Released in 2001, the original “Color Esperanza” appeared on Diego Torres’s fifth album Un Mundo Diferente. Its message of hope and overcoming hard times resonated, and it became a staple throughout the Spanish-speaking world at events meant to inspire, such as graduations and conferences.

Sony Music Latin and Global Citizen teamed up to release this brand-new version of “Color Esperanza” featuring artists from all genres and styles. Diego Torres takes the lead, followed by Coti Sorokin, who cowrote the original track. Aside from being a reminder that we’ll get through this difficult time, proceeds from the song will benefit the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) COVID-19 relief efforts throughout the Americas. Just stream the song on any platform, watch the video, or use at least one of three hashtags on social media (#streamforhope, #streamforesperanza, or #coloresperanza2020) and PAHO will receive donations.

If you’d like to see the original video by Diego Torres, it can be found here.
If you’d like to know who is singing at a particular point in the song, Genius Lyrics does a great job breaking it down.

Song information from Popsugar.

About the Artists

The following artists appear in this video:

Rubén Blades, Camila, Camilo, Pedro Capó, Coti, Dilsinho, El Cigala, Farruko, Fonseca, Kany García, Leonel García, Gente de Zona, Leslie Grace, Nicky Jam, Lali, Ara Malikian, Dani Martín, Mau y Ricky, Prince Royce, Rauw Alejandro, Reik, Río Roma, Carlos Rivera, Ivete Sangalo, Thalía, Angela Torres, Diego Torres, Manuel Turizo, Jorge Villamizar & Carlos Vives.

Diego Torres

Diego Antonio Caccia, who performs as Diego Torres, is a singer/songwriter and actor from Burenos Aires, Argentina. He is the son of Argentine singer and actress Lolita Torres. He began his musical career in 1989 as part of the band “La Marca”. He released his first solo album Diego Torres in 1992, which was certified three times platinum in Argentina. Two years later he would gain international fame with his second album Tratar de estar mejor, which was certified gold and platinum in several Latin American markets. His most successful song so far, “Color Esperanza” appeared on his fifth album Un Mundo Diferente in 2001. It stayed at the top of the Argentine Singles/Airplay Chart for twelve consecutive weeks. In 2005 he received the Platinum Konex Award for Best Argentine male pop/ballad singer, an award he shared with Sandro de América.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘se pueden abrir’ – meaning ‘can be opened’, this is an example of the passive ‘se’, which tells something that happened or is happening without telling who or what performs the action. It is like using the passive voice in English, for example ‘the books were opened’ (someone opened them, but we don’t know who). Here no specific person or persons is mentioned as doing the opening. The verb conjugates for whatever item is being acted upon. ‘Se resuelvan las problemas’ (plural), and ‘el amor se ve’ (singular).

‘cambiar de aires’ – Literally meaning ‘change of air’ this phrase means ‘a change of environment’ or ‘a change of scenery’.

‘valer la pena’ – Literally translated as ‘to be worth the difficulty/struggle’, this phrase is usually translated as ‘to be worth it’.

‘se puede’ – This is an example of the impersonal ‘se’ which references people in general, rather than a specific person, and is used for general statements or questions about what they, one, or you do. It can be used to talk about how things are done according to custom, rule, or general consensus, asking for directions, finding out how to say things (cómo se dice/how do you say), or asking about the rules or customs in a specific place. Another very common phrase using the impersonal ‘se’ is ‘se habla español’ (Spanish is spoken here).

‘querer que se pueda’ – The verb ‘querer’ meaning ‘to want’ is a verb that needs to be followed by the subjunctive mood.

‘salir adelante’ – Literally translating as ‘to leave forward’, this phrase means ‘to move forward’, ‘to keep on going’ or ‘to get ahead’.

‘dar mente’ – Literally translating as ‘to give mind’, the phrase means ‘to analyze’ or ‘to study’.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Colorcolorcolor | noun | masc sing Esperanzaesperanzahope; expectation | noun | fem sing (2020)

[Verse 1]
Sésaberto know | verb | first pers sing pres quéquéwhich, what, how | adv | invariable hayhaberthere is, are | verb | third pers sing impersonal pres enenin, on, during | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl ojosojoeye | noun | masc pl conconwith | prep solosoloalone | adv mirarmirarlook, watch | verb | infin
Quequethat, than | conj estasestosthese | pron | fem pl cansadacansadotired, exhausted, worn out | adj | fem sing dedefrom, of | prep andarandarto walk; go, travel; work; be, feel; be about, be around; date, go out with | verb | infin yyand | conj dedefrom, of | prep andarandarto walk; go, travel; work; be, feel; be about, be around; date, go out with | verb | infin
Yyand | conj caminarcaminarto walk | verb | infin girandogirarto spin, twirl, turn; revolve around, be about | verb | ger siempresiempreevery time, whenever, always | adv enenin, on, during | prep ununa | indef art | masc sing lugarlugarplace | noun | masc sing

[Verse 2]
Sésaberto know | verb | first pers sing pres quequethat, than | conj laslasthe | def art | fem pl ventanasventanawindow | noun | fem pl sesepassive se | pron | talks about something that happened without saying who or what carried out the action puedenpoderto be able to | verb | third pers pl pres abrirabrirto open | verb | infin
Cambiarcambiarto change | verb | infin | cambiar de aires = change of environment, change of scenery elelthe | def art | masc sing aireaireair, wind, breeze; resemblance, look, demeanour | noun | masc sing dependedependerdepend, rely, need, be dependent | verb | third pers sing pres dedefrom, of | prep titiyou | pron | obj of a prep
Ay, teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing ayudaráayudarto help | verb | third pers sing fut
Valevalerto cost, be worth | verb | third pers sing pres | valer la pena = be worth it lalathe | def art | fem sing penapenasorrow; embarrassment, shame; difficulty, struggle; punishment, sentence | noun | fem sing unaunaindef art | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing másmásmore, plus | adv

[Chorus 1]
Sabersaberto know | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puede,poderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres quererquererto want; to love | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puedapoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing subj
Quitarnosquitar + nosto take, take from, remove + us | verb + pron | infin loslosthe | def art | masc pl miedos,miedofear | noun | masc pl dejarlosdejar + losto let, allow; to leave + them | verb + pron | infin afueraafueraout, outside | adv
Pintarsepintarseto put on/wear makeup; be capable; leave, take off | verb | infin lalathe | def art | fem sing caracaraface | noun | fem sing colorcolorcolor | noun | masc sing esperanzaesperanzahope; expectation | noun | fem sing
Tentarto tempt; to prove, goad; to feel (one's way)verb | infin ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing futurofuturofuture | noun | masc sing conconwith | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing

[Verse 3]
Valevalerto cost, be worth | verb | third pers sing pres másmásmore, plus | adv elelthe | def art | masc sing presentepresentepresent | noun | masc sing quequethat, than | conj elelthe | def art | masc sing futurofuturofuture | noun | masc sing
Daledar + legive it | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera suavesuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc and fem sing quequethat, than | conj aquíaquíhere, now | adv nononot | adv hayhaberthere is, are | verb | third pers sing impersonal pres apuroapuropredicament, difficult situation; hardship; embarrassment; rush | noun | masc sing
Yayanow, already | adv salimo’salir (salimos)leave; come from, arise; date, go out with; go out; escape from; rise from; go, turn out | verb | third pers sing pres | salir adelante = move forward, keep on going; get ahead adelante,adelanteforwards, ahead, further | adv | | salir adelante = move forward, keep on going; get ahead yayanow, already | adv nononot | adv lele(to) him, (to) her, (to) them, it, you | pron | indir obj, third pers sing de’dar (des)to give | verb | sec pers sing impera (neg) | dar mente = analyze, study mentementemind | noun | fem sing | dar mente = analyze, study
Yyand | conj abrazo’abrazo (abrazos)hug, embrace | noun | masc pl pa’parafor, to, in order to | prep todatodoevery, each; whole, entire | adj | fem sing mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing gentegentepeople | noun | fem sing

[Verse 4]
Éserto be | verb | third pers sing pres | Portuguese melhormelhorbetter | adj | Portuguese perderseperderseto get lost, miss | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj nuncanuncanever | adv embarcarembarcarto board, embark | verb | infin
Mejormejorbetter; best | adj | masc and fem sing tentarsetentarto tempt; to prove, goad; to feel (one's way) | verb | infin aato, into, by | prep dejardejarto let, allow; to leave | verb | infin dedefrom, of | prep intentar,intentarto try | verb | infin
Yyand | conj asíasílike this, like that, this way | adv seráserto be | verb | third person sing fut
Lalathe | def art | fem sing vidavidalife | noun | fem sing mudamudarto change | verb | third pers sing pres yyand | conj mudarámudarto change | verb | third pers sing fut

[Verse 5]
Sésaberto know | verb | first pers sing pres quequethat, than | conj lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter imposibleimposibleimpossible | adj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puedepoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres lograrlograrto manage, reach | verb | infin
Quequethat, than | conj lalathe | def art | fem sing tristezatristezasadness, sorrow, grief | noun | fem sing algúnalgunosome | adj | masc sing | algún día = someday, one day díadíaday | noun | masc sing | algún día = someday, one day sesehimself, herself, itself, themselves | pron | reflex, third pers sing and pl iráirto go | verb | third pers sing fut | irse = to leave
Yyand | conj asíasílike this, like that, this way | adv seráserto be | verb | third person sing fut
Lalathe | def art | fem sing vidavidalife | noun | fem sing cambiacambiarto change | verb | third pers sing pres yyand | conj cambiarácambiarto change | verb | third pers sing fut

[Pre-Chorus]
Sentirássentirto feel; sense; hear; taste; feel about, think about; feel sorry about | verb | sec pers sing fut quequethat, than | conj elelthe | def art | masc sing almaalmasoul | noun | masc sing vuelavolarto fly; do in a rush; blow up, explode; steal; skip, play hooky | verb | third pers sing pres
Porporfor; because of; by | prep cantarcantarto sing; to confess | verb | infin unaunaone | indef art | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing másmásmore, plus | adv

