The life of my beloved Uruguayan singer-songwriter, Alfredo Zitarrosa, it would take a while to tell it because of the vicissitudes it had to go through. At another time I will go a little deeper. Now I want to focus on your song “Stefanie”, which was published on the 1977 album, “Black Guitar”, edited in Spain.
Because in Spain?, you will think. Simply put, his militancy on the left had as a consequence the veto in his native country and also in Argentina and Chile, where he was also moving. These countries were going through times of harsh dictatorships and, in Argentina and Chile, specifically, the repression was fierce.
The origin of the song also has its "crumb". With hardly any work due to the repressive situation, Carlos Bouzas his representative, gets him some gigs in Brazil, a las que asiste acompañado de sus guitarristas. Al regresar de Brasil, Carlos, quien también enfrentaba dificultades similares a las de Zitarrose, solicita su comisión.
Bouzas detalla cómo logró las presentaciones en Brasil, así como los eventos que ocurrieron tras el regreso de Alfred y su diálogo con él:
The opportunity arose for a contract for Alfredo and three guitarists to perform in San Pablo. Alfredo insisted that he fight for one more ticket, for me, as his representative, and in that way leave Argentina, return and have the tourist visa again. It was not possible. Only 4 tickets, stay in a good hotel, and above all, payment in advance when you arrive in Brazil. It was very good money, for 4 performances. And the commission would allow me to somewhat improve my sad economy.
'Flaco' returned happy. That Monday we talked at length in his apartment. He summarized the Brazilian situation, in contrast to that of Uruguay and Argentina, as much more open and less repressive. You can do things, artistic and some political.
Already finishing the conversation, I became interested in the money, in my commission.
"Ah, Carlitos, I didn't bring a peso, nor a dollar."
"But, 'Flaco', didn't they pay you in advance?" I asked him.
"Yes, yes," he answered half hesitantly. He put down the mate, poured himself a whiskey and started:
«On Saturday, before the second performance that night, I felt very, very low. In the hotel bar I ordered a drink, then another, and suddenly a woman of exceptional beauty appears in front of me. I buy her a drink, we talk, we go up to my room. And I fell madly in love. I suggested traveling to Buenos Aires. Live together. Get married. They knocked on my room door to make my second entrance. Nothing mattered to me anymore. He had discovered love again. And it demolished me, Carlitos, it demolished me. She told me that she wasn't going anywhere, that she was doing it for money.
I joined. I squeezed the bills, yours and mine, I threw them over his head, even with hatred. She gathered them together, one by one, greeted them with her wonderful head, and in silence she left the room. But Carlitos, be patient, your dollars will reappear. I have a song in my head that is going to do very well, I'm sure, and it will be called 'Stefanie.'"
This is how the song came about. A exceptional song in spite of the bitterness Y loneliness que conlleva, en la que Alfred he gets naked in this heartbreaking story of heartbreak.
Stéfanie, no hay dolor más atroz que ser feliz.
Decías anoche: “óuvi me, po favó, bésame aquí”.
Stéfanie, sé que tu corazón “fala yi mi”.
Y eso es dolor, Stéfanie…
Stéfanie, yo ayer estaba solo y hoy también
pero en mi cama ha quedado el perfume de tu piel.
Te veo salir, correr por el pasillo del hotel:
la vida es cruel, Stéfanie…
Stéfanie, hay una sombra oscura tras de ti;
de tu ternura, recuerdo la mirada azul- turquí,
los pies calientes, tus palabras de amor en portugués,
pero no a ti, Stéfanie…
Sé más valiente; hazme saber si va a sobrevivir
entre la gente el color de tu pelo, Stéfanie…
Debes vivir la soledad que sales a vender;
sé más mujer, Stéfanie…
Stéfanie, yo tampoco te quiero, mas tu amor,
por el dinero, ha olvidado al obrero y al señor.
Esta canción que pregunta por ti, que no ha dormido,
es puro olvido, Stéfanie…!
Precisions:
“Ouvi me, please” (Listen to me, please)
“mim's fala” (Talk about me)
Transcription of the conversation extract between Alfredo Zitarrosa Y Carlos Bouzas
credits in the song:
Lyrics, composition, guitar and voice: Alfredo Zitarrosa
Guitars: D. Velasquez, José L. Peñamaría, Julio Amaya, Y. Palacios
Orchestra conducted by: Horacio Icasto
“Stefanie”, song contained on the LP “Black Guitar” movieplay, 1977
