English Salsa Music

[David]

Is there a place for Salsa music where the language is not Spanish, or is it pretty much an established norm?

As a follow up question, what are some good songs that are in English?
(not songs tranlated from Spanish, but songs that were written in English first)

[peachexploration]

Personally, I prefer Salsa music in Spanish but there are a few that come to mind. One being Orquestra La Palabra's "Lady". You can also check Amazon.com, there are about six or seven that include the following:

I'll Always Love You - Tito Nieves
My Eyes Adored You - Johnny Rivera
How Do You Keep the Music Playing? - Alexandra
Half Crazy - Cheo Feliciano
Make the World Stand Still - Orquesta de La Luz

[salsachinita]

Not to mention all the salsa versions of well-known English songs:

"Yesterday" by Cheo Feliciano
"I will survive" by Celia Cruz
I've also heard "Hotel California" & "Careless Whispers", but not sure who covers them.......

I think these songs a great fun, even if most people cringe at the thought :lol: .........

[squirrel]

I prefer Salsa music in Spanish... Salsa in English is just not real Salsa to me... :roll: :oops:

[SDsalsaguy]

Same here squirrel... and I don't speak Spanish! :shock:

[MacMoto]

I've also heard "Hotel California" & "Careless Whispers", but not sure who covers them.......
"Careless Whispers" is by Orquesta la Palabra, who also gave us "Lady" and "Feelings".

Some more English salsa...

"Montuno Street" - Azabache
"Vehicle" - Carlos Oliva
"Thinking of You" - Lenny Kravitz/Emilio Estefan

And don't forget, there are salsa songs in other languages... how about Africando? I've heard their latest album contains songs in 8 different languages. Also, Mambomania (from France -- very popular in Europe) has songs sung/rapped in French and Spanish (plus some English thrown in :lol:).

[squirrel]

Allow me to rephrase that... Any Salsa music in a different language than Spanish is not Salsa to me!

Sorry! :oops: :oops: :roll: :roll:

And I am not saying it has no value, or it is bad... I am talking about my taste... :)

[MacMoto]

It's okay -- I think we just have to agree to disagree on this particular point! :wink:

As far as I'm concerned, all salsa songs are in foreign languages -- be it Spanish, English, French or whatever African languages Africando have recorded in :lol:, and my little brain can happily switch off and process the voice as another musical instrument :lol:.

I must say I wonder how Spanish speakers cope with some of the extremely cheesy Spanish salsa lyrics :roll: :lol:.

[djpatricio]

People feel differently about the issue of English lyrics in salsa, some feel it makes salsa more approachable to non-Spanish speakers, but...I dunno, personally I think it sounds awful. Add to that French lyrics too, and I've never heard salsa with German lyrics, or salsa with Chinese lyrics, and I hope to God I never do. Geez, that would sound like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard.

What I don't mind is West African languages in salsa, say for instance songs by Africando, somehow, it sounds appropriate. Maybe the cadence of the language is what's the key, and not all languages have the cadence and the flow that Spanish and Yoruba, or other African languages, have. To me, the language is a crucial instrument in salsa, and using another language besides Spanish in salsa would be like replacing congas with trap drums, replacing a tres or a cuatro with a mandolin, etc...it just ain't the same.

The only exception to my no-English lyrics rule is a song called "Ella Fue/She Was The One" put out by the Fania All-Stars in the 1970's, it's a great song, but it's more for listening than dancing, and the English lyrics are very limited. Also, "I Want You" by Manny Oquendo y Libre is a great song, but more jazzy than hard salsa.

So, that's my two pesos. Maybe something in the future will change my mind, but as yet I haven't heard anything I REALLY like in English.

[squirrel]

I met this guy from Denmark and he played some local Salsa... in Danish! :shock: :shock: :shock: It was very rapid and with lots of percussion... sort of reminded me of Descarga de la Luz - Orquestra de la Luz (which is a Japanese band I think...). I didn't like it.

