En vivo Miriam Perez y Bomba Urbana, 
Festival de la Hamaca, San Sebastian, PR 
Julio 2013

03.Cimarron

Single from the CD, Dulce Vigilante, by Lourdes Pérez. 

Seamstress (English translation)  
Décima and music by Lourdes Pérez ©2014
Based on the story by Carmen I Cruz, Los Talleres De La Aguja 
From the illustrated book and musical CD, 
Dulce Vigilante: Remembranzas de la Región Oeste de Puerto Rico

The laborer's wage book
Kissed yellow by time   
Eaten by moths
Is a fundamental part
A way to enter the portal
Of the times of my grandmother
Who only had for her schooling
For literature: embroidery
Composer of dresses
Architect of the cloth
 
Measurement and wisdom
Mathematics in the cut
Physical science in the posture
Domain of engineering 
Threads and philosophy
Dignity that does not wrinkle
And because life pushes
To earn a bite
You decorated with brocade
The needlework industry

Fine gloves for ladies
Clothes for children and infants
Elegant handkerchiefs 
A dozen per hour 
Work and work
Exports of velvet
Holding on to your country 
Wishing away exile
Home deliveries
And a sleepless heart

Seamstress, seamstress
Who adorned my region
You closed with precision 
And a golden brooch, an era
With my song I would like
To stop the thread for a moment
To make the clock slower
To eternalize your stitch 
And in the air, like a sword
Let your monument shine

Vocal and guitar: Lourdes Pérez
Vocal: Miriam Pérez
Puerto Rican cuatro: Tony Mapeye
Produced by Annette D'Armata; recorded, mixed and mastered by Joe Treviño/Blue Cat Studios in San Antonio, Texas. 
Info: https://www.facebook.com/bordeandomemorias


Costurera

From the book/CD 
Dulce Vigilante: Remembranzas de la Región Oeste de Puerto Rico
Carmen I. Cruz
Words and Music by Lourdes Pérez

Bordeando Memorias
(Bordering Memories)
Décima por Lourdes Pérez
Based on the short story “Trip by Train” by Carmen I. Cruz

Along the edge of the coast, the train
You, along the edge of your memories
Me, yearning for your stories
Mother and daughter
In this wave that comes and go
You, like saying, "Come here and
Look through my eyes"
The past gives us shelter
And savoring the cashew fruit
I travel towards your Spring
To journey as we want

Then detail of your blouse
Your skirt, your shoes
Your majestic picture
And these obsessed muses
Refusing to leave
Wanting to know of you
What else do you carry, Carmen I
In your cane luggage
Your innocence, your jewels
Of country grass and wild weeds?

Ninety-five cents and you are transformed into a queen
The island wind brushing your hair
Triumphant from one end to the other
I, in the meantime, your image conjure
In a composition
Wanting to give expression to your beauty, traveler
- goes from the country a foreigner to San Juan
To take care of important things -

Every level, to his or her seat
Wood or cane
From Ponce to Aguadilla
To see an expert
A dead relative
A distant relative
Children by the hand
As the distractions abound
You with your aunt, Adoración
Leaving early

Tiny, multicolor fish
In small glass jars
Homemade cheese
Noise of marketplace sellers
You and your aunt like two flowers
Traveling in a garden
Not wanting to put an end
To this childhood illusion
Of immersing yourself in the
Circumstances of daily life

Pineapples clinch to their sweetness
As we pass by Manatí
I, clinching to you
Praying for a delay
To stop at the best
Roads of your childhood
Laughing under an avalanche
Of jasmines, mother
Your life
Of someone who lives fully

The train is an iron machine
Breathing charcoal
Wagons chained to one another
Cargo and passengers
We boarded first in Cuesta Vieja,
Aguadilla Isabela, Quebradillas,
Camuy Hatillo, Arecibo...
Route of live memories
That today 
Through your semblance
Shine


Bordeando Memorias (El Tren)

Interview recorded in May 2016.
Arabology interviews 2 remarkable singer-songwriters who are considered musical icons and voices for peace in different worlds, oceans apart:  May Nasr, from Lebanon; Lourdes Perez, from Puerto Rico.  This interview includes excerpts from their new Arabic-Spanish duet CD 'Written in Water.'
Download 10-track CD at https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lourdesperez1
More about May Nasr: https://www.facebook.com/May-Nasr-31304165110
More about Lourdes Perez: http://lourdesperez.com/
More about 'Written in Water' CD: https://www.facebook.com/Lourdes-Perez-and-May-Nasr-1722291668013417
Song Excerpts in this interview are from 'Written in Water' CD by May Nasr + Lourdes Perez:
1.   Caminare (I Will Walk)
2.  Te Llamo/Ounadikum (2 different excerpts)
3.  Escrito en Agua/Written in Water
4.  Mediterraneo
3.  Najwa's House/Baytik Ya Najwa
4. Rompe la Ola/Break the Wave
5. Sal y Azucar/Melh w Sukkar
6.  The Road/Al Tariq

