Joe Arroyo was born in Cartagena. At the age of ten he was already singing in one of Cartagenas' popular music halls. His father had 40 sons with different women, a story that he usually tells.
In the year 1971 Arroyo had his biggest opportunity of becoming a nationally known artist. He was discovered by Ernesto Estrada, the bass player and singer of the band "Fruko y sus Tesos" (Fruko and his buddies) and signed up with Colombian record label Discos Fuentes. With the band he performed for ten years until in 1981 when he began his solo career leading his own band, named "La Verdad" (The truth).
Joe Arroyo became very successful by mixing salsa, merengue, soca, zouk and other Afro-American music beats in a unique style that has earned him the prefix of Sonero de la Salsa by renown critics and fans.
Born in Cartagena de Indias, 1 November 1955 – Died in Barranquilla, 26 July 2011
Son Apretao
Joe Arroyo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que lo que traigo es melao
Ya estan gozando mi ritmo
Que rico, que rico, que rico, que rico
Desde curramba hasta el sibao
Bailen que traigo el son apretao
Bailen aprovechen el melao del tumbao bailen, que mi tumbao
Bailen, viene afincao
Bailen, tiene melao
Bailen, baile apretao
Bailen, este tumbao
Bailen, te digoo yaa
Bailen, vengo afincao
A lo chanpetuu
De mi caribe bendito ay ay ay...
Traigo mi son apretao
Ya estan gozando mi ritmo
Que rico, que rico, que rico, que rico desde curramba hasta el sibao
Bailen que los quiero ver sudaoos
Bailen aprovechen el melao del tumbao bailen, que este melao
Bailen, esta apretao
Bailen, que rico
Bailen, viene afincao
Bailen, este tumbao
Bailen, tiene melao
Bailen, y afincoo yaa
Bailen, com mi tumbao
Bailen... bailen...
A la tatica
Bailen, que mi tumbao
Bailen tiene melao
Bailen, que rico
Bailen, viene apretao
Bailen, esta afincao
Bailen, este tumbao
Bailen, te digoo yaa
Bailen, tiene melao
A la tatica arroyo
Bailen... bailen...
Bailen, que mi tumbao
Bailen, tiene melao
Bailen, afincoo yaa
Bailen, con el melao
Bailen, viene afincao
Bailen, y esta apretao
Bailen, que rico yaa
Bailen, esta el melao
Ay ay ayyy
Oye me bien lo que digo ay ay ay
Y no te quedes sentaoo
Es caribeño mi ritmo
Que rico, que rico, que rico, que rico desde curramba hasta el sibao
Bailen que traigo el son apretao
Bailen cojanle bien el melao al tumbao bailen, que esta afincao
Bailen, este tumbao
Bailen, que rico
Bailen, tiene melao
Bailen, baile apretao
Bailen, con mi tumbao
Bailen, bendito yaa
Bailen, tiene melao
Bailen, esta afincao
Bailen, con mi tumbao
Bailen.
The lyrics of Joe Arroyo Y La Verdad's song "Son Apretao" describe the energetic and fun nature of the Carribean and its music. The lead singer emphasizes the sweetness and irresistible rhythm of the music, inviting everyone to join in and dance. He mentions various regions from "Curramba" (a nickname for the city of Barranquilla, Colombia) to "Sibao" (a region in the Dominican Republic), to show the wide reach and influence of the Carribean music style. He urges people to take advantage of the "melao" (syrupy sweetness) of the music and "aprovechen" (make the most of) its "tumbao" (rhythm or beat). He repeats the phrase "que rico" (how nice/great) multiple times, exclaiming his own pleasure and excitement while singing. Overall, the lyrics express a joyful and celebratory vibe, encouraging people to join in and have fun with the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo te lo dije negrito. ay ay ay
I told you before my friend, pay attention
Que lo que traigo es melao
What I bring is sweet, with a good rhythm
Ya estan gozando mi ritmo
People are already enjoying my rhythm
Que rico, que rico, que rico, que rico
How good it feels, so good, so good, so good
Desde curramba hasta el sibao
From Curramba to Sibao
Bailen que traigo el son apretao
Dance because I bring a tight rhythm
Bailen aprovechen el melao del tumbao bailen, que mi tumbao
Dance and enjoy the sweetness of my beat, my rhythm
Bailen, viene afincao
Dance, it's coming in tune
Bailen, que rico
Dance, it feels so good
Bailen, tiene melao
Dance, it has sweetness
Bailen, baile apretao
Dance it tight
Bailen, este tumbao
Dance with this rhythm
Bailen, te digo yaa
Dance, I tell you now
Bailen, vengo afincao
Dance, I come in tune
A lo chanpetuu
In the champeta way
De mi caribe bendito ay ay ay...
From my blessed Caribbean, oh oh oh...
Traigo mi son apretao
I bring my tight rhythm
Bailen que los quiero ver sudaoos
Dance, I want to see you sweating
Bailen aprovechen el melao del tumbao bailen, que este melao
Dance and enjoy the sweetness of the beat, this sweetness
Bailen, esta apretao
Dance, it's tight
A la tatica
In the Tatica way
Bailen, que mi tumbao
Dance with my rhythm
Bailen, afincoo yaa
Dance, I'll put it in tune now
Bailen, con el melao
Dance, with the sweetness
Bailen, viene afincao
Dance, it comes in tune
Bailen, y esta apretao
Dance, it's tight
Bailen, que rico yaa
Dance, it feels so good now
Ay ay ayyy
Oh oh oh
Oye me bien lo que digo ay ay ay
Listen carefully to what I say
Y no te quedes sentaoo
And don't just sit there
Es caribeño mi ritmo
My rhythm is Caribbean
Bailen cojanle bien el melao al tumbao bailen, que esta afincao
Dance and take the sweetness of the beat well, that it's in tune
Bailen, bendito yaa
Dance, blessed now
Bailen.
Dance.
Writer(s): Alvaro Jose Arroyo-gonzalez
Contributed by Elijah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@estebanmedrano5807
Soy Panameño y crecí con esta rica música, cuando gracias a Dios existían buenos cantantes, Dios bendiga a este musico su historia es muy impresionante.
@jorgedavidcarbonogodoy3102
la música de ahora es mete que saca, puras plevedades y más nada
@alvaropino3760
esto si es música, saludos a los hermanos colombianos desde PANAMÁ
@marlamarinatorresurueta4435
Definitivamente esto sí es música,esto sí le toca las fibras de lo más profundo a uno. Por siempre Joe!👏👏👏
@mariaricaurte190
Que tristeza! Me tocó vivir en una época de música mediocre. No como la de antes, como este tema de nuestro recordado Joe Arroyo, de Aníbal Velásquez, Adolfo Echeverría, Gabriel Romero con su Piragua y de otros cantantes de enorme capacidad para ponernos a gozar de lo bueno.
@Josesirtorif
Maria Ricaurte para eso estamos los amantes de estos ritmos para mantener viva la memoria de los mejores tiempos.
@juanvillegas5628
JoseSirtori no eres la única que lamenta vivir en esta época, Saludos!
@luiscontreras3918
Maria Ricaurte x2 mala época nacimos...
@javierenriquemadridvaldivi2002
Jijij
@thaylorcardenas1864
Maria Ricaurte No eres la única que lo lamenta créeme