[peachexploration]

What I don't mind is West African languages in salsa, say for instance songs by Africando, somehow, it sounds appropriate.. Agree with you there, DJPatricio. :D

[peachexploration]

......As a follow up question, what are some good songs that are in English?
(not songs tranlated from Spanish, but songs that were written in English first)

RMM 10th Anniversary Collection, Vol.8 CD
1. I'll Always Love You - Tito Nieves
2. Hey Jude - Tony Vega
3. My Eyes Adore You - Johnny Rivera
4. I Just Want To Hang Around You - India
5. Crazy For You - Domingo Quinones
6. You Are My Lady - Ray Sepulveda
7. Suddenly - Ray De La Pez
8. Always - New York Band
9. Telephone - Jovenes Del Barrio
10. Half Crazy - Cheo Feliciano

[Miami Rueda dancer]

Marc Anthony has an English version of his CD.

[Rosa]

Maybe the cadence of the language is what's the key, and not all languages have the cadence and the flow that Spanish and Yoruba, or other African languages, have. To me, the language is a crucial instrument in salsa, and using another language besides Spanish in salsa would be like replacing congas with trap drums, replacing a tres or a cuatro with a mandolin, etc...it just ain't the same.

I agree, djpatricio.

I've studied a number of European languages and what stands out is that each language has its own particular spoken rhythm. So, as far as music goes, if the rhythm of the language being sung just happens to fit the musical rhythm... perfecto!

I've written, 'just happens to', but this happens so consistently that it couldn't possibly be coincidence.

A friend of mine once said to me, "You know, it's funny how people who're good at languages are always good dancers as well." I knew exactly what he meant. Rhythm is rhythm, no matter whether it manifests itself in speech or in dance.

When expressing a culture through the medium of dance, the music and the dance must come together, in order to make up a coherent whole.

So, Salsa music in English... is it a good idea? In my view, no.

Rosa :)

[Ron Obvious]

I've also heard "Hotel California" & "Careless Whispers", but not sure who covers them.......
"Careless Whispers" is by Orquesta la Palabra, who also gave us "Lady" and "Feelings".

Some more English salsa...

"Montuno Street" - Azabache
"Vehicle" - Carlos Oliva
"Thinking of You" - Lenny Kravitz/Emilio Estefan

And don't forget, there are salsa songs in other languages... how about Africando? I've heard their latest album contains songs in 8 different languages. Also, Mambomania (from France -- very popular in Europe) has songs sung/rapped in French and Spanish (plus some English thrown in :lol:).

Here's a site with the original versions and cover versions of a song listed.

http://michbuze.club.fr/zik/salsacovers.htm

You'll find that frequently, the spanish version isn't the original one, but emrely a known melody that's been 'converted' to salsa. So before you guys discredit all other salsa music than that with spanish lyrics, think about the artist who wrote the song.

What surprised me mpst was that "la quiero a morir" was a cover.

[peachexploration]

Hi Ron! Welcome. :D

[MacMoto]

One English salsa song that's very popular here right now is the salsa remix of Sting's "Fragile". Has any of you heard it? Very nice -- a good end-of-the-night song. :)

[squirrel]

Well, we'll have to agree to disagree Ron...

I don't like Salsa music sang in English... or remixes of well known songs... like Yo vivire! of Celia...

But I prefer remakes sang in Spanish than new songs in English...

English just doesn't fit! And yes, African languages fit! English is too... Anglo-Saxon! :lol:

[Kejti]

If it comes to salsa or chacha or other latin music in english, I have a few nice songs on mind. I really like songs played by Senor Coconut, my favourites are "Smooth Operator" and "Smoke on the Water". Also really enjoy the chacha "Undress My Mind" by Ocho. Honestly I think there is not too much good salsa in english, but at least one I love which is the salsa version of Lenny Kravitz "thinking of you";) ... I guess it's because of the Lenny ;D

One more thing ... I would really love to hear this salsa version of Sting's song ... do you know who plays it ... or the website where can I hear it . Please ...

