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.
Mujer Mia
Joe Bataan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mira el tiempo como pasa
Después que te fuistes de mi casa
Solito me quedé
Linda mujer
Tu sabes bien que te quiero
Y por tu amor yo si que muero
Recuerdo me dejaste
Yo quisiera saber
Porqué me has negado tu querer
Al principio tu supistes comprender
La forma de mi querer
Es por eso
Es por eso que te pido
Vuelvas a mi lado
Si yo te doy calor
Yo soy tu corazón
Yo soy el que te quiero.
The lyrics of Joe Bataan's song, "Mujer Mia" tell the story of a man who is reminiscing about his lost love. The first verse speaks of the passage of time since she left his house, leaving him feeling alone. The second verse expresses his deep love for her and his willingness to die for her, but he is left with the memory of her departure. In the chorus, the singer asks why his love has been denied to him now, even though she had previously understood his love.
With simple yet deeply expressive lyrics, the song captures the essence of heartbreak and the longing for a lost love. The sense of yearning and sadness is palpable in the singer's voice as he implores his lover to return to him. In contrast, the chorus offers hope and the possibility of a renewed romance if only she would give him another chance.
Overall, "Mujer Mia" is a beautiful song that speaks to the universal theme of love and loss. With a combination of soulful lyrics and a catchy melody, it is no wonder that this song has become a classic in the Latin music community.
Line by Line Meaning
Mujer mía
My beloved woman
Mira el tiempo como pasa
Time flies and I realize how much I miss you
Después que te fuistes de mi casa
After you left my home
Solito me quedé
I was left all alone
Linda mujer
Beautiful woman
Tu sabes bien que te quiero
You know I love you deeply
Y por tu amor yo si que muero
I would die for your love
Recuerdo me dejaste
You left me with a memory
Yo quisiera saber
I want to know
Porqué me has negado tu querer
Why did you deny me your love
Al principio tu supistes comprender
In the beginning, you understood
La forma de mi querer
How much I loved you
Es por eso
That's why
Es por eso que te pido
That's why I'm asking you
Vuelvas a mi lado
To come back to my side
Si yo te doy calor
Because I will give you warmth
Yo soy tu corazón
I am your heart
Yo soy el que te quiero.
I am the one who loves you.
Contributed by Ethan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.