[Chorus 2]
Sabersaberto know | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puede,poderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres quererquererto want; to love | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puedapoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing subj
Quitarsequitar + seto take, take from, remove + him, her, it | verb | infin loslosthe | def art | masc pl miedos,miedofear | noun | masc pl echarlosechar + losgive, hand out; kick out; drop; throw | verb + pron | infin pa’parafor, to, in order to | prep afueraafueraout, outside | adv
Pintarsepintarseto put on/wear makeup; be capable; leave, take off | verb | infin lalathe | def art | fem sing caracaraface | noun | fem sing colorcolorcolor | noun | masc sing esperanzaesperanzahope; expectation | noun | fem sing
Tentarto tempt; to prove, goad; to feel (one's way)verb | infin ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing futurofuturofuture | noun | masc sing conconwith | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing corazón,corazónheart | noun | masc sing conconwith | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing

[Chorus 3] x 2
Sabersaberto know | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puede,poderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres quererquererto want; to love | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puedapoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing subj
Quitarsequitar + seto take, take from, remove + him, her, it | verb | infin loslosthe | def art | masc pl miedos,miedofear | noun | masc pl sacarlossacar + losto kick out, throw out; remove; extract; take out + them | verb + pron | infin afueraafueraout, outside | adv
Pintarsepintarseto put on/wear makeup; be capable; leave, take off | verb | infin lalathe | def art | fem sing caracaraface | noun | fem sing colorcolorcolor | noun | masc sing esperanzaesperanzahope; expectation | noun | fem sing
Tentarto tempt; to prove, goad; to feel (one's way)verb | infin ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing futurofuturofuture | noun | masc sing conconwith | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing

[Chorus 4] x 2
Sabersaberto know | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puedepoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres
Quererquererto want; to love | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj seseimpersonal se | pron | references people in general puedapoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing subj
Pintarsepintarseto put on/wear makeup; be capable; leave, take off | verb | infin lalathe | def art | fem sing caracaraface | noun | fem sing colorcolorcolor | noun | masc sing esperanzaesperanzahope; expectation | noun | fem sing
Tentarto tempt; to prove, goad; to feel (one's way)verb | infin ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing futurofuturofuture | noun | masc sing conconwith | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Color Esperanza (2020)
Color of Hope (2020)

[Verse 1]
Sé qué hay en tus ojos con solo mirar
I know what’s in your eyes with just a look
Que estas cansada de andar y de andar
That you’re tired of walking and walking
Y caminar girando siempre en un lugar
And walking always circling in one place

[Verse 2]
Sé que las ventanas se pueden abrir
I know windows can be opened
Cambiar el aire depende de ti
Changing the scenery is up to you
Ay, te ayudará
Oh, it’ll help you
Vale la pena una vez más
It’s worth it one more time

[Chorus 1]
Saber que se puede, querer que se pueda
To know that we can, to want to be able to
Quitarnos los miedos, dejarlos afuera
To get rid of our fears, to throw them out
Pintarse la cara color esperanza
To paint our faces the color of hope
Tentar al futuro con el corazón
To tempt the future with our hearts

[Verse 3]
Vale más el presente que el futuro
The present is worth more than the future
Dale suave que aquí no hay apuro
Give it gently because there’s no rush here
Ya salimo’ adelante, ya no le de’ mente
Now we’re moving forward, now don’t give it any thought
Y abrazo’ pa’ toda mi gente
And hugs for all my people

[Verse 4]
É melhor perderse que nunca embarcar
It’s better to get lost than to never get on board
Mejor tentarse a dejar de intentar
Better to tempt yourself than to stop trying
Y así­ será
And it will be like that
La vida muda y mudará
Life changes and will change

[Verse 5]
Sé que lo imposible se puede lograr
I know that the impossible can be achieved
Que la tristeza algún día se irá
That sadness will one day go away
Y así­ será
And it will be like that
La vida cambia y cambiará
Life changes and will change

[Pre-Chorus]
Sentirás que el alma vuela
You’ll feel your soul fly
Por cantar una vez más
For singing one more time

[Chorus 2]
Saber que se puede, querer que se pueda
To know that we can, to want to be able to
Quitarse los miedos, echarlos pa’ afuera
To get rid of our fears, to throw them out
Pintarse la cara color esperanza
To paint our faces the color of hope
Tentar al futuro con el corazón, con el corazón
To temp the future with our hearts, with our hearts

[Chorus 3] x 2
Saber que se puede, querer que se pueda
To know that we can, to want to be able to
Quitarse los miedos, sacarlos afuera
To get rid of our fears, to throw them out
Pintarse la cara color esperanza
To paint our faces the color of hope
Tentar al futuro con el corazón
To tempt the future with our hearts

[Chorus 4] x 2
Saber que se puede
To know that we can
Querer que se pueda
To want to be able to
Pintarse la cara color esperanza
To paint our faces the color of hope
Tentar al futuro con el corazón
To tempt the future with our hearts