Trini Lopez

 

Sad to hear the news of Trini Lopez passing away. He was 83 but his end was hastened by, what else, Covid-19!

Trini was not in my thoughts for many years. But this news took me straight back to the golden decade of the 60s when in every party, after a few drinks, we would get around to singing his songs “If I Had A Hammer” and “Lemon Tree” which ‘is very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the lemon is impossible to eat’. I don’t entirely agree with Trini for I am fond of eating lemon in its raw form! But I guess he was meaning it figuratively as the lyrics that follow show.

Then there was the evergreen “La Bamba” which Ritchie Valens had brought out in 1958 but Trini lent it his own charm and passion to make it to the top of the pops in 1966. It had Spanish lyrics but that didn’t stop us from humming along and shouting “arriba arriba’, ‘soy capitan’ and ‘Bam-ba Bamba’ which we could decipher ourselves. With its fascinating rhythm, we would all be on our feet, clapping and dancing well into the night. “La Bamba” would be familiar to younger generations as well with its revival in 1987 by Los Lobos and its inclusion in the Best Rock and Roll Songs of all time.

Trini is no more but his departure has revived memories of days full of fun and laughter. It is impossible not to get nostalgic and recall Mary Hopkin's unforgettable lyrics, ‘We’d live the life we choose, we’d fight and never lose, for we were young and sure to have our way.’ 

And now, ‘I saw a strange reflection, was that lonely sailor really me?......Oh, my friend, we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same."

Trini Lopez, RIP.