Pop Friday

January 25, 2008

Because of delays at work, I was sure that I was going to be arriving later than intended. Indeed it was almost ten past ten when I entered, but I was surprised to see that the lessons were still going. Final track and the warm-down started after a minute or two after I arrived. The instructor line-up was Joe, Danie and Vish. Joe stayed for a little under an hour for the social afterwards. He also used Que Buena Baila Usted (at about –4%) as the first track.

Playlist

Del Agua Brava – Kako Y Totico
La Muy Muy – Roberto Torres
Asi Se Compone Un Son – Ismael Miranda*
Momposina – Santiago Ceron
Caramelo – Johnny Pacheco
Sientate Ahi – Oscar D’Leon
Prestame Tu Mujer – Ray Barretto
Tu Musica Popular – Don Perignon*
Isla Del Encanto – Orquesta Broadway*
Fuego En El 23 – La Sonora Poncena*
Cuando Te Vea – Tito Puente
La Murga – Willie Colon*
La Esencia Del Guaguanco – Johnny Pacheco*
Baila Que Baila – Jose Alberto “El Canario” (1)
Pobre Mendingo – Toque De Keda
Ven Tu – Domenic Marte
Gracias – El Gran Combo
Me Voy Pa’ Cali – Oscar D’Leon
Los Salseros Se Van – Willie Rosario
El Entierro Del Feo – Ray Barretto*
Cielo Del Tambores – Grupo Niche*
Anacaona – Cheo Feliciano
La Cura – Frankie Ruiz
Lagrimas Negras – Direct Latin Influence*
La Libertad – Rey Reyes*
Llego El Sabor – Oscar D’Leon & Jose Alberto “El Canario” (-3%)
No Aguanto Mas – Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco
Playa Fa Sho – Toby Love*
Lamento Boliviano – Toque De Keda
La Muerte – El Gran Combo (2)
Llore – Hector Lavoe
Ran Kan Kan – German Villarreal*
Guaguanco Del Pueblo Nuevo – Latin Giants Of Jazz (-4%)*
Mama Guela – Gilberto Santa Rosa (-6%)
Vitamina – Sonora Carruseles (-4%)
Sonido Bestial – Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz (-6%)

(1) This was a mistake. I meant to play another song in the same CD. I had to change the line-up for the next few songs drastically because of this.
(2) A slight change in plans. I had been keeping things relatively slow but there was a request for me to play some faster songs. This was a slight upgrade in pace, and I decided to keep it up for next several songs.

Total – 36 songs. 31 Salsa (12 new). 4 Bachata (1 new). 1 Merengue.

This program was atypical because most people who dance LA/NY style opted to go watch Manhattan Mambo instead. I was expecting this to happen (and consequent result of having a smaller crowd) and tried to gear the songs for Cubans – except doing it my way anyway.

I see that I ended up playing a lot of new songs anyway (new for me as DJ that is). I have played La Murga by accident from Vish's collection once long ago. I have played Cielo De Tambores (shortened version) many times before - this was the first time I played the full version.

In any case, I thought I did a really good job of keeping people dancing (with Baila Que Baila being the only major mistake). When I finished as DJ at 1 AM, the dance atmosphere was still quite good. Vishal was expecting to close early – it didn’t happen.

Vishal, who also danced quite a bit tonight, seemed a bit preoccupied when he finally decided to take over as DJ – he started with 2 Merengue followed by 3 Bachata before playing the usual suspects (Me Libere, Caballo Viejo, Otra Oportunidad, La Vida Es Un Carnaval) before moving onto Reggaeton and oddities like Maria Maria (Santana). He did get the party going until 2.

The dynamics of the club without the CBers was amusing to watch. I think some people were more emboldened or less intimidated. Some might have had more fun - I don't know. It was quite amusing to see likes of Ashrafi back in full force. There definitely was an air of party atmosphere - more so than usual - which I observed (and arguably orchestrated given I was DJing most of the night) but did not really partake in. Although seemingly no one from St. Paul's came to Club Salsa afterwards (with possibly exception of Sharon), I did end up dancing 3 times when Vish finally decided to play some Salsa - with Sharon, Lorraine and someone new named Vanessa.