Ozomatli has always juggled two key identities. They are the voice of their city and they are citizens of the world.
Their music — a notorious urban-Latino-and-beyond collision of hip hop and salsa, dancehall and cumbia, samba and funk, merengue and comparsa, East LA R&B and New Orleans second line, Jamaican ragga and Indian ragga— has long followed a key mantra: it will take you around the world by taking you around L.A.
Originally formed to play at a Los Angeles labor protest, Ozomatli spent some of their early days participating in everything from earthquake prep “hip hop ghetto plays” at inner-city elementary schools to community activist events, protests, and city fundraisers. Ever since, theyhave been synonymous with their city: their music has been taken up by both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Clippers, they recorded the street-viewtravelogue “City of Angels” as a new urban anthem, and they were featured as part of the prominent L.A. figures imaging campaign “We Are 4 L.A.” on NBC, and have the distinction of headlining the Hollywood Bowl three times in 2008, 2010 and 2012.
In recognition of their efforts towards Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles has officially declared April 23rd in perpetuity as “Ozomatli Day”. Ozomatli were also recipients of the Local Heroes Award by Los Angeles PBS station KCET-TV, recognizing the band’s longstanding accomplishments and community service throughout Southern California. On the national stage, the band were recognized for their service not just to Los Angeles but as global activists, receiving the National Council of LA Raza's Humanitarian Award, and performing twice for Barak Obama.
“This band could not have happened anywhere else but L.A.,” saxophonist and clarinetist Ulises Bella has said. “Man, the tension of it, the multiculturalism of it. L.A. is like, we’re bonded by bridges.”
Ozo is also a product of the city’s grassroots political scene. Proudly born as a multi-racial crew in post-uprising 90s Los Angeles, the band has built a formidable reputation over five full-length studio albums and a relentless touring schedule for taking party rocking so seriously that it becomes new school musical activism.
“Just being who we are and just doing what we’re doing with music at this time is very political,” says bassist Wil-Dog Abers. “The youth see us up there and recognize themselves. So in a playful, party-type of way, I think it’s real easy for this band to get dangerous. We are starting to realize just how big of a voice we actually have as a band and how important it is for us to use it.”
The band had long been a favorite of international audiences-playing everywhere from Japan to North Africa and Australia-and their music had always been internationalist in its scope, seamlessly blending and transforming traditions from Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East (what other band could record a song once described as “Arabic jarocho dancehall”?), but that year they entered the global arena in a different way.
They were invited by the U.S. State Department to serve as official Cultural Ambassadors on a series of government-sponsored international tours to Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East, tours that linked Ozomatli to atradition of cultural diplomacy that also includes the esteemed likes of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong.
In places like Tunisia, India, Jordan, and Nepal, Ozo didn’t just play rousing free public concerts, but offered musical workshops and master classes and visited arts centers, summer camps, youth rehabilitation centers, and even a Palestinian refugee camp. They listened to performances by local musicians and often joined in for impromptu jam sessions with student bands and communitymusicians. Most shows ended up with kids dancing on stage and their new collaborators sitting in for a tabla solo or a run on the slide guitar.
In the case of Nepal, the band’s trip was part of a celebration of the country’s newly ratified peace accord and they arrived with a direct message: “different instruments but one rhythm, together we can make a prosperous Nepal.” Their concert, which drew over 14,000 people, was a historic one - Ozo were the first Western band to do a concert in Nepal and the event was the country’s first peaceful mass gathering that was not a protest or religious ceremony.
Ozomatli traveled to Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand performing free concerts and extending humanitarian outreach, including HIV and AIDS care clinics, visits to schools for the blind and deaf, orphanages, Methadone clinics, and outreach programs to refugees and disadvantaged youth.
Ozomatli also journeyed to the earthquake zone in Dujiangyan, China – an area still ravaged by the devastating 7.9 temblor of May 12, 2008 - killing at least 68,000 people and injuring countless more. Ozo’s outreach in this area focused on extending the value of music education to children in orphanages, schools for migrant workers families, and schools for the handicapped.
Ozomatli were honored to help celebrate the Boston Pops 125th Anniversary, accompanied by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Since that first orchestral collaboration, they have gone on to perform Ozo classics live with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, the Colorado Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, and the New York Pops.
Ozomatli made an appearance at TEDxSF – the first musical talk ever given at any TED conference - mixing discussion and sound to explore the challenges and promises of musical identities in a global age.
In addition to their substantial history licensing their music for film, tv and video games, the band has also gone on to compose and score, recently contributing music to Happy Feet 2 and Elmo's Musical Monsterpiece for Warner Brothers Interactive, SIMS for EA Games, music for PBS Kids, the films A Better Life and Harlistas, and for the TV Show Standup Revolution on Comedy Central.
Ozomatli has worked diligently to spread its message of peace, communication and understanding through music, with a longstanding tradition of performing for children all over the world, from the schools of North St. Louis to the orphanages of Southeast Asia. The band has also created “Ozokidz”, a special family friendly set geared towards performing for children and adults alike.
