Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
Muchacho Ordinario
Joe Bataan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo no soy dueño de casa hermosa
No tengo miles para gastar
Ni una casita al lado del mar
Soy solamente un muchacho ordinario
Soy solamente un muchacho que dejaste atrás
Casinos exclusivos
Porque yo no me asocio con alta sociedad
Yo no me asocio con mamitos millonarios
Soy solamente un muchacho que dejaste atrás
Carro público me llevan a donde voy
Mi apartamento es a donde estoy
Cuando no estoy con mis amigos
Solo estoy, solo voy
Sigue andando
Sigue caminando y olvidate de mi
Sigue andando
Sigue caminando y olvidate de mi
The lyrics of Joe Bataan's song "Muchacho Ordinario" describe the singer's humble lifestyle and their acceptance of being an ordinary person. The first verse highlights that they don't drive a fancy car or own a beautiful house, nor do they have large sums of money to spend or a beachside cottage. They emphasize their simplicity and lack of extravagance. The phrase "Soy solamente un muchacho ordinario" translates to "I am just an ordinary guy," portraying their self-awareness and contentment with their ordinary life. They also mention being left behind by someone, indicating that this person may have chosen a different path due to their ordinary status.
The second verse mentions exclusive casinos and high society, indicating that they are no longer a part of that world. They distance themselves from wealthy individuals and elite social circles, emphasizing their disassociation with the upper class. The phrase "Yo no me asocio con alta sociedad" translates to "I don't associate myself with high society," reflecting their rejection of any connection to wealthy individuals and their lavish lifestyle. They reiterate their ordinariness and being left behind by using the line "Soy solamente un muchacho que dejaste atrás."
The following lines in the third verse further emphasize their ordinary nature. They rely on public transportation rather than owning a car, and their apartment becomes their home wherever they are. The singer suggests that their only companionship lies with their friends, as the lines "Cuando no estoy con mis amigos, solo estoy, solo voy" translate to "When I'm not with my friends, I am alone, I go alone." These lines illustrate their simple and unassuming existence, as they find solace in the company of their friends.
The chorus, "Sigue andando, sigue caminando y olvídate de mí" translates to "Keep walking, keep moving, and forget about me." This line appears to be directed towards someone who left the singer behind, encouraging them to continue with their life and leave the singer in the past. It reflects the singer's acceptance and understanding of being an ordinary person, and their willingness to let go and heal from the abandonment they experienced. Overall, the lyrics portray a sense of contentment with an ordinary life and a desire for moving on from a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo no guio un carro que es gran cosa
I don't drive a fancy car
Yo no soy dueño de casa hermosa
I don't own a beautiful house
No tengo miles para gastar
I don't have thousands to spend
Ni una casita al lado del mar
Not even a little house by the sea
Soy solamente un muchacho ordinario
I am simply an ordinary guy
Soy solamente un muchacho que dejaste atrás
I am just a guy you left behind
Casinos exclusivos
Exclusive casinos
Para mi no existe ya
No longer exist for me
Porque yo no me asocio con alta sociedad
Because I don't associate with high society
Yo no me asocio con mamitos millonarios
I don't associate with rich daddies
Soy solamente un muchacho que dejaste atrás
I am just a guy you left behind
Carro público me llevan a donde voy
Public transportation takes me wherever I go
Mi apartamento es a donde estoy
My apartment is where I am
Cuando no estoy con mis amigos
When I am not with my friends
Solo estoy, solo voy
I am alone, I go alone
Sigue andando
Keep walking
Sigue caminando y olvidate de mi
Keep walking and forget about me
Sigue andando
Keep walking
Sigue caminando y olvidate de mi
Keep walking and forget about me
Writer(s): Joe Bataan
Contributed by Caroline M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@amosleiva3228
Gracias a mi padre que en paz descanse pude conocer tremenda canción. Y años despúes que conseguí el album, que JOYITA!
@glennbahia
Compre este LP en 74 junto con Lo Mato de Willie, Indestructible de Ray- mis 3 tres primeros discos de salsa. Esta cancion es que mas recuerdo y Calle Luna Calle Sol.
@lopz33
¡Tremendo tema!
@lopz33
Un día como hoy, 15 de noviembre de 1942, nació en El Barrio (Spanish Harlem), Ciudad de Nueva York, Estados Unidos, el músico filipino-afroestadounidense Pedro Bataan Nitollano, conocido artísticamente como Joe Bataan. ¡Felicitaciones, Maestro! 🎵🎤🎹🎶🎉🎂🎊😊😊😊😊😊
@sancheza8894
que gran canción! me encanta,viva joe bataan.
@AfrikanGod1
Fantástico!Música que inspira!
@cathyacosta4663
Absolutely Love this Jamm......
Gets me moving my feet .....
Always play this one twice....
Old School Joe.....
@mamas1330mg
Beautiful tune!
@tankertuff9947
This guy is a beast,puneta!!!!!!!!! One of the biggest stars of salsoul shit !!!!!! Pioneer!!! Joe may you live forever papa !!!! Dale puneta!!!!
@cathyacosta4663
My favorite one ....
Get it Joe ...❤