Cheo Feliciano’s 1971 album titled Cheo  marked his much-welcomed return from drug rehabilitation.  The album's opening track soon became a classic in the salsa pantheon of standards: 'Anacaona'. The song has been described as the first major hit of the “salsa explosion” [1]. To this day, it remains a much-loved tune for dancers and listeners alike, with its appealing instrumentation, song structure, and alluring atmosphere — but all this is topped by the sublime sound of Cheo Feliciano’s vocals himself.  Cheo (Inca, 1971) - see jacket details at bottom However, the merits of 'Anacaona' are not limited to purely musical aspects. Also important are the lyrics composed by Puerto Rican songwriter Tite Curet Alonso that make the song exemplary as salsa consciente , or "conscientious salsa" [2], a style which defined several salsa songs of the 1970s. Some reflection at the present time on the story of 'Anacaona' might suggest that it is now more relevant with popular awareness than ever before — even after 50+ years.  The lyrics speak of a noble woman who was a music composer and would become chief of the Taínos , inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola, where the Dominican Republic is located today. She repudiated the newly arrived Spanish colonizers, was captured, enslaved, and killed. Her name was Anacaona.  The song remarks on her fight to protect her people and their culture. It also laments at her demise. In a show of conscious inclusivity, national or romantic sentiments are downplayed since the song composer, a Puerto Rican, chose as his subject an indigenous inhabitant of a Caribbean island other than his own [3]; thus, Anacaona is portrayed not only as a noble symbol of her peoples’ resistance and tragedy, but also the story and plight of indigenous peoples across the Caribbean. To point, her confrontation with the Spanish was a form repeated time and again between indigenous peoples and European colonizers across the Americas for the next few centuries.  The execution of Anacaona by Jodocus van Winghen, 1558. Image source: argia.eus It seems that for ages popular awareness was never broad enough to include much historical injustice,  especially the kind experienced by First Nations peoples. However, the topics of settler colonialism and related injustices are now on the rise within a swirling, global consciousness although they are downplayed or ignored by mainstream media; yet, the story of Anacaona is profoundly relevant today. This tribute by composer Tite Curet Alonso, who wrote several songs touching on socio-cultural issues (including one about Anacaona’s husband, Caonabó), is an invitation for more awareness-raising on the injustices of the past and present.  Such is the understanding one can gain from learning the context of certain musical pieces. Salsa songs are no exception; in fact, many are rich in context. References 1. Cesar Miguel Rondon. The Book of Salsa  (Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 2008), 202. 2. Andrés Espinoza Agurto. Salsa Consciente  (East Lansing: MSU Press, 2022), 149. 3. Agurto, Salsa Consciente , 150. Salsa In Context This blog post has been an exploration of Salsa in Context: the example of 'Anacaona', the first segment in a series which examines the background story of salsa songs. The aim is to raise awareness of the music that salsa dancers might be familiar with on the dance floor but in fact know little about due to language barriers. See all posts tagged "salsa in context" . PRESENTATION Salsa in Context  will be presented at 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival  in Taipei, Nov 22-24. “Salsa in Context - An introduction to develop your appreciation of salsa music as a dancer and listener ”   by Angel Figueroa (Josai International University)  Location: NuZone Exhibition Center , 2F (Salsa Room) Date & Time: Sunday, Nov 24, 11:30-12:20 The 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival  is an international salsa event organized by Calvin Wang and hosted at a spacious venue in Taipei with several invited international instructors, performers, and DJs. Social dancing is provided for both salsa and bachata dancers. Get tickets here . FURTHER LISTENING The song “Anacaona” was included in Episode 41 of Encanto Tropical: Tite Curet Alonso Tribute , which featured many great songs by the Puerto Rican composer. Click on the image below to open the episode webpage for more information and to replay the show. — JACKET DETAILS First released in 1971 by Inca Records, the 1972 pressing by Vaya Records is the version pictured in this post. It is a gatefold edition with interesting details including a note by Curet Alonso. < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of dropping the world debut -- or one of them! (lol) -- of the latest release by Don Ruiz Orquesta -- 'Bailar Contigo' -- at the Mambongo Salsa Social in Tokyo. Check out Don Ruiz Orq uesta on Facebook! Click below to see a short clip on YouTube.