Coming Up
Ozomatli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
solo existe la alegriaes
el baile de los queridos
de los queridos del pasado
mira como baila mi mama
bailando con mi hermano del pasado
sus espiritus se juntan bailando
lleno de alegria y gozando
Cumbia, Cumbia (repeat)
Sierta gente solo puede ver
espiritus bailando entre la gente
si pueden verlos bailando mis hermanos
seran bendicidos entre los cielos
mira como baila mi mama
bailando con mi hermano del pasado
sus espiritus se juntan bailando
lleno de alegria y gozando
Cumbia, Cumbia (repeat)
Chali's Rap:
As sure as your heart muscle rests in your chest cavity
we ask god to bless these festivities
yet, this hostility felt between you and me stops
opportunity given to spread unity
2na be rhythmically wiping sadness clear
reggae cumbia mixtures create this atmosphere
people packin cheer simply cuz these songs show depth
giving shouts to these victims of wrongful death
now, soon as we're rid of society's small terrors
the sooner these teenagers don't have to be pallbearers
and carry their pals nearer to graves premature the cure
be mature by keeping you hearts pure
The lyrics of the song "Coming Up" by Ozomatli celebrate joy, happiness, and the power of dance. The opening lines, "Aqui no existe la tristeza, solo existe la alegria" (Here there is no sadness, only joy), set the tone for the whole song. The lyrics emphasize the importance of embracing happiness and cherishing the moments of joy in our lives.
The song specifically mentions the dance of loved ones from the past, celebrating the connection between generations. It highlights the idea that even though our loved ones may no longer be physically present, their spirits can be felt through the power of dance. The lyrics mention the joy and happiness that comes from witnessing this dance, emphasizing the unity and positive energy that can be created through such celebrations.
The repetition of the phrase "Cumbia, Cumbia" throughout the song adds to its energetic and uplifting nature. The mention of spirits dancing among the people further suggests a spiritual and transcendent experience. The lyrics may also allude to the belief that those who can see and appreciate these spirits dancing are blessed and connected to the heavens.
Overall, the lyrics of "Coming Up" convey a message of celebrating life, embracing joy, and honoring the presence of our loved ones through dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Aqui no existe la tristeza
Here sadness does not exist
solo existe la alegriaes
only joy exists
el baile de los queridos
the dance of the beloved
de los queridos del pasado
of the beloved from the past
mira como baila mi mama
look how my mother dances
bailando con mi hermano del pasado
dancing with my brother from the past
sus espiritus se juntan bailando
their spirits come together dancing
lleno de alegria y gozando
full of joy and enjoyment
Cumbia, Cumbia (repeat)
Cumbia, Cumbia (repeat)
Sierta gente solo puede ver
Certain people can only see
espiritus bailando entre la gente
spirits dancing among the people
si pueden verlos bailando mis hermanos
if they can see my brothers dancing
seran bendicidos entre los cielos
they will be blessed among the heavens
mira como baila mi mama
look how my mother dances
bailando con mi hermano del pasado
dancing with my brother from the past
sus espiritus se juntan bailando
their spirits come together dancing
lleno de alegria y gozando
full of joy and enjoyment
Cumbia, Cumbia (repeat)
Cumbia, Cumbia (repeat)
Chali's Rap:
Chali's Rap:
As sure as your heart muscle rests in your chest cavity
Just like your heart rests within your chest
we ask god to bless these festivities
we pray for God's blessing on these celebrations
yet, this hostility felt between you and me stops
however, the hostility between us comes to an end
opportunity given to spread unity
an opportunity is given to promote unity
2na be rhythmically wiping sadness clear
2na rhythmically wipes away sadness
reggae cumbia mixtures create this atmosphere
the mix of reggae and cumbia creates this atmosphere
people packin cheer simply cuz these songs show depth
people cheer because these songs have depth
giving shouts to these victims of wrongful death
giving shoutouts to the victims of unjust death
now, soon as we're rid of society's small terrors
now, as soon as we eliminate society's minor terrors
the sooner these teenagers don't have to be pallbearers
the sooner these teenagers won't have to carry coffins
and carry their pals nearer to graves premature the cure
and bring their friends closer to untimely graves, the cure
be mature by keeping you hearts pure
be mature by keeping your hearts pure
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
toltusone
Sadness doesn’t exist here
Only happiness exists here
It’s the dance of the beloved
The beloved from the past
Look at how my mom dances
Dancing with my brother from the past
Their spirits joining together to dance
Full of happiness and enjoyment
Only certain people can see
The spirits dancing among us
They can see my brothers dancing
They will be blessed within the heavens
Look at how my mom dances
Dancing with my brother from the past
Their spirits joining together to dance
Full of happiness and enjoyment
Sound Select
Sadness doesn’t exist here
Only happiness exists here
It’s the dance of the beloved
The beloved from the past
Look at how my mom dances
Dancing with my brother from the past
Their spirits joining together to dance
Full of happiness and enjoyment
Only certain people can see
The spirits dancing among us
They can see my brothers dancing
They will be blessed within the heavens
Look at how my mom dances
Dancing with my brother from the past
Their spirits joining together to dance
Full of happiness and enjoyment.
There are some more short phrases between the main chorus words ( Cumbia, Cumbia....)
but this sums it up.
Christopher de Lhery
They need more backing. One of the greatest bands out there.
buddyrichrocks
Just saw this guys last night in Sydney, Australia. Beyond words. What a live band! What a vibe! A life experience I will never forget.
SMK
If you can see Katchafire from New Zealand. another great band
Scissors Lips Bloodflower
Qué buena canción aun en 2021.dan ganas de bailar 🕺🏻
marie catherine Mauclert
Me gusta esta canción, es linda y movida, inspiradora, una mezcla de cumbia, rock y hip-hop, asombrosa....
Melodie Piper Octavia
What I love about this song, is it differs each version I hear. Each one has a different flow. I love it.
Joanna Urena
Such an amazing and humble band. I really love these guys! They always deliver the best performance every time I see them!
Tom Rimes
Awesome Awesome Band!!! There is nothing better in this world, than a live band that kicks ass like this band. God bless you guys paz
Rafael González Maza
La música traspasa fronteras
More Cowbell
this song was one of the songs on a burned CD my brother gave me.
Only bc of the rap in English could I find the song title and now I see them live. great to know the actual words too
didn't know they were saying cumbia, thought it was booya lol