El Preso Explained
"El Preso" (translation "the prisoner") is a song recorded by Fruko y sus Tesos. It was released in 1975 with vocals by Wilson Saoko.[1] The song was composed by the band's percussionist Álvaro Velásquez.[2] [3]
The lyrics are the narration of a prisoner ("preso") serving 30 years.[4] The actual inspiration for songwriter Velásquez was a friend's letter describing another friend's pain being jailed for 30 years on a drug charge. In an interview, Julio Ernesto Estrada (aka Fruko) said it "became a world anthem of salsa music".[5]
Radio Nacional de Colombia also called the song a "universal hymn of salsa."[6]
The song has also been recognized as one of the greatest Colombian songs of all time by multiple media sources:
- In its list of the ten most iconic Colombian songs, El Nuevo Siglo, rated La Pollera Colorá at No. 10.[7]
- It was selected by Hip Latina in 2017 as one of the "13 Old School Songs Every Colombian Grew Up Listening To"; the publication wrote that "the infectious beat will have you dancing quite freely."[8]
- In its list of the 50 best Colombian songs of all time, El Tiempo, Colombia's most widely circulated newspaper, ranked the song at No. 41.[9]
- It was selected by Billboard in 2018 as one of the "15 Best Salsa Songs Ever".[10]
Notes and References
- Web site: El Preso by Fruko Y Sus Tesos. University of California at Los Angeles Library. September 8, 2021.
- Web site: Adiós a Álvaro Velásquez, compositor de "El Preso". Spanish. Senal Radio Colombia. 29 August 2014. 16 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518104710/http://www.senalradiocolombia.gov.co/noticia/adi-s-lvaro-vel-squez-compositor-de-el-preso. 18 May 2015. dead.
- News: Se fue Álvaro Velásquez, el autor de 'El preso'. El Heraldo.
- Web site: Conozca la historia de Fruko, el teso. Spanish. 19 June 2011. El Pais. 22 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151002055039/http://www.elpais.com.co/elpais/colombia/conozca-historia-fruko-teso. 2 October 2015. dead.
- Web site: Fruko: De Colombia para el Mundo Entero. Spanish. Herencia Latina. 14 December 2000. González, Eric E..
- Web site: 'El preso': la historia de un himno salsero a la libertad. Radio Nacional de Colombia. November 23, 2019.
- News: Las de siempre: top 10 de las canciones más colombianas. El Nuevo Siglo. September 10, 2021.
- Web site: 13 Old School Songs Every Colombian Grew Up Listening To. 18 September 2017 . Hiplatina.com. September 8, 2021.
- News: Las 50 mejores canciones de Colombia. El Tiempo.
- Cantor-Navas . Judy . The 15 Best Salsa Songs Ever: Critic's Picks . Billboard . 15 September 2021 . 31 May 2018.