[peachexploration]

....One more thing ... I would really love to hear this salsa version of Sting's song ... do you know who plays it ... or the website where can I hear it . Please ...

You know the name of the song? :)

[Kejti]

The title is "Fragile" (at least this is the title of the Sting's song) but I guess the salsa version has the same title. Thanks very much for any tip about it.

[MacMoto]

I haven't been able to track it down myself but will ask the DJ tonight.

[Kejti]

I'll be extremely grateful for any tip :)

[MacMoto]

Okay I checked -- but no luck. :(
Apparently, he was given the CD by someone at a salsa festival but without any info on the song, so he doesn't know where you can get it either.

So I went back to Google to see if there's anything, but all I could find was this:
http://www.ballilatini.it/forum.salsa/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1317

Anyone here from Italy?

[Kejti]

Thanks very much. I don't speak italian (neither do read) but I guess I've understanded what I wanted ;)

[Rosa]

English is too... Anglo-Saxon! :lol:

For me, that just about sums it up.

Rosa :)

[El Caobo]

I agree with the posters so far in this thread. Salsa in English just doesn't really do it for me! In fact, it's hard for me to get into Salsa in any other language than Spanish. For example, even my favorite Africando song is Baracaníguara, with lyrics in Spanish.

However, I was just listening to Frankie Ruiz's version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." I was really enjoying it, more for the familiar and catchy lyrics than for the music, but if you're a Salsa in English fan, I would definitely recommend it!

[salsalexx]

What is the name of frankie ruiz's varsion to "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" ? and from which album is it?

[El Caobo]

What is the name of frankie ruiz's varsion to "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" ? and from which album is it?

I received it through the Latin music pool that I represent. However, it is found on a CD called La Rodven Machine, Caliente:

http://musicimages.liquiddigitalmedia.com/9/1/1/6/166119.gif

The proper title of the song is (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.

I'm sure it must be somewhere else also.

[richierumba]

I'm not a huge fan of salsa in English per se - particularly Spanish-accented English - it sounds kind of corny/ cheesey to my ear, although that's probably often as much to do with the lyrical content as anything else.

Having said that, there are some stonking English language salsa tracks out there, most of them, covering soul classics. I like my old school Newyorican, I like my timba cubana and I definitely like some of this funky stuff thrown into the mix. If that floats your boat too, try checking these out:

Get Down On It/ Que Te Pasa - Bongo Batá
Ain't Nobody - Alex Wilson (soon to be released)
Play That Funky Music White Boy - Carlos Oliva

Also, been played out a lot on the London scene but still nice tunes:

Lovely Day - Rudy B
What You Won't Do for Love - Ricky Gonzalez
Walk With Me - Alex Wilson

[El Caobo]

Get Down On It/ Que Te Pasa - Bongo Batá
Ain't Nobody - Alex Wilson (soon to be released)
Play That Funky Music White Boy - Carlos Oliva

Wow! Those are covers of three great R&B soul classics from the 70s: Kool and the Gang, Chaka Kahn and Wild Cherry! Can't say that I've heard any of them. I probably have the Carlos Oliva tune, but the other two, man, I gotta go get them! :applause:

[Jambo]

Get Down On It/ Que Te Pasa - Bongo Batá
Ain't Nobody - Alex Wilson (soon to be released)
Play That Funky Music White Boy - Carlos Oliva

Wow! Those are covers of three great R&B soul classics from the 70s: Kool and the Gang, Chaka Kahn and Wild Cherry! Can't say that I've heard any of them. I probably have the Carlos Oliva tune, but the other two, man, I gotta go get them! :applause:


Alex's Wilson's new cd was released today, I'm hoping Mr Postie will drop it through the letterbox tomorrow.

'Show Me' has been out on single for a good while now and is still a real floor filler round these parts :D Don't think anyone has mentioned that one yet on this thread but it's probably the one track I get the most requests for. Sometimes English lyrics work........not that often though ;)

[richierumba]

I probably have the Carlos Oliva tune, but the other two, man, I gotta go get them! :applause:

They're all tracks I really enjoy El Caobo - taking me way back in the day perhaps, when funky music was THE dance floor filler - and I'm happy to point you towards them (if you haven't already found your way there!)

As Jambo said, Alex's new CD is out today which, to continue the Salsa in English thread, as well as 'Ain't Nobody' & the ever-popular 'Show Me' includes the old Nat King Cole/ George Benson's 'Nature Boy' which I've been playing for my own pleasure for quite a while now, but rarely if ever played out - beautiful song though. Alex's site is here: alexwilson.net/shop/inglaterra.htm

'Play That Funky Music White Boy' is from Carlos Oliva's 2004 'Crossing Over' and you can hear a clip here: cdbaby.com/cd/colsdj Of course Carlos pumped out one of the biggest dance floor fillers a few years back with 'Vehicle/Tu Carrito'.

Finally, DjDuste helped me to identify 'Get Down On It/ Que Te Pasa' by Bongo Batá. It's from their CD 'Salsero Forever': mastermind.ballilatini.it/shop/item.asp?itemid=142

Finally finally, another salsa in English which I love for it's jazzy arrangement is Monday Michiru's 'Thinking of You', which is the old Earth, Wind & Fire track (rather than the Lenny Kravitz tune of the same name). Can't seem to find anywhere to listen to it - but perhaps you know it anyway.

[praecantricis]

I know the Monday Michiru one is on her Free Soul Collection Album

I couldn't find a clip either so I've created one!


technominx.net/Music/Michiru.mov[/url]

Right click and save target as....

[TheBear_CanDanceToo]

What is the name of frankie ruiz's varsion to "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" ? and from which album is it?


(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction can be found as track no.1 on this CD.
amazon.co.uk/Salsa-Various-Artists/dp/B00005KK8H/sr=1-20/qid=1171978905/ref=sr_1_20/026-2555734-8626827?ie=UTF8&s=music

It's actually (amusingly) sung as
"I can't get no satixfaction"

EDIT by Moderator:
SF Guideline # 6. Posting links in messages that promote commercial websites is discouraged. In some cases, mentioning the name of the product or website (without the www, .com, .net, .etc) is tolerated if it pertains to the discussion thread.

[Jambo]

This has got to be the most amusing cover track for me, ok it's not actually sung in English, but it's a well known English song.....
virgindigital.co.uk/Downloads/DownloadFile.ashx?cid=16370874

:lol:

[Swannie]

This has got to be the most amusing cover track for me, ok it's not actually sung in English, but it's a well known English song.....
virgindigital.co.uk/Downloads/DownloadFile.ashx?cid=16370874

:lol:

:lol: Terrible and amazing in equal proportions :lol:

[Jambo]

This has got to be the most amusing cover track for me, ok it's not actually sung in English, but it's a well known English song.....
virgindigital.co.uk/Downloads/DownloadFile.ashx?cid=16370874

:lol:

:lol: Terrible and amazing in equal proportions :lol:

My thoughts exactly Swannie :D It's like when you see an animal that is so ugly............it's cute!

[Jambo]

I know the Monday Michiru one is on her Free Soul Collection Album

I couldn't find a clip either so I've created one!


technominx.net/Music/Michiru.mov

Right click and save target as....

Prae, I've been trying to work out how to do that! How do you create a clip, I know how to upload a whole song but can't seem to figure out how to make a short clip......can you help me please? :D

[David]

Wow, I started this thread over 2 years ago. :)

[AndrewD]

Alex's Wilson's new cd was released today, I'm hoping Mr Postie will drop it through the letterbox tomorrow.


My copy arrived today (at work) yay! I now have to wait 9 hours before I can listen to it :(

[noobster]

As far as I'm concerned, all salsa songs are in foreign languages -- be it Spanish, English, French or whatever African languages Africando have recorded in :lol:, and my little brain can happily switch off and process the voice as another musical instrument :lol:.

I must say I wonder how Spanish speakers cope with some of the extremely cheesy Spanish salsa lyrics :roll: :lol:.
Some of them are kind of awful. But interestingly, many lyrics that would sound just terrible when directly translated into English sound rather lovely in Spanish. I think it has to do with the way the language is normally used by everyday speakers. English has an enormous vocabulary but everyday speech in English is rather practical, with minimal use of similes and metaphors. The language - and culture, I would say - is rather practical and quotidian than romantic and literary. Thus, the very same, directly translated lyric may sound cheesy or over-the-top in English but, well, lyrical in Spanish.

Also I agree that the cadence of English is not at all suited to salsa. English falls into iambic and trochaic patterns, which don't make for good musical flow in general IMHO. Spanish is a bit more anapestic and dactylic, which works well with the q-q-s I think.

I'm rather glad I can understand salsa lyrics, they are important to my enjoyment of the music. (I've always been this way with music; for me, good lyrics can rescue an average score and awful ones can completely ruin an otherwise wonderful one.) I love Africando but I definitely feel as if I am missing something of the essence of the songs.

[richierumba]

I must say I wonder how Spanish speakers cope with some of the extremely cheesy Spanish salsa lyrics :roll: :lol:.

I too am a Spanish speaker - of sorts and it's been my experience that a wide range of Spanish speakers far from coping with cheesy lyrics, in fact revel in them and as noobster puts it, their lyricism! I think the concept of cheese may have a cultural bias to these northern isles (UK) or anglo saxon(ish) culture at least. Many Latin women seem to far prefer the tosh (my opinion only-forgive me) that Marc Anthony et al churn out. And Latin men are quite happy to dance to the cheesiest drivel, as long as they're dancing (closely) with a woman.

I of course am basing this on solid empirical research!!! I'm married to a gorgeous Colombian woman and have spent many years paralleling my British salsa clubbing with Latin clubs here in London (where there tend to be few non-Latinos) and, you know, musically speaking, many Latinos are inherently cheesy (seems like I'm in my stride as far as sweeping statements go so I'll just run with it). Of course they produce some of the most earth-shattering, rhythmical music known to man but have always abundantly enjoyed romantic and nostalgic themes, which when smoooothed over with ultra bland lyrics and hyper pop production become the purest processed cheese.

I used to be a hard-edged purist over these things but countless hours spent in Colombian clubs and those here in London, have like the continuous washing of waves against hard rock, worn me down and smoothed me out! And, consequently, I’ll pretty much dance to anything. (Still love me timba & mambo best though).

[terence]

Old post, but worth replying to.

Firstly, salsa is music, what we dance to --- is also called "salsa ",. But long before that name became synonymous with the genre, it was , and still is called by many cubans, Mambo.

If It walks like a pig, it smells like a pig-- its a pig.

Because one changes the name , for whatever good reason ,we should never lose sight of the parentage.

As the Mambo king said-- " Salsa is what I put on my food ! " .

To this day, many of the giants in the music industry maintain its original name.

And to go beyond that point, we of course can trace its dance roots to Danzon .

Aren,t marketing tools great ???

As far as the salsa in english, I am firmly on the side of Spanish.

My analogy would be this . Listen to what the " english " orch. have done to Cha---- Samba-- Rumba etc. . ( not to mention the way they dance it !! )
But, as the man said-- whatever floats ya boat .

[praecantricis]

Prae, I've been trying to work out how to do that! How do you create a clip, I know how to upload a whole song but can't seem to figure out how to make a short clip......can you help me please?

I use quicktime pro.

[Jambo]

Thanks Prae, I'll look into it :D

[AndrewD]

Audacity - is a free music editing suite. Being free, the interface is a bit clunky and there's not much of an official user guide. But it's great for simple stuff like cutting chunks out of salsa recordings.

[GratefulDawg]

I don't know if you guys are including bugalú songs in this list, but I happen to really like the song "Together" by Ray Barretto, from his album Together. It is one classic side of funk. In the same vein, Ray's "A Deeper Shade of Soul" from Acid, is another great one. I first heard it as a Urban Dance Squad cover back in the '80s.

