Category Archives: Travel playlists

Salsa music history and videos: Travel playlists

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There are many misconceptions about salsa music history and its true origin. For this reason, I decided to write about my favorite Latin music genre for this week’s Cultural Tidbits Monday. Additionally, I have included some of my favorite salsa music videos for you to spice up your travel playlists. Enjoy! 😀

Salsa music history: From Cuba or Puerto Rico? Settle already!

As a Latina, I StumbleUpon this debate all the time: Did salsa music originated in Cuba or in Puerto Rico? I’ve seen Cubans and Puerto Ricans alike go head-to-head about who is right, who can take credit for this amazing contribution to Latin music and culture. The truth of the matter is, neither is 100% right.

Salsa music history, Fania All-Stars

“In 1971 the Fania All Stars sold out Yankee Stadium” [Steward, Sue (2000). “Salsa: Cubans, Nuyoricans and the Global Sound” pp. 488–489]. Photo: Tommy Muriel, Wiki

Salsa music history can be traced back to New Yoricans (Nuyoricans), or Puerto Ricans living in New York City, in the early 70s. While it was very common for any type of Latin music to be categorized as “salsa” (even mariachis!) since the 30s, it wasn’t until Johnny Pacheco, creative director and producer for Fania Records, fine-tuned a balanced mix of Latin sounds and created what we know as salsa music today. Back then though, the Fania sound was known as New York salsa.

Yes, Cubans will still scoff at the term and say that salsa was/is nothing more than a mix of old Cuban sounds. However, many fail to acknowledge that the salsa genre we know today was truly a mix of Cuban and other Caribbean sounds — thus the term (salsa = sauce, a concoction of ingredients). Even musicians that only played Cuban music changed the name of their genre to salsa “as a financial necessity” (Wikipedia, salsa music).

Salsa music videos: Travel playlist ideas

Heading to the Caribbean or Latin America soon? I recommend you add these explosive salsa mixes to your travel playlist! They come directly from my personal favorites collection 😉

Héctor Lavoe tribute by Mark Anthony, from the acclaimed film El Cantante. I recommend you download the entire album! But my favorite track is definitely “Aguanile”. No salsa music history article is ever complete without it. You may listen to it at the beginning of the video:

Another classic salsa music history group that has been around for decades is El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. I had the privilege to have them play at one of my proms in high school while living in the island. Superb! This is what I would call top-shelf salsa music 😉

What did you know about salsa music history before reading this post?

Spanish Portuguese song: Juanes “Hoy Me Voy” (Cultural Tidbits video)

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Heya peeps! I apologize for the lack of posts. Once again, my carpal tunnel/RSI got bad…so bad I had to miss work Friday 🙁 It’s a tough road when you are so used to working long hours…then just have to halt. Anyway, I’m trying not to lose hope and make the best out of the situation. And as I listened to my favorite Spanish Portuguese song…

Spanish Portuguese song, Juanes "Hoy Me Voy"

Favorite Spanish Portuguese song: Juanes feat. Paula Fernandes “Hoy Me Voy” single

…it occurred to me that I could write a nice, brief post about it. So, Cultural Tidbits Monday this week will be a real tibit: I’ll introduce you to a Spanish Portuguese song.

“Hoy Me Voy” is a beautiful duet of popular Colombian musician Juanes and Brazilian sensation Paula Fernandes. It is about love, heartbreak, and the mixed feelings about not being able to leave a loved one…even though one knows, deep within, that it is time to go. It is a song I would have sung to my first love…if I would have had the courage to leave him first. It is deep, and you feel the meaning even without understanding the lyrics (which I’m attaching below anyway, ust so you brush up on your Spanish & Portuguese). Enjoy *hands you a box of Kleenex*

Lembrarás, lembrarás quando se for o sol
Que eu te amei, mas deixo sua vida agora
Te dirán, te dirán las flores del jardín
Cuanto te amé y cuanto soñé tu luz
Devolva-me esse coração que você não soube amar
E o que eu te dava, amor
Sem pensar
Devuélvelo, devuélvelo no es tuyo no
Ya se acabó el tiempo en que tú brillabas
Devolva-me esse coração que você não soube amar
E o que eu te dava se acabou

Hoy me voy pero no, no se va la herida grande que me queda
Por amarte, por mi culpa, por los besos que en el mar te di
Coração que sangrou e coragem me faltou para deixar-te
Tive medo, fui covarde, é por isso que de ti me despeço
Hoy me voy
Hoy me voy

Devolva-me esse coração que você não soube amar
E o que eu te dava se acabou

Hoy me voy pero no, no se va la herida grande que me queda
Por amarte, por mi culpa, por los besos que en el mar te di
Coração que sangrou e coragem me faltou para deixar-te
Tive medo, fui covarde, é por isso que de ti me despeço

Hoy me voy pero no, no se va la herida grande que me queda
Por amarte, sinto culpa, pelos beijos que no mar te dei
Corazón me sobró y coraje me faltó para dejarte
Tive medo, fui covarde, é por isso que de ti me despeço
Hoy me voy
Hoy me voy
Hoy me voy

E, por isso, me despeço
Hoy me voy
Hoy me voy

Let’s build a playlist! What’s your favorite Spanish Portuguese song?