Cinco de Mayo parties are fairly predictable. Most clients request some appropriately latin- inspired music for attendees to enjoy while snacking on nachos and mini-tacos and slurping down margaritas and Pacificos. After dinner, it's dance time, so break out the dance music, and be sure to include the classics. La Bamba (of course,) Tequila (naturally,) Come a Little Bit Closer (okay) and El Paso (No. request all you want, but you can't dance to it.)
This last Cince de Mayo I made an interesting observation: Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass are awesome! You MUST include their music at your next Cinco de Mayo party. Holy crap...they had a dozen huge hits, and even if you play the B-side songs, it is all pure gold. Trust me, Boomers in attendance will look up, smile and say "God, I love that song (I haven't heard it in years!") Seriously, you never hear Herb Alpert on radio...even those "oldies" stations (because "oldies these days means "80's and 90's.")
The bouncy upbeat stuff is immediately recognizable to everyone over 50. You remember "The Lonely Bull" and "Tijuana Taxi."
But do you remember "Green Peppers?" ...or "Bittersweet Samba?" ...and what about "Peanuts?" You will find yourself doing a goofy dance and snapping your fingers...like your parents probably did. Mine did. Jesus, it was embarrassing!
But the slow songs...madre de dios! These were MADE to dance to, so grab that someone and fall in love all over to "Ladyfingers." An achingly, hauntingly beautiful, solitary trumpet song, so sweet, so romantic... it is making my eyes well up even as I type this. This is the trumpet sibling of Santana's "Samba pa Ti." Even on a crowded dance floor, it is an intimate, soulful song that sets it apart from other "slow songs." I have added Ladyfingers to all of my playlists.
By the way, someone will probably protest that Santana is the voice (well, guitar) of Baby Boomer music. Don't get me wrong, I worship Carlos Santana and his groundbreaking music from the 60's. The later stuff, with the Mahavishnu Orchestra...less so. Santana Abraxas...oh god yes! Santana at Montreux 2004? Um...no, a different Santana...a "Jazz" Santana. I don't really synch up with Santana again until "Supernatural." He is a boomer era legend, like Clapton, McCartney, and the Stones. But the stuff they record now doesn't have that young, lean & hungry, ass-kicking quality that their early stuff showcased. And yes, I will admit that even Herb Alpert's recent work is too jazzy for me to warm too. Such is life...or to quote a George Harrison album title, "All Things Must Pass."
Keep Dancing,
Rob
This last Cince de Mayo I made an interesting observation: Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass are awesome! You MUST include their music at your next Cinco de Mayo party. Holy crap...they had a dozen huge hits, and even if you play the B-side songs, it is all pure gold. Trust me, Boomers in attendance will look up, smile and say "God, I love that song (I haven't heard it in years!") Seriously, you never hear Herb Alpert on radio...even those "oldies" stations (because "oldies these days means "80's and 90's.")
The bouncy upbeat stuff is immediately recognizable to everyone over 50. You remember "The Lonely Bull" and "Tijuana Taxi."
But do you remember "Green Peppers?" ...or "Bittersweet Samba?" ...and what about "Peanuts?" You will find yourself doing a goofy dance and snapping your fingers...like your parents probably did. Mine did. Jesus, it was embarrassing!
But the slow songs...madre de dios! These were MADE to dance to, so grab that someone and fall in love all over to "Ladyfingers." An achingly, hauntingly beautiful, solitary trumpet song, so sweet, so romantic... it is making my eyes well up even as I type this. This is the trumpet sibling of Santana's "Samba pa Ti." Even on a crowded dance floor, it is an intimate, soulful song that sets it apart from other "slow songs." I have added Ladyfingers to all of my playlists.
By the way, someone will probably protest that Santana is the voice (well, guitar) of Baby Boomer music. Don't get me wrong, I worship Carlos Santana and his groundbreaking music from the 60's. The later stuff, with the Mahavishnu Orchestra...less so. Santana Abraxas...oh god yes! Santana at Montreux 2004? Um...no, a different Santana...a "Jazz" Santana. I don't really synch up with Santana again until "Supernatural." He is a boomer era legend, like Clapton, McCartney, and the Stones. But the stuff they record now doesn't have that young, lean & hungry, ass-kicking quality that their early stuff showcased. And yes, I will admit that even Herb Alpert's recent work is too jazzy for me to warm too. Such is life...or to quote a George Harrison album title, "All Things Must Pass."
Keep Dancing,
Rob
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