[Jambo]

I don't know if you guys are including bugalú songs in this list, but I happen to really like the song "Together" by Ray Barretto, from his album Together. It is one classic side of funk. In the same vein, Ray's "A Deeper Shade of Soul" from Acid, is another great one. I first heard it as a Urban Dance Squad cover back in the '80s.


I luuurve 'A Deeper Shade Of Soul' :D

[noobster]

I think the concept of cheese may have a cultural bias to these northern isles (UK) or anglo saxon(ish) culture at least. Many Latin women seem to far prefer the tosh (my opinion only-forgive me) that Marc Anthony et al churn out. And Latin men are quite happy to dance to the cheesiest drivel, as long as they're dancing (closely) with a woman.
Totally. Actually I agree that the concept of 'cheese' is AFAIK a uniquely Anglo type of thing. I don't think you can even really translate it effectively into Spanish; I've used 'melodramatico' but that isn't really the same thing at all and I doubt it's conveyed my meaning the times I've had occasion to use it.

[El Caobo]

I think the concept of cheese may have a cultural bias to these northern isles (UK) or anglo saxon(ish) culture at least. Many Latin women seem to far prefer the tosh (my opinion only-forgive me) that Marc Anthony et al churn out. And Latin men are quite happy to dance to the cheesiest drivel, as long as they're dancing (closely) with a woman.
Totally. Actually I agree that the concept of 'cheese' is AFAIK a uniquely Anglo type of thing. I don't think you can even really translate it effectively into Spanish; I've used 'melodramatico' but that isn't really the same thing at all and I doubt it's conveyed my meaning the times I've had occasion to use it.

A couple of accurate translations of "cheesy" in this context are:

"sentimentaloide and "sensiblero"

Neither term is used very much.

[GratefulDawg]

Many Latin women seem to far prefer the tosh (my opinion only-forgive me) that Marc Anthony et al churn out. And Latin men are quite happy to dance to the cheesiest drivel, as long as they're dancing (closely) with a woman.
[/quote]

Haha! I'm currently taking dance lessons, and so I'm showing the moves that I learn during each lesson to a Latina co-worker. She gets on to me every time, because all I play is salsa dura from the '70s, and she only likes Marc Anthony and the new stuff!

While I'm in class, the instructor plays about 3-4 different songs, one of which is a good Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez tune that I enjoy hearing, and then a couple cheesy synthesizer-heavy tunes. If I was listening to this on my own, these other songs would get bounced off the rotation in a heartbeat. But for some reason, I don't mind them so much while I'm dancing. Maybe I'm distracted by the beautiful women with whom I'm dancing... :lol:

[El Caobo]

A couple of accurate translations of "cheesy" in this context are:

"sentimentaloide and "sensiblero"

Neither term is used very much.

For example:


sensiblero: adj. Que muestra sensiblería.

sensiblería: f. Sentimentalismo exagerado, trivial o fingido.

[richierumba]

While I'm in class, the instructor plays about 3-4 different songs, one of which is a good Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez tune that I enjoy hearing, and then a couple cheesy synthesizer-heavy tunes. If I was listening to this on my own, these other songs would get bounced off the rotation in a heartbeat. But for some reason, I don't mind them so much while I'm dancing. Maybe I'm distracted by the beautiful women with whom I'm dancing... :lol:

Aha GratefulDawg now we're getting down to it - both cheesy and appealing in the same moment - perhaps one of the greatest paradoxes and deepest mysteries of the life of a salsa enthusiast ;)

[Jambo]

I don't mind a bit of cheese now and then :D

[noobster]

sensiblero: adj. Que muestra sensiblería.

sensiblería: f. Sentimentalismo exagerado, trivial o fingido.
Hey, thanks! I've never heard those terms before. Now I can respond to Latino predators' cheesy lines by saying, "!Que sensibleria!" :D

They will probably be kind of confused though.

[ville]

One new awesome english salsa track discovered:

Jo-L - You Make Me Feel Brand New.