Buena Vista Social Club Original Broadway Cast Recording Overview
“There is a music studio in Old Havana…” Buena Vista Social Club electrified the world with the sounds of Havana when the Cuban ensemble released their self-titled album in 1997. Nearly thirty years, one Grammy Award, and a Guinness World Record as the best-selling world music album of all time later, and the music of Buena Vista Social Club has been transformed into a smash musical on Broadway.
Featuring beloved songs like “Chan Chan,” “Dos Gardenias” and “El Cuarto de Tula,” Buena Vista Social Club debuted on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre and later took home five Tony Awards — including a special Tony given to the band — in 2025.
The stage adaptation’s original Broadway cast recording is also nominated for Best Musical Theater Album at the 2026 Grammys. Below, learn more about the cast album and check out the entire list of Buena Vista Social Club songs and their order.
Buena Vista Social Club Songs (In Order)
Act I
- El Carretero
- De Camino a la Vereda
- Veinte Años
- El Cumbanchero (Rehearsal)
- Veinte Años (1950)
- Qué Bueno Baila Usted
- Bruca Maniguá
- Murmullo
- Drume Negrita
- Candela
- El Cumbanchero (Tropicana)
- Dos Gardenias
Act II
- El Cuarto de Tula
- La Negra Tomasa
- Chan Chan
- Silencio
- Lágrimas Negras
- Bruca Maniguá (Reprise)
- Silencio – Instrumental
- Candela (Finale)
Lyrics to Buena Vista Social Club’s Most Famous Songs
“A caballo vamos pa’l monte/ A caballo vamos pa’l monte/ A caballo vamos pa’l monte/ A caballo vamos pa’l monte” – “El Carretero”
“Si las cosas que uno quiere/ Se pudieran alcanzar/ Tú me quisieras lo mismo/ Que veinte años atrás” – “Veinte Años”
“Castellano’, qué bueno baila usted/ Pero qué rico, qué bueno y qué sabroso bailaba/ Bailando sabroso/ Ahora sí que lo gozo” – “Qué Bueno Baila Usted”
“Yane me tabá, labio de buirí/ Yane me tabá, labio de buirí/ Yenyere Bruca Maniguá/ Abre cuita buirindingo/ Bruca Maniguá Ae” – “Bruca Maniguá”
“¡Y ahora si quieren bailar, busquen otro timbalero!/ Ay candela, candela, candela, me quemo aé/ Ay candela, candela, candela, me quemo aé/ Ay candela, candela, candela, me quemo aé” – “Candela”
“Dos gardenias para ti/ Con ella quiero decir/ Te quiero, te adoro, mi vida/ Ponle todas tu atención/ Que serán tu corazón/ Y el mío” – “Dos Gardenias”
“¡Ay, mamá! ¿Qué pasó?/ ¡Ay, mamá! ¿Qué pasó?/ El cuarto de Tula (¿Qué fue?), le cogió candela/ Se quedó dormida y no apagó la vela” – “El Cuarto de Tula”
“Cuando Juanica y Chan Chan/ En el mar cernían arena/ Como sacudía el jibe/ A Chan Chan le daba pena” – “Chan Chan”
“Silencio, que están durmiendo/ Los nardos y las azucenas/ No quiero que sepan mis penas/ Porque si me ven llorando, morirán” – “Silencio”
“Sufro la inmensa pena de tu extravío/ Siento el dolor profundo de tu partida/ Y lloro sin que sepas que el llanto mío/ Tiene lágrimas negras/ Tiene lágrimas negras/ Como mi vida” – “Lágrimas Negras”
“There is a music studio in Old Havana/ On San Miguel, between Lealtad and Campanario/ Right now, you and I are a thousand miles away/ But a sound like this/ It traveled all the way to Paris/ To talk you to the Sydney Opera House/ Even to the Grammys/ And eventually to a venue built for Mozart, Bach and Rachmaninoff/ Because it’s about damn time that Carnegie Hall heard about us/ The Buena Vista Social Club” – “Candela (Finale)”
Listen to the Buena Vista Social Club Original Broadway Cast Recording
You can stream the complete Buena Vista Social Club (Original Broadway Cast Recording) on Spotify or Apple Music.
Buy Buena Vista Social Club tickets on Broadway and other tickets for Broadway via Ticketmaster.
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