Boogaloo can be seen as "the first Nuyorican music" (René López), and has been called "the greatest potential that Cuban rhythms had to really cross over in terms of music" (Izzy Sanabria). Styles like doo wop also left a sizable influence, through Tony Pabón (of Pete Rodríguez Band), Bobby Marín, King Nando, Johnny Colón and his vocalists Tony Rojas and Tito Ramos. Puerto Ricans (Herman Santiago and Joe Negroni) played a foundational role in the major doo wop group Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. Herman Santiago was the author of the groups number 1 hit "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".
Though boogaloo did not become mainstream nationwide until later in the decade, two early Top 20 hits came in 1963: Mongo Santamaria's performance of the Herbie Hancock piece "Watermelon Man" and Ray Barretto's "El Watusi". Inspired by these two successes, a number of bands began imitating their infectious rhythms (which were Latinized R&B), intense conga rhythms and clever novelty lyrics. Some long-time veteran Latin musicians played an occasional boogaloo number, including Perez Prado and Tito Puente, but most of the performers were teenagers like The Latin Souls, The Lat-Teens, Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers, Joe Bataan, Joe Cuba Sextet, and The Latinaires.
The older generation of Latin musicians have even been accused of initially using their influence to repress this youth-oriented movement. The term boogaloo was probably coined in about 1966 by Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz. The biggest boogaloo hit of the 60s was "Bang Bang" by the Joe Cuba Sextet, which achieved unprecedented success for Latin music in the United States in 1966 when it sold over one million copies. Other hits included Johnny Colón’s "Boogaloo Blues," Pete Rodríguez’s "I Like It Like That," and Hector Rivera’s "At the Party". Boogaloo also spread to Puerto Rico, where top band El Gran Combo released some material. Though the dance craze was over by the turn of the decade, boogaloo was popular enough that almost every major and minor Latin dance artist of the time recorded at least a few boogaloos on their albums.
The same year as Joe Cuba's pop success, 1966, saw the closing of New York City's Palladium Ballroom, a well-known venue that had been the home of big band mambo for many years. The closing marked the end of mainstream mambo, and boogaloo ruled the Latin charts for about two years before salsa music began to take over.
Boogaloo remains extremely popular to this day in Cali, Colombia, where the genre is played extensively, along with salsa and pachanga, in various FM and AM radio stations and hundreds of dance clubs. Caleños sometimes speed up Cha Cha Cha and Boogaloo tunes from 33 to 45 RPM to suit the tastes of the dancers there for faster music.
When the 1970s rolled around, the genre electric boogaloo evolved as a distant sub genre and is sometimes used synonymously with electro-hop, and both of these had connections to this early dance music.
I Like It Like That
Pete Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me say this now
Here and now let's get this straight
Boogaloo, baby, I made it great
Because I gave it the Latin beat
You know, child, I'm kind of hard to beat
Just commence your feet to skate
Pick up your arms and make 'em shake
Baby if you think you're shy
Do me a favor, honey, go some place and hide
Yeah, baby
I like it like that
You gotta believe me when I tell you
I said, "I like it like that"
A boogaloo, I made it great
I like it like that
I like it like that
I said, "I like it like that"
And I want it like that
I like it like that
I've got the soul, I've got the feeling
I said, "I like it like that"
I've got the soul, baby, look at me
I like it like that
Yeah, baby
I said, "I like it like that"
I like it like that
I like it like that
Stomp your feet if you think I'm neat
Clap your hands if you want some more
Stomp your feet if you think I'm neat
Clap your hands if you want some more
I like it like that
Yeah, baby
I said, "I like it like that"
I like it like that
I like it like that
And I want it like that
I said, "I like it like that"
Give it to me, do it to me, give it to me
I like it like that
Yeah, baby
I said, "I like it like that"
I've got the soul, I've got the feeling
I like it like that
I've got the soul, baby, look at me
I said, "I like it like that"
Yeah, baby
I like it like
Stomp your feet if you think I'm neat
Clap your hands if you want some more
Stomp your feet if you think I'm neat
Clap your hands if you want some more
I've said it once, and I'll say it again
Boogaloo my man
Yeah, hold on
You're looking good, now
Let me feel your soul
Listen to me, don't be shy
Join the party
Say like I say
Like this, si
You're ready now? (Yeah)
OK
I like it, I like it, I like it like that
I like it, I like it, I like it like that
I like it, I like it, I like it like that
I like it, I like it, I like it like that
I like it, I like it, I like it like that
I like it like that
Yeah, baby
I said, "I like it like that"
Before I go, I wanna say
I like it like that
The boogaloo, I made it great
I said, "I like it like that"
Yeah, baby
The lyrics to Pete Rodriguez's song "I Like It Like That" are a celebration of the Latin boogaloo music style that he helped popularize. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics invite listeners to dance and enjoy the music. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with Rodriguez proclaiming, "Wow, am I feeling good, man? Let me say this now." He then goes on to explain how he made the boogaloo great by giving it a Latin beat, which he believes is unbeatable. The chorus repeats the phrase, "I like it like that," with Rodriguez emphasizing his love for the boogaloo and wanting it to be played his way.
The rest of the song is peppered with calls to dance, clap hands, and stomp feet, encouraging listeners to immerse themselves in the music. The repeated verse, "Stomp your feet if you think I'm neat, clap your hands if you want some more," further emphasizes the song's call to action. Throughout the song, Rodriguez demonstrates his confidence and mastery of his craft, asserting that he has the soul and feeling needed to create great music, and inviting listeners to join him in a celebration of the Latin boogaloo style.
Line by Line Meaning
Wow, am I feeling good, man?
I am feeling ecstatic and full of positive energy at this moment.
Here and now let's get this straight
Let's make things clear and upfront at this moment.
Boogaloo, baby, I made it great because I gave it the Latin beat
I have made this song great by incorporating the Latin beat into it. It's the boogaloo style.
You know, child, I'm kind of hard to beat
I am a skilled musician and it's not easy to match my talent level.
Just commence your feet to skate
Start moving your feet and dancing to the rhythm of the music.
Pick up your arms and make 'em shake
Move your arms and shake them while dancing to the music.
Baby if you think you're shy, do me a favor, honey, go some place and hide
If you are shy and don't want to dance, please leave and don't spoil the party mood.
Yeah, baby, I like it like that
I really enjoy this moment and this style of music.
Stomp your feet if you think I'm neat, clap your hands if you want some more
If you like what I am doing, stomp your feet and show your appreciation. And if you want more of it, clap your hands.
I've got the soul, I've got the feeling
I possess the musical soul and feeling that is important in this genre of music.
Give it to me, do it to me, give it to me
Let the music flow and give me more of it. Keep the party spirit alive.
Before I go, I wanna say I like it like that
Before I leave this moment, I want to express how much I have enjoyed it.
The boogaloo, I made it great
I am proud of creating this boogaloo style and having made it great through my music.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tony Pabon, Manny Rodriguez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind