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.
Tu Con El
Frankie Ruiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que hoy eres feliz
Que nada de ayer
Hoy te hace llorar
Tú con él
El tiempo corre, yo te espero pero tú con él
Ya no recuerdas mis locuras ni el amor aquel
Tú con él
No me sorprende, sospechaba terminar así
Yo solamente fui la excusa para hacerle ver
Que tú podías si querías vivir sin su amor
Perdóname
No me di cuenta de ese juego y me enamoré
Después fue tarde y no podía ya volver atrás
Y te quería cada día más y más
Seguro mujer
Que hoy eres feliz
Que puedes hacer
Lo que quieras tú
Tú con él
Ya me han contado que estás linda, mucho más que ayer
Que no me odias y preguntas siempre por mí
Al fin y al cabo un poquito yo me hice querer
Discúlpame
Aquellos celos tan intensos que sentí por ti
Estaba loco, casi loco por aquel amor
Y al poco tiempo, para siempre lo perdí
Tú con él
Aún recuerdo el romance
Que viviste conmigo
Tú con él
Yo sé que jugaste
Con mis sentimientos
Tú con él
Todo fue un juego
Que tuviste conmigo
Tú con él
Pero en ese juego
Yo me enamoré
Tú con él
Yo no me di cuenta
Escucha, mujer
Tú con él
Pero te lo juro
Mamita, desperté
Tú con él
Ya no recuerdas mis locuras
Del amor aquel
Tú con él
Yo solamente fui la excusa
Para hacerle ver
Tú con él
Que tú podías si tú querías
Vivir sin él
Tú con él
En el juego del amor
Unos vienen y otros van
In Frankie Ruiz's song "Tu Con El" the singer addresses a woman who has moved on to another man and seems happy in her new relationship. He acknowledges that she deserves to be happy but can't help feeling jealous and hurt as he remembers the love they once shared. The chorus "Tú con él" emphasizes the idea that she is with someone else now and despite his longing and waiting for her, she has moved on. The singer confesses his love for the woman and apologizes for not realizing the game she was playing with his heart. He admits that he fell in love with her and now that she's with someone else he feels like he lost the game. The song's melancholy tone and Ruiz's soulful voice capture the heartbreak of unrequited love and the pain of seeing someone you love move on with someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Seguro mujer
I'm sure, woman
Que hoy eres feliz
That today you are happy
Que nada de ayer
That nothing from yesterday
Hoy te hace llorar
Makes you cry today
Tú con él
You with him
El tiempo corre, yo te espero pero tú con él
Time goes by, I wait for you but you're with him
Ya no recuerdas mis locuras ni el amor aquel
You don't remember my craziness or that love anymore
Estás tranquila, lo mereces siempre fuiste fiel
You are calm, you deserve it, always were faithful
No me sorprende, sospechaba terminar así
It doesn't surprise me, I suspected it would end like this
Yo solamente fui la excusa para hacerle ver
I was only an excuse to make him see
Que tú podías si querías vivir sin su amor
That you could, if you wanted to, live without his love
Perdóname
Forgive me
No me di cuenta de ese juego y me enamoré
I didn't realize that game and fell in love
Después fue tarde y no podía ya volver atrás
Then it was too late, I couldn't go back.
Y te quería cada día más y más
And I loved you more and more every day
Que puedes hacer
That you can do
Lo que quieras tu
Whatever you want
Ya me han contado que estás linda, mucho más que ayer
They've already told me that you're beautiful, much more than yesterday
Que no me odias y preguntas siempre por mí
That you don't hate me and always ask about me
Al fin y al cabo un poquito yo me hice querer
In the end, I made you love me a little
Discúlpame
I'm sorry
Aquellos celos tan intensos que sentí por ti
Those intense jealousy that I felt for you
Estaba loco, casi loco por aquel amor
I was crazy, almost crazy for that love
Y al poco tiempo, para siempre lo perdí
And shortly after, I lost it forever
Aún recuerdo el romance
I still remember the romance
Que viviste conmigo
That you lived with me
Yo sé que jugaste
I know you played
Con mis sentimientos
With my feelings
Todo fue un juego
It was all a game
Que tuviste conmigo
That you had with me
Pero en ese juego
But in that game
Yo me enamoré
I fell in love
Yo no me di cuenta
I didn't realize
Escucha, mujer
Listen, woman
Pero te lo juro
But I swear to you
Mamita, desperté
Mama, I woke up
En el juego del amor
In the game of love
Unos vienen y otros van
Some come and others go
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eduardo Franco Da Silva
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind