No La Pare

No La Pare by Mon Carrillo y Su Sexteto

For almost two years, I worked from home for the Boston office while we figured out if a business undertaking would finally take off and thus whether we’d call Baltimore our permanent home. For those unhappy with the rigidness of an office setting, working from home can be more challenging than people often imagine. Since your only connection with the working world is through a virtual reality of phone and chat conversations, you’re in a continuous struggle with focus and motivation. Although this struggle is present in an office setting, working from home takes you under the radar, which can prove troublesome for busy bees unaccustomed to this lonely life style.

Salsa clasica helped me adjust to the solitude of Virtual Walt. I set up my new flexible work arrangement in the little dungeon we often referred to as our basement where I blasted salsa all day while building fancy excel spreadsheets. With just me and a Dell laptop battling the often 60 to 70 hour work weeks, salsa clasica was my constant companion. I no longer had the coffee break escapes with the fellas at the office to help alleviate the monotony. Instead, my breaks were dozing off, legs raised, feet crossed on a faded black love seat I treated like my exclusive salsa hammock, listening to the countless playlists living in my iTunes.

During one of these mid-day salsa getaways I first heard No La Pare by Mon Carrillo y Su Sexteto. DJ El Cumbanchero placed it in the middle of his set for the Nick Aguirre’s Salsa Dura Show and oh boy did it knock my socks off, pulled me right up off that couch. No La Pare instantly turned the more half than finished basement into my personal dance studio. Often when I’d have a breakthrough “aha” moment, a solution to a problem I had been working on all day, out of excitement I’d spontaneously dance on the cheap rust brown carpet to whatever salsa clasica song filtered the dusty air. I was lucky to be free from the office norms as the only heat present was from a moody space heater that often forced me to dance out of necessity.

This home confinement is likely where I developed the compulsiveness towards songs such as No La Pare. I listened to this song so often that I’m convinced I drove DJ Travieso crazy with constant “this song is so dope” instant messages. Before I knew it, iTunes had registered me listening to the song 93 times, which prompted the idea for the “93 and Counting” mix composed of songs that couldn’t escape the repeat button. I’m sure that would have driven anyone in an office setting bonkers. However, the musical backdrop aided my focus, liberating me from the burden of a deadline.

These busy season hours and the shack of a home office I had built regularly took me down the cabin fever path. Whether it was the long hours or the corporate games I found myself taking part in, I did my fair share of complaining throughout my accounting career. However, whenever I would grumble over work, particularly when doing so from home, I would remedy my dissatisfaction with some kickass salsa. It always seemed to get me through the work day. I was floating above dense waters with my musical companion, living the moment without a care as to whether tax accounting was really my calling. I left the past and future aside to feel salsa guide me through the task at hand. The solitude of my cave transformed salsa from a main distraction to a conduit for motivation, curing my work related frustration, even if for only brief periods. As I reflect on busy seasons in Baltimore, I was in the zone with songs like No La Pare. Time flew by as though I were having fun.

Peace
DJ Walt

Yo No Consigo

Yo No Consigo Tu Amor by Chuito & The Latin Uniques

During the first year of living in Baltimore, I gave salsa dancing a break to focus on my marriage while we both adjusted to life in the twilight zone we called Charm City. As a result, I don’t have many memorable dances from that first year with the exception of Yo No Consigo Tu Amor by Chuito & The Latin Uniques. The 2008 DC Salsa Congress was the first and only time I’ve heard this song at a salsa event.   Yo No Consigo is part of a list of songs I just can’t get enough of.  Every time I listen to it, seven minutes seems way too short and leaves me wanting more.  However, putting my salsa craziness aside, I always thought of this song as being too long for a set but was thankful that the DJ that night thought otherwise.
 
As soon as I heard the luring introductory piano by Auther Puerto, I knew I had to find a dance partner. My salsa skills were a bit rusty since this was my first night out from salsa hibernation and the song’s speed made me a bit nervous to ask. Luckily Michele was standing next to me and as we turned to each other she took the initiative to ask for a dance.

There were no other dances that night that I enjoyed more than this one with the mystery salsera from Pittsburg. It wasn’t so much that I was able to execute intricate turn patterns or wow the dance floor with a precise body movement to a song that by now I had subconsciously memorized. It was experiencing Michele’s delightful essence that made this dance memorable. In fact, I remember not caring when losing my timing on numerous occasions while watching Michele’s smile as she enjoyed the often humorous way Auther Puerto plays the piano on Yo No Consigo. Her vibe lifted mine and helped rid me of my nervousness, chipping away at my rust bound feet.

Without notice, the catchy chorus effortlessly guided us across the dance floor. I couldn’t help but sing along as I was well aware of the exact moments when Norberto (Benbe) Carrasquillo would impress us with his improvisational efforts on the mic. The singer’s interaction with the musicians served only to increase our connection as my attempts to impersonate Benbe seemed to fuel her funky footwork. “Eso pa’ que te comas un caykeh” sneaking out of the piano’s intensity is my favorite line from the song. 

After our dance, we each cordially thanked each other and went on our separate ways. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the night as I was reminded of the gift these artists left us over 40 years ago. It was the spark that was previously missing.  Great nights are often fueled by an unexpected great dance. Salsa congresses have a funny way of working out that way.

At the end of the event when soaked from a long night of salsa dancing sweat, we bumped into each other as Michele was leaving the hotel and briefly exchanged facebook info. It wasn’t long before my predictable inclination to spread the salsa love kicked in that I was emailing her my favorite cha-cha-chas, guajiras, and sons as a thank you for that dance.

Social Dancing to Yo No Consigo Tu Amor:  I love the way the female in green gets down to this song.