![Rubén Blades in Lima: select salsa and street poetry from an artist who sings his love for Latin America [CHRONICLE]](https://insightermedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/f91e7a88df07063268d4fb5287e9c5f6.webp "Rubén Blades in Lima: select salsa and street poetry from an artist who sings his love for Latin America [CHRONICLE]")
Poetry to dance to. Rhythm to think about. Rubén Blades gave a genuine salsa class accompanied by the Roberto Delgado Big Band. The attendees sang along to the select repertoire that the Panamanian singer-songwriter prepared for his concert at Arena 1 Park in Lima as part of his Fotografías Tour. “Pedro Navaja,” “Amor y control,” and “Decisiones” were some of the most celebrated songs.
It was a long-awaited reunion of the artist with the Peruvian audience. The party started with “Plástico.” This fast-paced salsa, which has a cheerful disco music rhythm introduction, announced a long night. As remembered, this is the first track of “Siembra,” the historic album that Rubén Blades recorded with the late Willie Colón. At the end of the song, the Panamanian showed himself deeply moved by the applause of the attendees.
The Roberto Delgado Big Band was precise like a sound machine. The melancholic track “Pablo Pueblo” showed its marked rhythm and reflective lyrics at their fullest. “Decisiones,” from the album “Buscando América,” made everyone dance and sing the verse “someone loses, someone wins, Ave María!”
READ MORE: Rubén Blades arrives in Lima with what could be his last tour: “I am very aware that I have more past than future”
Family, Peru, and the Pope
Blades’ concert brought together people from different generations. When the opening notes of “Amor y control” played, many parents hugged their children. Others remembered deceased relatives: “my old man liked that song,” said a young woman. The Panamanian sang with great emotion and mentioned his mother’s name in this song.
The interpretation of “Todos Vuelven,” by Peruvian composer César Miró, had a special tone. Photographs of great Latin music exponents like Celia Cruz and Héctor Lavoe were projected on the screen. Images of renowned figures from the national songbook such as Lucha Reyes, Chabuca Granda, Arturo “Zambo” Cavero, and Óscar Avilés also appeared.
“The Pope is Peruvian,” Blades repeated in the song “El padre Antonio y el monaguillo Andrés.” Everyone applauded upon hearing this phrase. “The bells ring,” the audience sang at the end of the song before celebrating the start of “Ligia Elena.”
Love and the past
“Paula C” is a Rubén Blades song that addresses the sadness of separation. The sound of the Roberto Delgado Big Band accentuated the nostalgia of the track. The concert’s visual resources also stood out by accompanying compositions like this. While it played, images designed with references to New York were projected.
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The Panamanian artist commented that “Lo pasado no perdona” was written approaching the style of the songs that Willie Colón recorded with Héctor Lavoe. Blades sang this song that conveys a heartbreaking feeling of vulnerability.
While they played “El Cantante,” the audience applauded when the background screen projected images of Héctor Lavoe, especially that photograph showing him alongside Rubén Blades in their youth.
Life and the search
About “Maestra vida,” he said it is a song he wrote when young but at 78 years old finds a new meaning. “Pedro Navaja” was a whole sonic experience for the attendees due to the orchestra’s brilliant performance.
“Buscando América” was the final song of the concert. The bold percussion, challenging bass, forceful piano, and the orchestra’s winds gave the track a new shine.
There were 20 songs. The presentation lasted 2 and a half hours. It was a meeting with salsa and one of the most important singer-songwriters in Spanish music. A show full of rhythm, dance, poetry, and reflection.
It is also important to highlight the previous participation of Mauricio Mesones, in which the experienced guitarist Martín Choy stood out with each of his solos. This presentation was a journey through the coast, highlands, and jungle of Peru through cumbia.
