Contigo en la distancia is a Cuban bolero written and performed by César Portillo de la Luz. It was published and recorded in 1946 during the rise of the filin movement, and the original recording was later included on the compilation album Un momento con Portillo de la Luz. The song runs about 3 minutes and 20 seconds and helped establish Portillo as a key figure in Cuban bolero. Over the years it has become one of the genre’s most acclaimed tunes and has been covered by many artists, including José José, Luis Miguel, Christina Aguilera and Plácido Domingo. Notable versions include Luis Miguel’s Romance (1991), José José’s Hasta que vuelvas (1973), Christina Aguilera’s Mi Reflejo (2000), Il Divo’s Amor & Pasion (2015) and Plácido Domingo’s Pasión (2013). Portillo, a Havana-born guitarist who taught himself to play, contributed to the spread of bolero through the filin style.
