Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
YouTube Videos
Uploaded:
2016-08-17T20:34:11.000Z
Views:
8,062
Video Title:
Kalakan at the 2016 Folklife Festival
Description:
Kalakan is one of the most famous rock groups in Basque country, and in 2016 they brought their blend of traditional and contemporary music to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. The lyrics of this song, “Kantuz” or “Singing,” suggest that they want to continue in song throughout all stages of life. The first line, “I was born singing, singing I want to live,” reflects the importance of musical expression and entertainment in Basque culture, which Kalakan honors—and reinvents. Lyrics: Kantuz sortuz naiz eta kantuz nahi bizi /// I was born singing, singing I want to live Kantuz igortzen ditut nik penak ihesi /// Singing, I chase off my troubles Kantuz izan dudaño zerbait irabazi /// Singing, I always get something Kantuz gostura ditut guziak iretsi /// Singing, I have endured it all Kantuz ez duta beraz hiltzea merezi? /// Therefore, do I not deserve to die singing? Kantuz iragan ditut gau eta egunak /// Singing, I spent days and nights Kantuz ekarri ditut griñak eta lanak /// Singing, I conducted sorrows and toils Kantuz biltzen nituen aldeko lagunak /// Singing, I reunited my friends Kantuz eman dauztate obra gabe famak /// Singing, my fame was made, without reason Kantuz hartuko nauia zeruko jaun onak! /// Will the good Lord of heaven welcome me singing! Kantuz eman izan dut zonbeiten berriak /// Singing, I announced the news of some Kantuz atseginekin erranez egiak /// Singing with pleasure, telling the truth Kantuz egin baititut usu afruntuiak /// Singing, I was often brave Kantuz aitortzen ditut nere bekatuiak /// Singing, I confessed my sins Kantuz eginen ditut nik penitentziak /// Singing, I will do my penance Kantuz eginez geroz munduian sortzia /// After coming into the world singing Kantuz egin behar dut ontsalaz hiltzia /// I should die singing Kantuz emaiten badaut jainkoak grazia /// If the Lord gives me grace, singing Kantuz idekiko daut San Pierrek atia /// St. Peter will open the doors for me singing Kantuz egin dezadan zeruan sartzia /// That I go to heaven, singing Kantuz ehortz nezate, hiltzen naizenian /// Let them do, when I die, my funeral, singing Kantuz ene lagunek harturik airian /// My friends will carry me on the air, singing Kantuz ariko zaizkit lurrean sartzian /// They will bury me singing Kantu frango utziko diotet mundian /// I will leave them a lot of songs in this world Kantuz has diten behi nitaz orhoitzian /// So that they start singing when they remember me. Videographers: Charlie Weber, Helen Lehrer, Lillian Schneyer, Michelle Mehrtens Audio Recordist: David Walker Editor: Helen Lehrer [Catalog No. CFV10852; Copyright 2016 Smithsonian Institution]
Video Duration:
3 min 41 sec
YouTube Keywords:
culture music performance tradition folk language festival smithsonian "washington dc"
