When Celia Cruz says Azúcar, what does she mean?

David

David

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Staff member
I know that Azúcar basically means sugar, but give me a feel for what she is saying. I am thinking like "Sweet" as in, life is sweet, this music is sweet... what do you think?
 
Ok, I translated the transcript, but I'm still a little lost in terms of why she says it. I think I understand that maybe she is wanting to add sugar to something bitter, figuratively speaking, yes?

Here is the transcript:

Sugar! Look, I was in Miami, performing at a place called Montmartre. I went to eat with my friend Raúl González. He invited Pedro, his wife, and me to a Cuban restaurant.

Well, in that restaurant, when we finished eating, as everyone does, they asked if we wanted coffee. Oh, of course, with sugar or without sugar? No, man, you know very well that you’re Cuban and know that our coffee is very bitter. I said, with sugar, and I can't take it anymore.

Sugar! And every day Celia tells the story, the sugar story, and I keep on telling the story about the Cuban, and I don’t know what, until one day I got tired and said, this story isn’t even funny anymore. The dressing rooms were upstairs, and that day they gave me the microphone up there so that I could, I travel down singing "Your Voice," and then I said "sugar," and the Cab fell down below, and I kept singing my song.
 
I’ve heard her explain it in 2-3 interviews. It seems that restaurant situation was like the birth of this exclamation. They probably found it funny and from then on - if I recall right - either she told that story in a concert or she just said “azúcar” on stage looking at the person who had lived that story with her. And there it stayed as a permanent joke.
 
A lot of singers have a signature exclamation. Wepa!, Hierro! Camina por arriba el mambo! Todos que quieren saludo con las manos pa'rriba! Most people recognize the singer just from those exclamations.
I think there is probably nothing more to it than the story.
 
Richie Blondet said:
Just another in a long line of battle cries, emotional catch phrases and symbolic terms that mean anything and everything.


"SALSA!"

"AGUAAAAA!"

"VAYA!"

"AZUCAR!"

"CHECK!"
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I've noticed when a member of the band takes a solo, it's common for someone to cry agua, candela or camina. I assume from the context, but have never asked anyone to confirm:

agua as in the soloist is smoking/on fire

candela as in the soloist is producing flames because he's on fire

camina as in do your thing i.e. encouraging the soloist to continue

Am I correct?
 
DJ Yuca said:
I've noticed when a member of the band takes a solo, it's common for someone to cry agua, candela or camina. I assume from the context, but have never asked anyone to confirm:

agua as in the soloist is smoking/on fire

candela as in the soloist is producing flames because he's on fire

camina as in do your thing i.e. encouraging the soloist to continue

Am I correct?
Click to expand...
You got it!

It's the spanish-language equivalent to Black North American slanguage within a musical setting.

"Take It Home!" ('Camina!')

"Preach, Bird!" ('Confesa Pacheco!)

"Take your time!" ('Suaaaaaave nene, suaaaaaave.')

"Sing it girl! Do your thing!" ('Canta mulataaa! Eh la cosaaaaa!')
 
azúcar means sugar but when Celia Cruz says it it’s more like “sweetness of life” or something like that.it's that vibe, you know like everything's awesome and enjoy yourself.it’s more about the positivesthe joy like life’s got flavor

Christopher :)
 
Christopher885 said:
azúcar means sugar but when Celia Cruz says it it’s more like “sweetness of life” or something like that.it's that vibe, you know like everything's awesome and enjoy yourself.it’s more about the positivesthe joy like life’s got flavor

Christopher :)
Click to expand...
Yes, but Azúcar spelled backwards is Racúzaaaaaaa!

And you know what THAT means, don't you?
 
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