VIDEO: 'La Cumbia Triste': Alejandro Fernández's Surprising New Venture with Los Ángeles Azules

MIAMI - With a musical career spanning over three decades, it's hard to envision any new frontiers for Alejandro Fernández. Yet, El Potrillo is proving that the realm of music holds no bounds for him as he embarks on an exciting new journey.

Fernández is making his cumbia debut on Thursday with the best partners he could hope for in the business: the iconic Mexican group Los Ángeles Azules. This collaboration, featuring the new song "La cumbia triste," marks a significant shift for Fernández, a figure synonymous with traditional Mexican genres like ranchera and mariachi, or pop ballads.

The fusion of Fernández's emotional voice and the rhythmic beats of Los Ángeles Azules has created a unique cumbia experience. "This song is something that has me very intrigued, because cumbia always talks about joy, and this is the sad cumbia. So it's up to the public, but the song is spectacular. I love it," the singer said. The first lines of the song explain it all. Its a cortavenas song, without singing about heartache. It is dedicated to those with a broken heart.

"For those who do not sleep
because their souls ache
for those who do not dream
since that love that stole their calm."

Chorus
"Esta es la cumbia triste
la que te abraza
la que si entiende lo que te pasa
es para ti la cumbia triste."

Two legends, one cumbia

Fernández has captivated audiences for decades with hits like "Me dediqué a perderte," "Hoy tengo ganas de ti," and the most iconic rancheras. None of his 20 studio albums include a cumbia. Describing his foray into the genre as merely an "interesting twist" seems to barely scratch the surface of the unexpected journey he is undertaking.

Los Ángeles Azules, hailing from Iztapalapa, have a rich history in Latin music, renowned for their innovative approach to cumbia. They have collaborated with an array of artists, including Belinda, Natalia Lafourcade, Ximena Sariñana, María Becerra, and even Cazzu, constantly surprising their audience with fresh and diverse musical partnerships. Their latest collaboration with Fernández is no exception, promising to add a unique dimension to the cumbia genre.

The brief snippet shared on Fernández's Instagram account at the beginning of the week has already garnered significant attention, indicating that "La Cumbia Triste" is poised to become a major hit. Fans are keen to see how Fernández's rich musical legacy blends with the vibrant energy of cumbia, a genre that has long been a staple in Latin dance halls and celebrations.

Here are the lyrics in Spanish and English below

Para los que no duermen
porque les duele el alma
para los que no sueñan
desde aquel amor que les robó la calma
Para los que aún esperan
para los que aún extrañan
para los que el recuerdo de aquella caricia todavía les daña
Para los que veneran
el amor que se ha ido
y bailan lentamente
siempre encadenados a lo que han sufrido
Esta es la cumbia triste
la que te abraza
la que si entiende lo que te pasa
es para ti la cumbia triste
Esta es la cumbia triste
que siempre suena
cuando el dolor te llena de pena
es para ti la cumbia triste
(Los Ángeles Azules)
Échale!
Para los que rechazan volver a enamorarse
porque la última vez la herida fue tan cruel
y no logró cerrarse
Para los que se burlan
de los enamorados
pues no les cabe duda
que ese sentimiento acabará enterrado
Para los que brindamos por todo lo vivido
para los que sabemos que no ha sido en vano lo que se ha sufrido
Esta es la cumbia triste
la que te abraza
la que si entiende lo que te pasa
Es para ti la cumbia triste
Esta es la cumbia triste
que siempre suena
cuando el dolor te llena de pena
es para ti la cumbia triste
De Iztapalapa, para el mundo (mucha cumbia)
Ángeles Azules
y Alejandro Fernández
Esta es la cumbia triste
la que te abraza
la que si entiende lo que te pasa
es para ti la cumbia triste
Esta es la cumbia triste
que siempre suena
cuando el dolor te llena de pena
Es para ti la cumbia triste.

"La cumbia triste" English Lyrics

For those who do not sleep
because their souls ache
for those who do not dream
since that love that stole their calm
For those who still hope
for those who still miss
for those whose memory of that caress still hurts them
For those who venerate
the love that is gone
and dance slowly
always chained to what they have suffered
This is the sad cumbia
the one that embraces you
the one that understands what happens to you
is for you the sad cumbia
This is the sad cumbia
that always plays
when pain fills you with sorrow
it's for you, sad cumbia
(Los Angeles Azules)
Échale!
For those who refuse to fall in love again
because the last time the wound was so cruel
and failed to close
For those who make fun
of those in love
because they have no doubt
that this feeling will end up buried
For those of us who toast for all that we have lived
For those of us who know that what we have suffered has not been in vain.
This is the sad cumbia
the one that embraces you
The one that understands what happens to you
It is for you the sad cumbia
This is the sad cumbia
that always plays
when pain fills you with sorrow
It's for you, sad cumbia
From Iztapalapa to the world (lots of cumbia)
Blue Angels
and Alejandro Fernandez
This is the sad cumbia
the one that embraces you
the one that understands what happens to you
is for you the sad cumbia
This is the sad cumbia
that always plays
when pain fills you with sorrow
It's for you, sad cumbia.