AFTER-SHOW POST | PRE-SHOW POST Episode 46 looked back at the year 2000 for some of the best salsa songs released as the 20th century came to a close. The replay is available at the bottom. (26 tracks, 2:03:42). The show, titled "Then the Millennium", was inspired by memories of all the concern caused by the Y2K bug exactly 25 years ago this month. Read more in the pre-show post . Artists The 26 songs in the playlist are by the artists below. Listen to the show for full attribution. Africando All Stars Alfredo de la Fé Bobby Valentin Celia Cruz Conjunto Azabache ¡Cubanismo! Don Adolfo and his Orquesta Organizacion Estrellas Caiman José Mangual Jr Mamborama Maraca Orquesta La Palabra Orquesta Tabaco y Ron Puentes Brothers Puerto Rican Power Quinto Mayor Ray Santiago And His Orquesta Rey Ruiz Ricardo Lemvo & La Makina Loca Saxomania Son Boricua Sonora Carruseles Tito Nieves Tito Puento & Eddie Palmieri Tony Vega Wayne Gorbea's Salsa Picante CHOICES The song selection is certainly more of a 'personal favourites'-list rather than an authoritative "best salsa" list. These are mostly songs I found myself playing on repeat as a budding salsa DJ -- most of them are danceable and have not aged. It was a fun, nostalgic trip digging through my old CDs to gather material for this project. Theme-BaseD Encanto Tropical shows are usually based on a given theme rather than a random set of songs pulled together. Making theme-based shows such as Episode 46 fosters my growth as a salsa DJ with a deeper appreciation of the music. I hope listeners can find meaning in this approach as well. Check the Archives for all Encanto Tropical theme-based episodes (with the hashtag "theme-based show"). OTHER YEARS Check out other "Best Salsa" lists by Encanto Tropical: Best Salsa of 2024 Best Salsa of 2023 Best Salsa of 2022 REPLAY Encanto Tropical 46 - Best Salsa Songs from the Year 2000 (Click on the above link if the embedded SoundCloud player does not display) < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

AFTER-SHOW POST | PRE-SHOW POST The "2024 Songlist" features 25 tracks (2:00:24). Replay at the bottom of this page. It was great fun compiling and programming the songs for this last episode of 2024, where I looked back on the year to select my favourite twenty-five songs of the year. It was not an easy task trimming my initial shortlist to just 25 items, however. There were several outtakes that I would love to share as well. All 25 songs are pooled from a Spotify playlist co-curated with DJ Rem of France, and most were included in the monthly top-10 charts of the year. The list, Contemporary Salsa (2024 Releases) , contains more than 650 songs. ARTISTS The following artists were featured, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to all of them for their amazing songs. If you are not familiar with them, do check them out. Boyacá Calle Vapor Carlos Pérez y Su Orquesta DJ Isaia "El Profeta" DJ Mirco, Merlino DJ & DJ Pepe El Rumbero EL Equipo Del Norte El Santos El Vikingo de la Salsa Felipe Debrand Ivan Venot feat. DJ Pepe El Rumbero Johnny Ray Salsa Con Clase La Maxima 79 & DJ Fabrizio Zoro Lios Choko Luis Blasini Y Iroko La Banda Manny Martinez Papo Medina Radio Bembe Orquesta Robertito Hernandez feat. Maximo Rivera Son Con Ron Son Horizonte Spanish Harlem Orchestra Take Two Bros (El Timba y Roberto Sabroso) Willie Panamá Yemaya La Banda The 25 songs are played in a random order on the show to best suit the programming of tracks. I was not interested in ranking them. Full attribution of artist and track is provided on the show and below. Featured on Encanto Tropical 47 Best SALSA Songs of 2024 (The Encanto Tropical Songlist) Below are the songs featured on the show -- my so-called best salsa songs of 2024! See the important note about choices further down. The songs are listed in alphabetical order. CHOICES Let's be clear, the song selection is certainly more of a 'personal favourites'-list rather than an authoritative "best salsa" list. These songs are basically what I found myself playing on repeat either while deejaying or while commuting to work! See the pre-show post for details about criteria. CHARTS To see the monthly salsa charts (commencing from January 2023) see the Charts  page. Click on image to see the 2023-24 Charts OTHER YEARS Check out other "Best Salsa" lists by Encanto Tropical: Best Salsa of 2000 Best Salsa of 2022 Best Salsa of 2023 FINAL NOTES 2024 has been a wild year, with lots of distressing news, and as the new year approaches, there is a some trepidation for how certain events may unfold. Well, at least we have music -- and salsa is where it's at... It was a good year for salsa. REPLAY EPISODE 47 Encanto Tropical 47 - Best Salsa Songs of 2024 (Click on the above link if the embedded SoundCloud player does not display) < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

AFTER-SHOW POST | PRE-SHOW POST This salsa session comprises 30 tracks (1:57:41). Replay near the bottom of this page. Long on my to-do list has been a show entirely dedicated to salsa from the 1970s outside of the Fania Records catalog and generally unknown (or at least considered rare) among salsa dancers and listeners: so-called "underground salsa". Certain DJs and collectors really excel in this category of salsa. I am not an expert, and I am limited in resources for collecting much rare material since by default it is a rather expensive pursuit. Context For more discussion on the term "underground salsa" as well as my plans for this episode, please see the pre-show post . Why the theme 'underground salsa'? The development of my branding over many years as a salsa DJ suggests a rather wide scope of salsa material, I think (and hope). My repertoire is not limited to a particular style, with an extensive collection in both vintage and contemporary salsa, whether salsa brava or romantica. It includes music of several origins, whether Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Europe, the USA, and elsewhere. There is also Cuban music, whether of the golden age, contemporary (songo and timba) and traditional (son cubano, etc). I thrive in this diversity, despite the obvious disadvantage of not having an established niche nor being known as an expert in any one style although some dancers have labeled me as a DJ catering to on2 dancers. This is fine; however I am interested in the wide spectrum which makes up salsa, finding both fulfillment and rewarding challenges in switching among the various defining traits that constitute the differing modes of the salsa musical style. Inevitably, my approach -- whether at the club or on the radio -- usually results in a mingling of different material in my DJ sets, for better or for worse. So-called "underground salsa" usually gets some play but it has never served as the common denominator in a set. This got me thinking about dedicating an entire show to it. Episode 48 is the result. Objectives Important to point out is that this project is not an attempt to provide an authoritative selection (or definition) of underground salsa. Rather, I just wanted to explore and provide some simple examples while ideally promoting some discussion with like-minded readers and listeners. Without a doubt, I could learn from DJs who excel in the underground variety! So I advise everyone to take my underground session with a pinch of salt - qnd see my invitation below for feedback and comments. Some albums on Encanto Tropical 48 DJ Nik Worth noting is one particular DJ who has been exemplary and amazingly resourceful, consistent, and talented with great taste in salsa of the underground variety. I am referring to DJ Nik of San Francisco ( Instagram | Facebook ). Be sure to check out any of his fantastic sessions on Facebook, some of which are provided below as personal favourites of mine. (Clicking on an image will open the video on Facebook). I also acknowledge DJ Nik's editing suggestions when he reviewed a draft of my pre-show post. DJ Nik was a guest on Encanto Tropical 10 . Check it out for an interesting interview. An important Note It might go without saying, but to make something clear, deejaying salsa is not an easy-to-define pursuit. Certainly reading the crowd is important and so is playing what dancers of a certain style expect or are familiar with. Then there is the famous adage of playing what dancers didn't know they wanted to hear! Balancing a unique impression of one's DJ style with a practical appeal for the dance floor is the ultimate aim although all people cannot be pleased all of the time. As for rare and vintage salsa, especially the kind unrecognizable by apps such as Shazam, it appears to be an effective tool for providing "uniqueness" to one's DJ image. The merit of playing such songs one after another is up to debate, however. Instead, using it wisely and sparingly is what I imagine the most successful DJs do. Then of course there are the different personas that DJs may have. DJ Nik for example, excels in underground salsa in his online sets; however, as a dancer's DJ, he has been very clear to play other styles in his personal repertoire. He mixes it up, so to speak. This is an important point. In the same vein, the radio format can allow me to focus on underground salsa as a theme*. Therefore, this episode is not meant to imply that underground salsa is my focus as an event DJ. *Note: A thematic show  is the general template for Encanto Tropical -- as opposed to a session of random songs. Feedback Readers' comments are always welcome on this topic -- from whichever perspective, whether a casual or serious listener, dancer, or DJ. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below! Artists Featured in Episode 48 are the following artists/groups, listed in alphabetical order. Full attribution is provided on the show but, to my regret, I failed to point out much information about the artists. Sorry about that. Alfredo Vargas y Su Orquesta La Liberación Carlos Barberia y Su Orquesta Kubavana Cesar Nicolas y Su Orquesta Combo Fascinación Cuadra Latina El Clan Antillano Eugenio Barada Grupo Yakambu Hermanos Lano Jorge Brown y Su Orquesta Creacion La Banda y Su Tremenda Salsa La Banda de los Felinos La Nueva Combinacion Los Demonios del Salado Los Hermanos Armas Los Pankis Los Perfectos Los Watusi Orquesta Expose 1 Orquesta Internacional Orquesta La Ampliacion Orquesta Riverside Panchito Nalmy Ray Pérez y El Grupo Casabe Roberto y Su Nuevo Montuno Rodrifo Mendoza Roy Herrera y orquesta La Monumental The Golden Brass Victot Irizarri y Su Orquesta Win & Macai Prudencia & Su Salsa Antiyana REPLAY EPISODE 48 Encanto Tropical 48 - Underground Salsa Session (Click on the link above if the embedded SoundCloud player does not display) Interested in reading more? Check out the Blog Index  to see all posts. Scan the highlights of other episodes of Encanto Tropical on the Archives  page. Browse a list of selected, in-depth writings on the Featured Posts  page. Follow the Encanto Tropical Facebook Page . Subscribe  to receive the email newsletter (see a sample ). < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

PRE-SHOW POST | AFTER-SHOW POST Encanto Tropical Episode 46 features salsa songs only from the year 2000.       Remember the Y2K bug? It was supposedly a computer coding flaw which would cause worldwide problems with networking systems using files dated after 1999. As the end of the century approached, there was palpable concern that at the stroke of midnight heading into 2000 this bug would start wreaking havoc. However, nothing of the sort happened.  The Y2K scare seems rather quaint upon reflection. Fast forward 25 years and as another new year approaches, there are far more serious concerns in mind. Several issues foretell a dire year ahead. Whether it’s the climate crisis, disintegrating societies, political landscapes in turmoil, debilitating repercussions of advanced capitalism, regional and proxy wars which risk nuclear escalation, or the scary consequences of rapidly expanding artificial intelligence, civilization as we know it seems on the verge of going south one way or another. How will everything work out? I don’t know, but at the risk of playing the proverbial fiddle while Rome burns, there is refuge in music. Anything similar to a post-Y2K collective sigh of relief seems improbable, but let's stay tuned for tidbits of optimism like the recent news of a breakthrough in desalination technology that could benefit billions of people . For now, we carry on with Y2K as a theme. Playing salsa songs that were fresh at the beginning of the century -- shortly after I started deejaying -- will be a nostalgic trip. < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

AFTER-SHOW POST | PRE-SHOW POST Replay Encanto Tropical 33 using the link at the bottom of this page: 24 songs ( 2:06:11 ). Next week on Monday February 12th I have the pleasure being the supporting DJ at the album-release concert and 10th anniversary of the Japanese salsa band Son D' K.Libre. They are based in Osaka, where I was living when they formed ten years ago. The director is the multi-talented guitarist, composer, and singer Yacel Sagarra. In a previous post, I included details of the Son D' K.Libre 2024 Tour . ​ Episode 33 of Encanto Tropical is a Cuban music session featuring songs from both Son D' K.Libre and the duo of Yacel and his partner -- together they perform independently as Yacel and Aya . Some of the artists included in Episode 33 ARTISTS Full attribution is given on the show. Featured artists are listed below. Bamboleo  Berna Jam Charangon Del Norte, Wilver Pedrozo Cubanicho Cuban`S TRes Los Djs Timberos & Los Pollos Timberos & Leidy Garcia Gonzalez El Equipo Del Norte El Rubio Loco & Dj Fabrizio Zoro Fabio Gianni & Ivan Venot Formell y Los Van Van El Hijo de Teresa y la Llegada Leo Wilber (feat. DJ Andrea Tresdò) Mixael Cabrera Mercadonegro Orishas Passion Timba Renesito Avich  Son D' K.Libre Yacel and Aya Yacel Sagarra Yasser Ramos Y El Tumbao Mayombe Yuma Takeuchi ( 竹内悠馬 ) REPLAY EPISODE 33 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

AFTER-SHOW POST | PRE-SHOW POST There is a fine line between easy and difficult when making a session with only Fania Records material — this was a tribute session marking its 60th anniversary — but I aimed for balance between popular anthems and personal faves. See the pre-broadcast post  for context. Episode 35 can be replayed at the bottom of this page (25 tracks, 2:03:31). Artists included are listed below. Full attribution is given on the show.   Adalberto Santiago Alfredito & His Orchestra Bobby Valentin Bronco  Celia Cruz & Ray Barretto Cheo Feliciano Fania All-Stars (x2) Hector Lavoe Jimmy Sabater Johnny Colon Latin Tempo Lebron Brothers Louie Ramirez Monguito Santamaria Orchestra Harlow Orquesta La Conspiracion Johnny Pacheco Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez Ralph Robles Ray Barretto Ricardo “Richie” Ray & Bobby Cruz Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound Típica 73 Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe The list of artists spans several labels in the Fania universe, as it was a parent company with sub-labels it either established or acquired, such as Alegre, Cotique, International, and Vaya. Note that several of the artists featured here were not exclusively on Fania, but the songs selected for the show are from the Fania discography. Some of the music on Encanto Tropical 35 This episode is Part 1 of a two-part series. See Part 2 . Fania Records is owned by Concord .  REPLAY EPISODE 35 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

PRE-SHOW POST | AFTER-SHOW POST This summer marks sixty years since Fania Records was founded by Johnny Pacheco and Jerry Masucci. In the years which followed, Fania ballooned in size and power, with varying degrees of success but not without criticism, both in the way it treated its artists and in its business conduct with other record labels and independent artists. Regardless, Fania merits the undeniable role as an institution which helped put salsa on the music map. Domestically, Fania served as a flagship for affirming identity and celebration among Latin American migrants in United States. At the international level, it gained a following for a standard sound while contributing to the popularization of salsa -- along with other labels in the industry -- across the Caribbean and South America. Several Fania artists became household names, and much of their album cover art and many of their songs now serve as icons and anthems, as it were, of a bygone era that some refer to as a "golden age" of salsa. Fania would cease operations well before the millennium, but its catalog of songs numbering in the thousands is still in operation with full rights owned and protected by its present owner. Credit: fania.com (Click on image to visit the Fania Records website) Personally, I developed mixed feelings about Fania . On one hand, as both a general listener and a budding DJ, many of its artists and songs influenced me greatly. On the other hand, it would later dawn on me that the market for salsa was dominated by this one label, and an unfortunate result was that talented bands or musicians unassociated with Fania (for whatever reason) did not receive the recognition they deserved. In addition, one could say there was a uniformity of sorts in the Fania sound although it was still fresh, revolutionary, and important in the development of the genre. This would end with the advent of so-called salsa romantica , but during its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s -- and even several decades later, when there was a revival for appreciating 'older' salsa -- Fania was unrivaled. One had to go to great lengths to discover anything that was not part of the Fania universe. (This includes important sub-labels or other labels that Fania acquired, such as Alegre, Tico, Cotique, and Vaya). Some of the music on Encanto Tropical 35 My point is that during my formative years as a DJ while diving deep into salsa, I realized there was a lot of non-Fania material which was not only very different in sound but also very good in quality (technological limitations notwithstanding); however it meant many salsa players had been ignored, overlooked, or simply unfindable because, in simple terms, Fania was just so immense. Perhaps Fania is not a sole culprit; rather that it was the nature of the record industry, which is very different from today, where technical and networking advancements benefit independent artists and limit the influence of a label. Nonetheless, there was a disconnect between the music being made and its distribution or promotion among target audiences, and it was so pronounced that even today there is a reactionary taste when it comes to vintage salsa. By example, many seasoned DJs are likely to avoid Fania when playing music from the 70s and 80s -- leaning instead towards rare and very different sounds of other vintage productions. I say this from anecdotal experience. With these caveats in mind, marking the occasion of sixty years of Fania still has relevance, and Episode 35 acknowledges this with a selection of iconic Fania material. However, choices will be pared down by avoiding big anthems because there's no point in a predictable track list that listeners can easily find on Spotify or elsewhere. Instead, I will attempt an original approach by striking a balance between personal favourites and lesser-known material in the Fania universe -- spotlighting individual artists with one emblematic song of my choice. In this way, song choices will be contextualized, following the approach as in othet theme-based shows on Encanto Tropical. However, it goes without saying that a show limited to two hours cannot serve as a comprehensive salsa tribute to Fania on its 60th anniversary. It can only be just a small dedication. Update Part 2 of a salsa tribute to Fania Records was broadcast on Nov. 7. Details here . < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Replay Encanto Tropical 34 using the link at the bottom of this page: 27 songs ( 1:59:24 ). Episode 34 of Encanto Tropical is a live recording of a gig at Mambongo Social in Tokyo on April 6 2024, but with all the bachata and kizomba removed -- a salsa replay! I could not provide track commentary due to voice issues (from asthma), so it’s effectively a two salsa hour mix, with an eclectic range of vintage bangers and contemporary material. Some of the artists in Episode 34 REPLAY EPISODE 34 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

