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Salsa is for everyone, and it shows.
Across the planet, wherever salsa dancers go — at least in main cities — it seems you can find a local salsa scene, however big or small. This speaks volumes of the universal appeal of the music style rooted in the Caribbean which flourished in New York, Cali, Caracas (and elsewhere) and then gained momentum to spread across the globe, in part by the Latin diaspora but also by local musicians who got hooked on the salsa sound.
You cannot go very far when exploring context in salsa songs before being amazed by all the incredible information and depths of meaning involved
Among the salsa-loving communities spanning the globe are dancers who pair up at events to share their interpretation of the music, with body movements in varying degrees of complexity and timing. Go to any salsa dance event and you can witness the passion and joy apparent in dancers as they find ways to connect with the music played by the DJ or live band.
The joy, appeal, inclusivity, and inspiration that salsa music offers is impressive. When we consider the musical components which inspire salsa dancers, we can recognize the accessibility that polyrhythm, melody, phrasing, and syncopation have. What is interesting, however, is the role that lyrics play in the sound of salsa as a whole. The lyrics are, by default — with few exceptions — sung in Spanish, a language inaccessible to most dancers you may see at an event in Berlin, London, Istanbul, Nairobi, Tokyo, Taipei, Montréal, San Francisco, or (your city here).
Yet the lyrics are an integral component of a salsa song. They are intended to be more than just a sound like that of an instrument to juxtapose or work in tandem with other instruments. They are the carefully composed ideas, observations, or pronouncements that are heart-fully expressed by vocalists, and often the central force of the song. It is in the lyrics where we find a message, however simple, poignant, or profound it may be. Furthermore, beyond the words and phrases which make up the song composition, there is a background story to that composition, with roots in varying degrees of social, cultural, and historical contexts, giving it even deeper meanings to explore.
Dancing to "Balafon" (Calle Vapor) and "El Aguacatólogo" (Manny Martinez) at 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival
We can note then that salsa music has powerful appeal and can be enjoyed immensely without understanding a word of the lyrics — and of course, that is fine. No one can say that you cannot dance to your heart’s content or physically interpret salsa in your own unique way without understanding the lyrics. However, one might add that there is much to be appreciated when you actually know the meaning of a salsa song. In fact, knowing a song’s message allows a dancer to appreciate it more and to find inspiration for physically interpreting it with more feeling.
Simply put, context matters.
This blog contains a few posts about songs that have already been discussed with regard to context.
Cheo Feliciano’s “Anacaona” (1974) is particularly interesting for its historical background as well as its relevant message today;
“Pueblo Latino” by Spanish Harlem Orchestra (2002) is important for the cultural identity it celebrates;
“Volare” by Cortijo y Su Combo (1960) is interesting for its interpretation of a popular Italian song at a time when the term "salsa" was not in use to describe a musical style.
Salsa in Context
You cannot go very far when exploring context in salsa songs before being amazed by all the incredible information and depths of meaning involved.
This is what inspired me to deliver an introductory presentation titled "Salsa in Context" at the 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival (Nov 22-24), where I also selected tunes for the dance floor on Friday and Saturday night. The event featured many international attendees, including performers, instructors and DJs. It was an absolutely fantastic experience; however, it was also a great opportunity to have an audience to share some ideas about context in salsa. I kept it simple and had modest expectations in the form of an introductory presentation because I don't claim to be an expert; I just wish to share what I can.
Presenting 'Salsa in Context' at the 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival
Thirteen songs were spotlighted, some in more detail than others. All the songs contain fascinating context to raise awareness about the importance of meaning and the background story in salsa.
First, I presented the relevance of two songs, one by Ray Sepulveda with Johnny Rivera, and one by Jimmy Saa.
"No vale la pena" is what started me thinking about context, as this song was incredibly popular in Japan when I started deejaying, and it was intriguing how dancers would joyfully react to what they must have assumed was just a cheerful, romantic song. While the song indeed had an upbeat vibe, the message in the lyrics could not have been more contrasting, with lines such as "it's not worth falling in love" and "love gives you life, but it also takes your life away".
