Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico

This is a gorgeous song from the 80’s. I remember I heard it once when I was a kid and I was surprised to hear it again on youtube. It was a mere coincidence…

Singing along with Belgian musical group Vaya Con Dios: “Puerto Rico”. Here we come!

Vaya Con Dios (Go with God)
Puerto Rico

Vaya Con Dios
Agorila 1987

Vaya con Dios live in Athens at the Lycabethus Amphitheatre
Dani Klein – Lead Vocals
Jean Michel Gielen – Guitar
Patrick Mortier – Trumpet, Vocals
Michel Marin – Sax, Harmonica, Vocals
Gene Velocette – Druma
Dave Collins – Keyboards, Vocals
Maria Lekranty – Vocals
Regina Lekranty – Vocals

“Puerto Rico” (song)
Music: D. Schoovaerts / Dirk Schoufs
Lyrics : D Schoovaerts / D. Schoufs
1988 BMG Ariola Belgium NV / Townland / Universal Songs NV
Videoclip director : N. Soulia
Production : Anosi Promotions

Wake up Angelita, your mama just turned off the light
Manolo is already waiting by the old water-pipe
Her shoes in one hand she carefully walks down the stairs
Holding her breath ’cause there’s danger and love in the air.
Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico
Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico
Your papa will beat him if he ever finds out
Begging the Virgin won’t help when you hear Manolito shout,
Manolito shout
He’s already standing under the starlit sky
You run to his arms and you laugh and you cry as he holds you tight
Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico
Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico
He says he’ll be leaving you soon still you beg him to stay
But he wants to make it somewhere in the U.S.A.
And though he’ll be far he promises he’ll write every day
When time will be right, he’ll come back and he’ll take you away
Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico
Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico
Your papa don’t like him, he says he’s no good
He steals and he fights and he never behaves, like a young man should
Angelita she knows, he’s not that bad inside
She takes the medal, she wears on a chain, and presses it into his palm.
Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico
Aie aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico

Interview with the singer:

Q: How can you write this song about Puerto Rico ?

A: You know, that was Dirk’s idea. We were doing the, a photo session at Dan and William’s place when Willy was still in the band. It was at the very beginning and, Danny and I had to leave because the dress that I was wearing was not right and I then he had go and get something else. And when we came back Dirk said : “Listen to this”, you know, and then he went “Aie aie aie aie aie Puerto Rico”.I don’t know why you know I think he had this fantasy about this place or something. I think he liked the Puerto Rican look more than anything. And so I just thought “ok, let’s keep it and build the story around it”.And now I can imagine, you know, I mean, I had seen eh (hesitating… ) … West Side Story. And you know I think it’s eh, the thing I think about is not Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico, but Puerto Ricans in move to the United States and I’ve lived in the United States and I’ve met maybe not so many Puerto Ricans but many Mexicans and Cubans and so I could sort of imagine what it’s like, you know, to leave your country and want to make it big in a place like America which to me is, I mean, materially it is true but I think, I’ve been to Mexico and I prefer a lot the atmosphere in Mexico than the American atmosphere really. Of course, it is hard to get by there. It is hard to make money there, to make a living and that’s what I wanted to put in the song.

If you’re lucky to live in France and wanna see the whole concert, you just have to ask for a  reservation at Salle P, rez-de-jardin and ask for document:  NUMAV-13232.