In Puerto Rico, Ruiz became a fan of a salsa band called La Solucion, directed by Roberto Rivera and learned all of their songs. He attended every concert and show. On one occasion, Ruiz's mother asked Rivera to give her son an opportunity to sing in the band, but to no avail. However, as fate would have it, in 1977, Ruiz was present at one of their shows where the lead singer did not show up. Rivera felt that he had no other choice but to give Ruiz a try. He was a success and was hired by Rivera. With La Solucion, Ruiz re-recorded a new version of Salsa Buena. He performed with the band for three years.
In 1980, Ruiz joined Tommy Olivencia and his Primerisima Orchestra. His youth and style known as Sensual Salsa helped to bring in a new generation of salsa followers. His first major "hit" was Lo Dudo (I doubt it) which was previously covered by José José. In 1983, Ruiz decided to go "solo" and had hits with No Que No, Mi Libertad (My Liberty) and Desnudate Mujer (Get Undressed Woman). He traveled extensively throughout Latin America, Europe and the United States performing and always used the phrase "Vaya, mi China" (Go, Baby) as his trademark. He was then called "El Papa de la Salsa" (The Father of Salsa).
Ruiz began to use illegal drugs and became an alcoholic. During a flight after one of his concerts he attacked a flight attendant. He was arrested and sentenced to three years at the federal prison in Jacksonville, Texas for the incident. Ruiz's last song was Vuelvo a Nacer (Born Again), where he describes his errors in life by taking the wrong way and that he declares himself born again. His voice was heard raspy compared to his earlier career due to the effects of his drug use. Frankie Ruiz became ill and was hospitalized on July 11, 1998, after performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Shortly afterwards, on August 9, 1998, Ruiz died from complications from AIDS. Before his burial, his remains were taken to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, for a memorial service. He was later interred at Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Bailando
Frankie Ruiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ahora sí, eh
Era una noche de fiesta en un sitio cualquiera
Ya comenzaba la orquesta y de pronto te vi
Entre mil falsos colores la única estrella
La colección de mil sueños mirándome así
Para arrancarles el habla y volcarlos en ti
Para que yo como un zombie llegara a tu lado
Y te sacara a la pista dispuesto a vivir
Y todo comenzó, bailando
Tu cuerpo me embriagó, bailando
Entramos en calor, bailando
Bailando, hicimos el amor
Dejamos de ser dos, bailando
El ritmo nos unió, bailando
Perdimos en control, bailando
Bailando, hicimos el amor
Este romance en el baile encontró su principio
Y por el baile jamás va a tener un final
Pues cada vez que mis brazos te aprietan bailando
Vamos marcando tú y yo del amor el compás
Y todo comenzó, bailando
Tu cuerpo me embriagó, bailando
Entramos en calor, bailando
Bailando, hicimos el amor
Dejamos de ser dos, bailando
El ritmo nos unió, bailando
Perdimos en control, bailando
Bailando, hicimos el amor
Y todo comenzó bailando, bailando
Ya comenzaba tocando la orquesta
Y de pronto te vi mirando
Y todo comenzó bailando, bailando
Para que yo como un zombie, mi china
Llegara a tu lado
Y todo comenzó bailando, bailando
Cuando te saqué a la pista
El ritmo nos unió bailando
Y todo comenzó bailando, bailando
Este romance en el baile
Encontró su principio
Vaya qué rico mami
Ahora, bailando ¿Qué?
Rico
Bailando, bailando
Perdimos el control tú y yo
Bailando, bailando
Hicimos el amor
Bailando, bailando
Ahora yo estoy disfrutando
Bailando, bailando
Dejamos de ser dos
Ahí
The lyrics to Frankie Ruiz's song Bailando describe a romantic encounter that begins on the dance floor. The singer meets a woman at a party and is immediately drawn to her, even amid the chaos of the flashing colors and loud music. She catches his eye and they share a moment of connection that sparks the beginning of their romance. The singer compares her to an "intrusive" star, as if she has taken over his thoughts and is the only thing he can focus on.
The lyrics continue to describe the couple's intense connection as they dance, with the singer feeling intoxicated by the woman's body and the rhythm of the music. They lose themselves in the moment and become one with each other and the music, losing control in the passion of the dance. The singer describes their love as a "romance in the dance," emphasizing how their connection began on the dance floor and is deeply rooted in their shared love of music and movement. The song ends with a sensual invitation to continue dancing, as the singer revels in the pleasure of being with his lover.
Overall, Bailando is a celebration of the power of dance to bring people together and ignite passion and love. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a romantic encounter that begins as a chance meeting on the dance floor and develops into a deep and intense love affair.
Line by Line Meaning
Vamos a seguir disfrutando
Let's continue enjoying ourselves
Ahora sí, eh
Now we're talking, huh
Era una noche de fiesta en un sitio cualquiera
It was a party night at some place
Ya comenzaba la orquesta y de pronto te vi
The orchestra was starting and then I saw you
Entre mil falsos colores la única estrella
Among a thousand fake colors, you were the only star
La colección de mil sueños mirándome así
The collection of a thousand dreams staring at me
Con esos ojos intrusos buscaste los míos
With those intrusive eyes, you looked for mine
Para arrancarles el habla y volcarlos en ti
To take away my speech and pour it into you
Para que yo como un zombie llegara a tu lado
So that I, like a zombie, would arrive at your side
Y te sacara a la pista dispuesto a vivir
And take you to the dance floor ready to live
Dejamos de ser dos, bailando
We stopped being two, dancing
El ritmo nos unió, bailando
The rhythm united us, dancing
Perdimos en control, bailando
We lost control, dancing
Bailando, hicimos el amor
Dancing, we made love
Este romance en el baile encontró su principio
This romance in the dance found its beginning
Y por el baile jamás va a tener un final
And through dance, it will never have an end
Pues cada vez que mis brazos te aprietan bailando
Because every time my arms hold you dancing
Vamos marcando tú y yo del amor el compás
We're marking the rhythm of love, you and I
Ya comenzaba tocando la orquesta
The orchestra was already playing
Y de pronto te vi mirando
And suddenly I saw you looking at me
Para que yo como un zombie, mi china, llegara a tu lado
So that I, like a zombie, would arrive at your side, my love
Cuando te saqué a la pista el ritmo nos unió bailando
When I took you to the dance floor, the rhythm united us, dancing
Vaya qué rico mami
Wow, how nice, baby
Ahora, bailando ¿Qué?
Now, while dancing, what?
Rico
Delicious
Perdimos el control tú y yo
You and I lost control
Bailando, bailando
Dancing, dancing
Hicimos el amor
We made love
Ahora yo estoy disfrutando
Now I'm enjoying
Dejamos de ser dos
We stopped being two
Ahí
There
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Juan Abreu, Eliexis Rodriguez, Milton Jhoan Rstituyo Espinal, Chein Garcia Alonso
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind