recruited in the 1970s by German producer Frank Farian to join the disco-pop group Boney M as their only male vocalist. While he ended up being screwed out of his royalties from the group, his voice is recognizable on popular tracks like Rasputin, Sunny, Brown Girl in the Ring, and Happy Song. A dancer, entertainer, and singer, Farrell passed away in 2010 at the age of 61 from heart failure. Daddy Cool was featured on Boney M's 1976 album Take the Heat Off Me and, while admittedly repetitive, it's a classic disco bop that'll have you moving in some way or another while listening.

She’s crazy like a fool/Wild about Daddy Cool/She’s crazy like a fool/Wild about Daddy Cool/I’m crazy like a fool/Wild about Daddy Cool/Daddy, Daddy Cool/Daddy, Daddy Cool/Daddy, Daddy Cool/Daddy, Daddy Cool

80s Coming Back by Dave Benton (written by V. Eplik)

Efrén Benita, known professionally as Dave Benton, was born in the capital city of Oranjestad, Aruba in the early 1950s. During his career, he has worked as a drummer and backing vocalist for groups such as The Drifters, Tom Jones, Billy Ocean, José Feliciano, and The Platters while also having a pretty successful solo career both in pop music and on stage in musicals. Now living in Estonia, he performed for that country along with Tanel Padar at EuroVision in 2001 and won the competition, making him the current record holder for oldest EuroVision winner at the age of 50 years and 101 days. 80s Coming Back, featured on the 2008 collaborative EP Uues Kuues, is a cover of Estonia's 2003 EuroVision entry that was originally performed by Ruffus. Benton's version is a lot of fun and very easy to dance to, so definitely give it a listen!

You thought you had it coming/But now you really really just don't know/It seems you make a deal far too big outta this/You thought that you'd done it/Yeah, you thought that you had heard it all/But the state of things is putting you down now just because/You know they say it's just the eighties coming back/Can you feel it's just the eighties coming back/Aw I know it's just the eighties coming/Eighties coming, eighties coming/Eighties coming back

Dushi Bida by Jeon (written by Jeon, Ataniro)

Jonathan Thiel, known professionally by his stage name Jeon, was born on Aruba in the early 1990s. The son of two musicians, he's been musically active since he was eight years old and now is a proficient musician on five different instruments as well as a composer and music producer. Having been named Aruba's Artist of the Year more than once, he has been able to go on and perform in multiple countries as well as being featured as an opening act on tours for artists like Chris Brown and J. Balvin (who featured Jeon on his song Machika). Dushi Bida was released as a single in 2016 and I really enjoyed listening to it. Jeon has a nice voice, and this is definitely a sway back and forth while you listen to it type of song. I wasn't able to find a good English translation of the lyrics, but give it a listen - it's definitely worth it.

Abo So by Padú del Caribe (written by J. Lampe)

Juan Chabaya Lampe, known professionally as Padú del Caribe (Father of the Caribbean in English) was a prolific Aruban musician and songwriter. Throughout his career, he recorded and composed music for several decades and wrote most of the lyrics to the Aruban National Anthem (the third verse was written by Hubert Lio Booi). Though he passed away in 2019 at the age of 99, his beautiful music continues to live on through his recordings. Abo So (Only You in English) is featured on Lampe's 1993 album Recuerdonan Stima and is a fun, lighthearted love song with an awesome piano line and Lampe's lovely singing voice. An English translation of the original Papiamento lyrics is below.

With all my soul, with all my life/That is why I love and you are the only one/Under any circumstances and until I die/I will keep loving you, only you, only you/I will keep loving you, loving you

Gemini Solo by Pete Philly (written by K. Kalf, M. Van Der Winkle, N. Broos, P. Monzón)

Pedro Phillip Monzón, known professionally as Pete Philly, was the MC and vocalist for the Dutch hip hop duo Pete Philly and Perquisite. When the duo split in 2009, Monzón went on and did some solo stuff, thus Gemini Solo was born. This was my favorite song I listened to all week - it's just instrumental and some beat boxing, but it's got such a cool vibe to it and I really, really loved it. Featured on Monzón's 2011 album One, check this one out for sure.

Be There by Vince Irie (composer unknown)

Reggae/pop/alt rock artist Vince Irie was born in the capital city of Oranjestad, Aruba in the late 1980s. Beginning his career in 2009, he appeared in Season 4 of The Voice of Holland in 2014 which helped further his musical presence. Be There was released as a single in 2016 and is another really fun, chill and relaxing song. It's definitely got that classic island feel to it, and Irie's vocals are very pleasant to listen to. I couldn't find a reliable version of the lyrics, but check it out and add it to your vacation playlist.

With it attempting to get chillier outside, I hope these songs put you in a mindset of warm beaches and sunshine. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!