Do you pay attention to the lyrics of the songs you dance to?

[Pryn]

I'm guilty. I often use the lyrics of the dance to guide the character of my movements. I don't catch everything since I am not fluent in Spanish, but I understand more than most people know and if I don't agree with a part of the message of the music, my partner can feel it when I dance. I have to fight the awkward feeling to freeze up/stop.

 

[DanceMentor]

I'm guilty. I often use the lyrics of the dance to guide the character of my movements. I don't catch everything since I am not fluent in Spanish, but I understand more than most people know and if I don't agree with a part of the message of the music, my partner can feel it when I dance. I have to fight the awkward feeling to freeze up/stop.

So you mean like if the lyrics are kind of weird or uninspiring it’s harder for you to dance to the song?

 

[Pryn]

So you mean like if the lyrics are kind of weird or uninspiring it’s harder for you to dance to the song?

In a social dance setting, I can dance to an uninspiring or weird song, but when the lyrics get disrespectful or offensive, I may lose some of the movement fluidity I had before I heard it.

 

[DanceMentor]

In a social dance setting, I can dance to an uninspiring or weird song, but when the lyrics get disrespectful or offensive, I may lose some of the movement fluidity I had before I heard it.

Yes, I totally get that. The funny thing that happened to me in Shenzhen, China was there was a large group of Chinese people dancing to some American rap music that was super misogynist and disrespectful, but I think they truly didn't understand what the song meant. I tried to take someone aside and explain to them what it meant in my broken Chinese, but that just made the situation worse, as I think they thought it was I that was being disrespectful. I gave it up and just went back to the hotel.

 

[Pryn]

Yes, I totally get that. The funny thing that happened to me in Shenzhen, China was there was a large group of Chinese people dancing to some American rap music that was super misogynist and disrespectful, but I think they truly didn't understand what the song meant. I tried to take someone aside and explain to them what it meant in my broken Chinese, but that just made the situation worse, as I think they thought it was I that was being disrespectful. I gave it up and just went back to the hotel.

Oh, that's kind of you to try and explain it as best you could. I can only imagine how poorly the words might have gotten interpreted in that situation when your ability to communicate was limited.

 

[Greybeard]

Some people do. I was dancing Rumba Friday night when Teacher asked me what they were saying at the end of the song. I had no idea since I was paying attention to my partner, not trying to translate from Spanish.

I looked the song up later and found it was "No me digas no" ( Don't tell me no). It seems one of the other dancers heard something about a peacock.

 

[mikaseem]

I dance while singing man!!

 

[Little Miss Salsera]

I suppose in the genre of salsa or bachata this applies mostly to those who speak Spanish. Or, those who read translations of the songs you know. But probably others here also dance to other genres in which you can understand every lyric.

My experience has always been that I pay close attention to lyrics. If I disagree with or dislike the message that is being sung, then I find it difficult to want to dance to the song. Even when the rhythm, melody or arrangements are excellent, unfortunately.

Does anyone else have this experience? It has been the case for me with, for example, some of Romeo Santo’s songs, like “Propuesta indecente”.

“Si te falto el respeto
Y luego culpo al alcohol
Si levanto tu falda
¿Me darías el derecho a medir tu sensatez?”

“If I disrespect you
And then blame it on alcohol
If I lift your skirt
Would you give me the right to judge your sensibility”

This is a very well-known song to give an example, I can’t think of other concrete ones right now… But am I the only one who feels uncomfortable dancing to this?

I’m aware it’s no news that, traditionally, Latin music has contained lyrics like this. But then you have Monche & Alexandra’s “No Es Una Novela”, or Aventura’s “Mi corazoncito”, and I find the lyrics to be more wholesome, and the music just as enjoyable.

I totally get where you're coming from! I’m the same way. Sometimes, the lyrics can really affect how i feel about a song, even if the beat is amazing. There’ve been times I’ve had to skip a dance because the message just didn’t sit right with me. It's like, you want to vibe with the music but if the words throw you off, and it kind of kills the mood, you know? But hey, at least there are plenty of songs out there with great lyrics and rhythms we can really get into!

 

[firsttimedancer]

I’m a Spanish speaker, so it’s hard for me not to focus on the lyrics . I try not to pay too much attention, especially to Romeo’s bachatas. Have you translated any reggaeton lyrics? A lot of them are pretty rude .

 

[Pryn]

I’m a Spanish speaker, so it’s hard for me not to focus on the lyrics . I try not to pay too much attention, especially to Romeo’s bachatas. Have you translated any reggaeton lyrics? A lot of them are pretty rude .

Right?! Sometimes the lyrics shock me when I piece together what I do understand. (I'm not a native speaker and have to really concentrate.)

 

[firsttimedancer]

Right?! Sometimes the lyrics shock me when I piece together what I do understand. (I'm not a native speaker and have to really concentrate.)

Yes, absolutely. However, salsa's lyrics are much more romantic. Only a few of Frankie Ruiz's songs contain more spicy lyrics.

 

[firsttimedancer]

I dance while singing man!!

hahah me too!

 

[DanceMentor]

I’m a Spanish speaker, so it’s hard for me not to focus on the lyrics . I try not to pay too much attention, especially to Romeo’s bachatas. Have you translated any reggaeton lyrics? A lot of them are pretty rude .

I did translate some of Romeo‘s lyrics and I felt like it wasn’t any worse than many American songs. I’ve listened to such as Marvin Gaye’s Let’s get it on. Someone else told me Reggaeton had some songs with inappropriate lyrics, but I didn’t find any yet. Of course I wasn’t looking ha ha

Welcome to Dance forums!

 

[firsttimedancer]

I did translate some of Romeo‘s lyrics and I felt like it wasn’t any worse than many American songs. I’ve listened to such as Marvin Gaye’s Let’s get it on. Someone else told me Reggaeton had some songs with inappropriate lyrics, but I didn’t find any yet. Of course I wasn’t looking ha ha

Welcome to Dance forums!

Thanks!

Most of Romeo's songs are romantic, but some are pretty spicy. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan, haha. I think he adds a bit too much sensuality to the songs when it’s not really needed.

 

[Pryn]

I did translate some of Romeo‘s lyrics and I felt like it wasn’t any worse than many American songs...

I get a little squeamish during some American songs too. (I acknowledge I may be a bit too conservative in that aspect, but some dancers like to take music and movement out of dance context. So, I try to be mindful. )

To me, spice is spice, regardless of the language, and my movement depends on the dance ettiquette maturity level of my dance partner.

I'm only getting so close for a sensual bacahta unless I know my partner is there for the dance and not hoping to be elsewhere with me later.