Ríe Y Llora Lyrics in English by Celia Cruz
¡Azúcar! literally translates to "Sugar!". However, for the legendary 'Queen of Salsa' Celia Cruz, this word was her iconic catchphrase and joyful battle cry.
Legend says it started when a waiter asked if she wanted sugar in her coffee, and her emphatic reply, "¡Azúcar!", stuck. It became her signature exclamation on stage, perfectly capturing the sweet, irresistible energy and flavor (sabor) of her music and her proud Afro-Cuban heritage.
The moment you hear Celia Cruz shout "¡Azúcar!" ("Sugar!"), you know you are in for a ride. In "Ríe Y Llora", the Cuban Queen of Salsa hands out straight-talking life advice over an infectious salsa beat. Her main message is simple: enjoy the present right now because "Lo que es bueno hoy / Quizás no lo sea mañana" ("What is good today / Maybe won't be tomorrow"). Life moves fast, and when an opportunity comes along, she tells you to hop on, grab hold tightly, and never let go ("Agárrate fuerte / Y ya no te sueltes").
Celia also drops some deep wisdom on moving past hurt. She redefines forgiveness with the clever line, "Eso es el perdón / Recordar sin dolor" ("That is forgiveness / Remembering without pain"). Through both the high and low moments, she keeps shouting the title command: "Ríe, llora / Que a cada cual le llega su hora" ("Laugh, cry / Because everyone's time will come"). And toward the end, she reminds the world of her timeless staying power with a confident boast: "Esta negrita no pasa de moda" ("This Black woman never goes out of style").