Interview w/ May Nasr + Lourdez Perez ft New Arabic-Spanish CD

Aired on August 18, 2016
Features indie Arabic music by groundbreaking musicians from Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Syria, Kuwait, Sudan (Nubia), Morocco, Lebanon, Palestine/Israel and 2 tracks by Zebda the Spy from Cairo, including a special Fairuz remix.
Also includes interview with Arab American author Frank Gelat, author of the bilingual Arabic/English book of proverbs "The Forbidden Heights" (order your copy at http://www.forbiddenheights.com/main/book-buy)
Features interview (with musical excerpts) with Egyptian American Opera singer Ashraf Sewailam who speaks about Opera in the Arab world and beyond.
Playlist at http://zookeeper.stanford.edu/index.php?action=viewDJ&seq=selList&playlist=32849

Arabology 10.5 [Arabic Ballads, Folk/Shaabi, Reggae, Hip Hop, Electronica, More]

Aired: December 10, 2016
Countdown of Top 20 (alternative) Arabic Songs of 2016.  Presented by Dr. Ramzi Salti, Lecturer at Stanford University and Radio Host of 'Arabology' on KZSU 90.1 FM

Arabology 10.7 [Top 20 Alternative/Indie Arabic Songs of 2016]

Este Filo

Preguntas

Words and music by Lourdes Pérez, 2018
Vocals: Tish Hinojosa
Guitar: Henry Gómez
Accordion: Bene Medina

For the album (book/CD) Still Here: Homenaje al Westside de San Antonio., Chee Wee Records/Esperanza Center.
Recorded by Joe Treviño at Blue Cat Studios, San Antonio, Texas.
Executive Producer: Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

Arco de la uvas
Fuiste mi trasfondo 
Tiempos de la infancia 
La calle Torreón 
Jugando a enfermera 
Trompos y canicas 
Corriendo al mandado 
Tiempos de ilusión 

Dime
Parra de la libertad 
Háblame con la verdad 
Donde están 
Los rosales, las moras?
Cuéntale a mi corazón
Cuéntale  a mi corazón 
Donde va 
Lo que más se añora

Arco de las uvas 
Desde la distancia 
Tu dulzor me llama 
Y en sueños regreso 
Y mi mano alcanza 
El higo más alto 
Y siento en la brisa 
De la vida el beso 

Dime
Parra de la libertad 
Háblame con la verdad 
Dónde están 
Los rosales, las moras?
Cuéntale a mi corazón 
Cuéntale a mi corazón 
Dónde va 
Lo que más se añora 

Parra de la Libertad 
Háblame con la verdad 
Dónde están
Los rosales, las moras?
Cuenta a mi corazón C
Cuéntale a  mi corazón 
Dónde va 
Lo que más se añora

---
Translation:

Arch of grapes
You were my backdrop
Times of my childhood, Torreón Street
Playing nurse
Tops and marbles
Chosen to run the errands
Cherished times

Grapevine of freedom
Speak to me the truth
Where are they?
The rosebushes?
The blackberries?
Tell it to my heart
Tell it to my heart
Where do the things we most long for go?

Arch of grapes
From the distance
Your sweetness calls me
In my dreams 
I return
And my hand reaches for the highest fig
And I feel in the breeze
From life, a kiss

Grapevine of freedom
Speak to me the truth
Where are they?
The rosebushes?
The blackberries?
Tell it to my heart
Tell it to my heart
Where do the things we most long for go?

Grapevine of freedom
Speak to me the truth
Where are they?
The rosebushes?
The blackberries?
Tell it to my heart
Tell it to my heart
Where do the things we most long for go?

Parra de la Libertad

Spanish version by Lourdes Pérez of Ahmad Kaabour's beloved song, Ounadikum. Performed in Spanish and Arabic by Lourdes Pérez (www.lourdesperez.com) and May Nasr (http://www.last.fm/music/May+Nasr#close) with very special guest, the composer of the original song, Ahmad Kaabour (http://www.ahmadkaabour.com). #gaza #endtheoccupation

Costurera

Lourdes Perez, Cantautora

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