"No vale la pena" -- the Spanish lyrics and the English translation
The song "Si Dios Quiere" by Jimmy Saa has always been a personal favorite, but it was not until I went over the lyrics carefully that I grew even fonder of the song. It has a deep connection with me. The video below is illustrative as a live performance, but the studio version is better.
Live version:
Studio version:
"Si Dios Quiere" -- the Spanish lyrics and the English translation
Additionally, eight songs were discussed briefly, covering a range of contexts, each represented by their album covers, pictured below.
Anacaona, Cheo Feliciano
Indestructible, Ray Barretto
Rebelion, Joe Arroyo
Sujetate la Lengua, Eddie Palmieri
Otra Oportunidad, Jimmy Bosch
Juanito Alimaña, Hector Lavoe
Salao, Grupo Niche
El Mundo al Revés, Tromboranga
Focus on “La Profe”
The main spotlight was on the song “La Profe” by Manny Martinez. It is very impressionable, not just for dancing but also as an entertaining and well-crafted music video. “La Profe” was a good choice of material to focus on at this early stage in my exploration of context in salsa, while I leave more profound songs for later.
Manny Martinez spent most of his childhood in Puerto Rico but resided in New York and San Francisco before moving recently to Cali, Colombia, where in the last two years he has found the space and time to focus on music. He is most well-known for the groundbreaking album Azabache (2000) which he co-produced with his brother. Several solo albums followed, most recently In the Zone (2024).
Fortunately, he agreed to an interview on short-notice just before my trip to Taipei. I was keen to listen to his insight behind three of the songs included in the latest album, one of which is "La Profe". Click below to watch the interview.
Main points of the interview
Salsa can be enjoyed regardless of whether you understand a song’s meaning.
A song's lyrics represent a composer’s observation of life and is part of a story-telling art form.
A deeper appreciation of a song can be achieved by understanding its meaning.
Cultural, social, and historical contexts are areas to look into as well.
Three songs from Manny Martinez's latest album In the Zone (2024) are provided with a background story and some context.
The song "La Profe" ("The Teacher") was inspired by the Van Halen song "Hot Teacher".
The wit, meaning, and context of "La Profe" can be better appreciated by watching the music video.
"El Aguacatólogo" ("The Avocado Expert") was the result of Manny's wife commenting on how good he was at knowing which avocados were perfectly ripe; also relevant are the charm and appeal of street vendors hawking their products: both his local avocado-seller where he currently lives as well as the neighborhood bread-seller from his childhood in Puerto Rico.
"Los Buenos Somos Más" ("There Are More of us Good People") was a phrase he overheard a salsa DJ saying, and the song reiterates the point that despite the general negativity around us, we should be confident that everything will be fine because there are more good people than bad people.
Community, Awareness, and More
Knowing the meaning of a song and understanding its context are avenues to enrich the dancing experience, develop a dancer’s artistic expression, and deepen their connection with the salsa community — not only in the present but also in the past. That is to say, acknowledging the forerunners of this global community we now belong to is also significant. This belonging obliges recognition of those who passed the music down to us. Such recognition could extend further into the past, to the crossroads of 19th century Cuba where the rich musical traditions of Africa and Spain/Europe were set to meet. This may culminate perhaps even with a spiritual experience, where some wisdom develops a deeper appreciation of Afro-Caribbean music that promotes respect, awareness, and peace both on and off the dance floor.
Conclusion
While salsa music evidently has universal appeal within an inclusive, global community, it is noteworthy that many of its enthusiasts probably do not understand the meaning of the songs they are dancing to. This is not a critical judgement; it is just an observation. However, as explained in my presentation at the 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival, being aware of a song’s meaning and context can elevate a dancer’s experience — spotlighting Manny Martinez’s song "La Profe" is a simple example.
Acknowledgements
Heartfelt thanks to Manny Martinez for his talents, insights, and sharing time with me. Thanks as well to the Taiwan Salsa Carnival, and especially its organizer, Calvin Wang, for providing support and a setting for my presentation.
Manny Martinez
Taiwan Salsa Carnival
