Hola, my dear Read.cashers! I hope September brights for all of us!
For days I wanted to write something about music. Last month in my article Of Rock and Hot Dogs, I mentioned some of my favorite rock songs. But I also had in mind to write something about Latin music.
There are many genres within Latin music. Perhaps one of the most popular nowadays is the Reguetón. But I'm sorry, but no sorry since I won't talk about it. I don't really like Reguetón. But I thought that since my friend @fantagira loves Salsa and she says that she never remembers the names of the songs, maybe I could share here which are my favorite salsa songs. The ones that I never want to skip dancing to if I go to a party.
But before going to my favorites Salsa songs, let me tell you a little about the origin of Salsa.
SALSA
Salsa is a genre of dance music. Resulted from the mixture of Cuban son with jazz and other Caribbean rhythms. Its commercial success as a musical genre was achieved in the 60s in New York, driven by musicians of Puerto Rican and Cuban origin. Source.
And now, my top five salsa songs. All are already classics of the genre, and they are the ones that I like the most. But I do like many others as well. They aren't written in any specific order. So if you want, you can put your headphones on. And maybe later you'll need to find a dancing partner.
Pedro Navaja - Rubén Blades
It is perhaps the most popular song in the history of Salsa. Composed by Ruben Blades, a Panamanian singer, compositor, and songwriter. Pedro Navaja belongs to the best-selling album in the history of salsa. The lyrics of this song are such a story. It tells the last moments in the life of a thug named Pedro Navaja with a prostitute in the streets of an old neighborhood (el viejo barrio). It's inspired by a song by the famous jazz singer Louis Armstrong, Mark the Knife.
Por la esquina del viejo barrio lo vi pasar
Con el tumba'o que tienen los guapos al caminar
Las manos siempre en los bolsillos de su gabán
Pa' que no sepan en cuál de ellas lleva el puñal
Llorarás - Oscar D'León
Llorarás is one of the best-known songs of the Venezuelan salsa singer Oscar D'Leon known as El Sonero del Mundo or El diablo de la salsa. He wrote the song in 1975 when he was part of a group called La Dimensión Latina. If you are a salsa dancer, probably, you may have danced with some of the songs of the huge repertoire of this Venezuelan singer and songwriter.
Sé que tú no quieres que yo a ti te quiera
Siempre tú me esquivas de alguna manera
Si te busco por aquí, me sales por allá
Lo único que yo quiero, no me hagas sufrir más, rumbera
Dime Por Qué - Ismael Rivera
Dime Por Qué is a song that has been performed by various artists but has become one of the classics of salsa in its version performed by Ismael Rivera. This Puerto Rican singer was known as Maelo and called the Sonero Mayor.
Por qué razón dejaste
Aquel amor divino
Aquellas ilusiones
Dime cual fue el motivo que encontraste
Para dejarme solo y sin cariño
Sí mi único pecado fue adorarte
El Gran Varón - Willie Colón
El Gran Varón is one of the greatest hits of the North American singer of Puerto Rican origin Willie Colón. It was written by Omar Alfanno. The song tells the story of Simón. A transsexual woman who dies of AIDS.
En la sala de un hospital
a las 9:43 nació Simon
Es el verano del '56
El orgullo de don Andrés, por ser varón
Fue criado como los demas
Con mano dura, con severidad
Nunca opinó
Cuando crezcas vas a estudiar
La misma vaina que tu papá, óyelo bien
Tendrás que ser un gran varon
La Vida es un Carnaval - Celia Cruz
La Vida es un Carnaval is one of the many hits of the well-known Cuban singer Celia Cruz. She was one of the most popular Latin singers of her time. And was known as La Reina de la Salsa. The name of the composer of the song is Victor Daniel.
Todo aquel que piense que la vida es desigual
Tiene que saber que no es así
Que la vida es una hermosura, hay que vivirla
Todo aquel que piense que está solo y que está mal
Tiene que saber que no es así
Que en la vida no hay nadie solo, siempre hay alguien
I know that at least one of my friends here likes Latin Music. @jasglaybam is a fan of Thalia. And what about you, do you like Latin music? If you like it, what is your favorite genre?
Lead Image credit - Photo by Ardian Lumi on Unsplash
All images and writings are my own unless anything different is stated.
© CoquiCoin
Until next time! ;)
September 2, 2021
Don't know much about Salsa music or dance. I guess the dance makes the music interesting and vice versa? I prefer the 2nd (Oscar D'Leon) and 3rd (Ismael Rivera). Truth be told, when it comes to Salsa, my palette takes precedence - when it's accompanied by Nachos and Cheese! LOL.