Recorded 1968 Length 3:00 Writer(s) Silvio Rodríguez | Genre Rock Label Paredon | |
Released January 1, 1973 (1973-01-01) | ||
"Fusil Contra Fusil" (Spanish: "Rifle Against Rifle") is a song from the 1973 album Che Guevara Speaks by Cuban musician Silvio Rodríguez. Written in 1968 in homage to Che Guevara, it praises revolutionary heroism and is one of the compositions that appeared immediately after Guevara's death. The song has been popular in Cuba and was covered by several artists, such as Raquel Hernández and Blaak Heat. The song was included in the first part of the 2008 film Che. Along with "Canción del Elegido", "Fusil Contra Fusil" is considered by Radio Cubana as one of the most widespread songs of Rodríguez.
"Fusil Contra Fusil" was written before Rodríguez received formal musical training at ICAIC. Lyrically, the words "fusil contra fusil" refer to Guevara's "name and his last name". The melody is composed in Dorian mode and uses the VII-I progressions and common tone third progressions that were usual in the rock genre of that period. The song also uses modal mixture for a picardy third ending.