AFTER-SHOW POST | PRE-SHOW POST Ready for replay is 'Versions' (25 tracks, 2:04:20). See the link at the bottom of the page. The topic is salsa cover songs. See the pre-broadcast post for details. ARTISTS Artists included are listed below. Full attribution is provided on the show.   Africando All Stars Calle Vapor Carlos D'Castro Eddie Torres And His Mambo Kings Orchestra Franco et l'orchestre O.K. Jazz German Villareal & Mambo Big Band Irving Manuel Joe Quijano & His Orchestra Kevin Davis & Ban Caribe King Bongo La Cali Salsa Big Band & José Aguirre La-33 Mambo Legends Orchestra Manny Mendez Melcochita Mikata New Swing Sextet Orquesta Magia Caribeña Federico Junior Saxomania Sonora Matancera Tributo & Issac Delgado Soneros de Fe VibraSÓN Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra Zoe Tiganouria Some of the music on Encanto Tropical 36 This was an interesting project. It was fun doing the research, and I plan to follow up with a Part 2. REPLAY EPISODE 36 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

PRE-SHOW POST | AFTER-SHOW POST Episode 36 will be about salsa cover versions. It broadcasts on June 13th. Cover songs are common in the salsa world. Much of what you hear is not an original composition but rather an adaption or rearrangement of an another song, whether an earlier salsa song or one of an older style, such as a son , guaracha , or mambo . It could be a cover of a Spanish-language song of a different genre or a salsa version made from popular music in English. Even material from classical music has inspired a few salsa covers. Instrumental covers certainly exist, too. Some of the music on Encanto Tropical 36 'Versions' Cover songs can vary in the way they adapt the original. Areas to consider are vocals, key instruments, lyrics (if translated or changed), tempo, pitch, and other arrangements. Knowing the original allows you to identify both the similarities and the differences in the newer version. More importantly, learning about cover versions can expand horizons and shed light on the art of interpretation, which is a rewarding part of music appreciation, whether or not it is salsa music. Especially interesting can be the background story or context of a cover version. Since salsa includes many songs that can be identified as covers in one way or another, it would not be difficult to make a two-hour session of such songs. However, the curation in Episode 36 is an attempt to find particularly rewarding examples of context in cover versions. One such song is “Volare” by the Puerto Rican band Rafael Cortijo y Su Combo (feat. Ismael Rivera) released in the late 1950s (or 1960). Also notable is the 2000 tribute song of the same title by Son Boricua , with Jimmy Sabater on vocals. Compare these with the popular jazz ballad of “Volare” by Dean Martin , who sang in both English and Italian while Cortijo's and Son Boricua's are in Spanish. Notably, the Spanish lyrics do not appear to be the same as the original Italian although they are similar enough to say that -- along with an identical music score but at a higher tempo -- the song keeps the spirit of the original. However, the title of the song somewhat hides the original tune by Italian singer and songwriter Domenico Modugno, who jointly shares credit for the Italian lyrics with Franco Migliacci. The title is "Nel blu, dipinto di blu”, which translates as “In the blue [sky]”, and the word volare  is the main chorus. It was released in early 1958. A timeless hit both in its native Italy and around the world, numerous versions in different languages came into being over the years. A French instrumental version by Ben sa tumba et son Orchestre (labeled as a mambo) uses a direct translation for its title: “Dans le bleu du ciel bleu” (see video below). Among other transformations is the foray into the Spanish Americas by Cortijo, under the same title as Dean Martin’s version in the US which was released in August, 1958. "Volare" is not in the playlist for Episode 36 "Versions", but the song selection includes brief contextual information that is hopefully as enlightening as the story behind "Volare". Some tracks are remakes of an earlier salsa song, some are adapted from classic styles, and others are cross-genre covers, which are especially interesting to note. One song in particular is a rare gem: a salsa version of a bolero originally sung by Hector Lavoe. Tune in to find out what it is! While listeners may be familiar with most songs, it may come as an interesting surprise to understand their origins. Share the journey of discovery with me on June 13 on World Salsa Radio . Feedback and commentary are always welcome. Sources: Wikipedia / Discogs / YouTube < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >