Vivir lo nuestro (salsa)

"Vivir lo nuestro" is a powerful salsa anthem that celebrates a love that is boundless, transcendent, and defiant. The title, which translates to "To Live Our Thing" or "To Live What's Ours," encapsulates the core message: the creation of a private, sacred world for a relationship, shielded from external judgment and physical limitations. The lyrics are a poetic dialogue between two lovers who vow to build an entire universe for their affection. They use grand metaphors like building a garden in the sky, a boat for dreams, and shouting their love from the highest mountain to express the infinite and epic scale of their feelings. The song is a declaration of intent to live their love freely and intensely, "hasta quedar sin aliento" (until running out of breath). Furthermore, it carries a social undertone, dreaming of "un mundo sin razas sin colores sin lamento" (a world without races, without colors, without sorrow), positioning their love as a force that transcends societal prejudice and opposition. It's a hymn to pure, unconditional love that seeks to overcome all barriers.

The song unfolds as a poetic and passionate declaration of a boundless love, a commitment to creating a unique world for the relationship to flourish, free from external constraints. The singers, in alternating verses, describe the construction of a universe tailored specifically for their love. It begins with grand, cosmic imagery: carving out a garden in a plain as immense as the sky for their lover's body to rest, and building a boat to navigate dreams on a sea wider than the universe itself. This establishes the scale of their devotion—it's not earthbound but celestial and infinite.

This universe they build is described with rich sensory details. It will be a world as dark and pure as ebony, where their love, constructed in contrasting white, can shine for the future. There's a powerful desire to control time and space, to stop a closing night to dream eternally that their love is everlasting. From a mountain as high as the stars, one partner vows to shout their love for the world to know, solidifying their bond and declaring that they belong to each other and will live for their love, even if no one else understands.

The central, recurring theme, the chorus, is a call to action: "Volar, volar tan lejos... y vivir, vivir lo nuestro" ("To fly, fly so far away... and to live, live our thing"). This isn't just about being together; it's about escaping to a place where their thoughts are unobstructed, flying without fear like free pigeons in the wind. "Vivir lo nuestro" translates to "live what is ours," a pact to experience their unique connection to its fullest, loving each other until they are out of breath. The song is also a dream of a better world, a place without race, color, or sorrow, where no one can oppose their love. It’s a powerful anthem advocating for a love that transcends societal barriers and prejudices, a sacred vow to protect and live out their shared destiny.

"Vivir lo nuestro" was written by Cuban-American songwriters Rudy Pérez and Norma González and was first released by the Spanish singer Basilio in 1986. However, the song became a global phenomenon with the 1994 salsa version performed as a duet by India and Marc Anthony. It was produced by the acclaimed Sergio George and included on India's album "Dicen Que Soy," released on September 20, 1994, under the RMM Records label. Initially, the track was recorded for the RMM compilation album "Combinación Perfecta" in 1993. According to Sergio George, India was initially hesitant to work with him due to his commercial reputation, as she preferred a more traditional salsa sound, but she was urged by label head Ralph Mercado to record the duet. The collaboration proved to be historic, launching both artists into superstardom. The song's legacy was further cemented by their iconic live performance at the Combinación Perfecta concert at Madison Square Garden in 1995, a performance celebrated for its raw energy and palpable chemistry. Despite their incredible musical synergy, the two artists later had a falling out and have remained estranged for many years.

"Vivir lo nuestro" is built on a vibrant and complex Afro-Cuban salsa rhythm that invites dancing, creating a compelling juxtaposition with its romantic and heartfelt lyrics. The tempo is brisk and energetic, driven by a full percussion section including congas, timbales, and bongos, which lay down a syncopated groove. The song follows a structure common in salsa, with verses leading to a powerful chorus and then transitioning into a "montuno" section. In this final section, the singers engage in improvisational vocal exchanges (soneos) over a repetitive coro (choral refrain), heightening the song's intensity. The lyrical rhythm flows with the music, with phrases often accenting the clave rhythm. The rhyme scheme is generally fluid, focusing more on assonance and emotional delivery than a strict, formal pattern, which is typical for the genre and allows the vocal performances to feel more spontaneous and passionate.

Musically, "Vivir lo nuestro" is a quintessential example of 1990s salsa romántica, masterfully produced by Sergio George. Its arrangement blends classic salsa elements with a pop sensibility. The song features a powerful brass section, intricate percussion, and a driving piano montuno that create an energetic and danceable rhythm, which contrasts dramatically with the deeply emotional and sincere lyrical content. The primary stylistic technique is the vocal duet itself, structured as a dramatic, passionate conversation. Marc Anthony's soaring, powerful tenor and India's potent, commanding vocals create a dynamic interplay of call and response. Their performance, particularly in the iconic live versions, is characterized by intense vocal ad-libs (soneos) and a theatrical delivery that amplifies the song's emotional weight, making it feel like a scene from a musical epic.

"Vivir lo nuestro" is considered one of the most iconic and influential salsa duets of all time. Released in 1994, it became a massive commercial success and solidified both India's title as "La Princesa de la Salsa" and Marc Anthony's status as a rising global superstar. The song's impact was magnified by the legendary live performance at Madison Square Garden in 1995, which showcased the electrifying and unmatched chemistry between the two artists. This performance is frequently cited as a high point in modern salsa history. The song won the Billboard Latin Music Award for "Tropical/Salsa Hot Track of the Year" in 1995 and remains a staple on Latin radio stations and in salsa clubs worldwide. Despite a personal falling out between the artists that has lasted for decades, the song endures as a timeless anthem of passionate love and a benchmark for vocal duets in Latin music.

The lyrics of "Vivir lo nuestro" are rich with symbolism and grand metaphors that elevate the theme of love to a cosmic scale.

• The Universe as a Private World: The central metaphor is the construction of a unique universe for their love. Phrases like "En un llano tan inmenso como el cielo" (In a plain as immense as the sky) and "en un mar espeso y ancho más ancho que el universo" (in a thick, wide sea wider than the universe) symbolize that their love is not bound by earthly limitations but is an epic, all-encompassing force.
• Flying and Freedom: The recurring image of flying—"volar sin miedo como palomas libres" (to fly without fear like free doves)—symbolizes the desire for a love that is unrestrained, free from societal judgment and prejudice. It represents spiritual and emotional liberation through their connection.
• Black and White Imagery: The line "en un universo negro como el ébano más puro / voy a construir de blanco nuestro amor para el futuro" (in a universe as black as the purest ebony / I will build our love in white for the future) uses the stark contrast of black and white to symbolize purity, hope, and the creation of something beautiful and sacred against a vast, unknown backdrop.

The most significant recurring phrase in the song is its title and central hook, "Vivir lo nuestro." This phrase acts as the song's thesis, a powerful and concise declaration of the couple's commitment to fully experiencing their unique love affair, separate from the rest of the world. Its repetition in the chorus reinforces the core message and makes it a memorable anthem. Another key recurring motif is the act of flying: "Y volar, volar tan lejos... volar, volar sin miedo." This image of flight is repeated to emphasize themes of freedom, escape, and transcendence. It’s not just about being in love, but about the liberation that this love provides. The call to dream—"soñar, soñar despiertos" (to dream, dream while awake)—also reappears, suggesting a love so powerful it transforms reality into a dreamlike state, creating a perfect world free of prejudice.