The project soon developed into a production and writing duo with colombian songwriter Ivan Benavides, and has since become a full live band. The two began to write together, producing the future club classic and sidestepper’s first vocal tune - Logozo in 1997. Two years later, the band signed with Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures. Again Ivan co-wrote and produced and ‘More Grip‘ was released in 2000, a homage to a salsa night out in Bogotá.
Sidestepper began to play live for the first time, playing gigs in the UK and across Europe, at Glastonbury and Roskilde amongst many others, and Richard continued to DJ in the UK and US. Their shows became legendary, they guaranteed a great party that starts on stage and resulted in a collective and euphoric experience, genuinely contagious. Meanwhile, writing work had begun on 3am (In Beats We Trust), as Richard travelled between London and NY where Ivan was living. The two recorded the core of the album in Bogota in 2002, some eventually unused sessions in Jamaica, with Cuban singer Ronald Infante in Havana, and MC’s Rubi Dan and Juxsi D in London. The mix was done in autumnal London, and 3AM was released to critical acclaim in 2003.
Richard returned to Bogota to form a live band that would be based in Colombia; and between old hands like Janio Coronado and Teto Ocampo, and a then new talent Erika Muñoz, a special magic emerged with this incarnation of Sidestepper, which vowed audiences in Colombia, Mexico and the US for the few years.
After touring extensively with the band, Ivan and Richard wanted to make a record written specifically for each member. The writing and original tracking were done at a farm outside Bogota, and mixing was done at a studio in the city. ‘Continental’ was released in July 2006.
Today, Sidestepper sound had expanded far beyond its original fusion of classic salsa and club beats to take in everything from deep Colombian folk influences to hip hop via cumbia, dancehall reggae, dub and afrobeat, layering infectious melodies and crisp harmonies on top of rock solid beats.
In the process, Sidestepper has helped transform the Colombian music scene, inspiring a new generation of young beat scientists to marry latin music with cutting edge beats. The originator that kick started the new wave of electro acoustic colombian music.
A lot of great talents have passed through the group, many of whom have gone on to great success with their own bands, like Goyo from ChocQuibTown, Pernett, and Sergio Arias from Malalma.
Sidestepper is now conformed as an 8-piece band, and are currently in the studio making a new record for release in the spring of 2010.
The current line up is
Janio Coronado, Edgardo Garcés and Erika Muñoz, on vocals
Teto Ocampo, on guitars
Pedro Ojeda, on drums
Juan Carlos Cuello "El Chongo", on Percussion
Iván Benavides, words and melody
Richard Blair, on bass and beats
www.sidestepper.net.
San Juan
Sidestepper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
voy pal' san juan
vamos pa' alla
pero vamos de one
y yo no se
a donde vas a llegar
si estas deseando las cosas de los demas
ya hasta te duele
que yo me sienta bien
y yo me angustio
y me pregunto ¿por que?
si estas feliz
si tienes swing
si te parece dejemo' la cosa ahi
te gusta el bing y la guitarra
y la cosa mala oye dejala que salga
si no te fluye pienso "que ironia"
que paso con este ni un poquito me queria
llevame en la buena-ena
esa es tu tarea-ea
conserva la elegancia
si no es lo que sea.
hey yei hyei
voy pal' san juan
vamos pa' alla
pero vamos de one
que es lo que me angustia
de lo que pueda pasar
un pasito pa' aca y un pasito pa' alla
o un paso en falso que me haga temblar
o un juramento que no pueda alcanzar
pero quiza te abra mi corazon
pero lo valores como frase de cajon
hey heyie voy pal' san juan
vamos de one
bien "underground"
si no me gusta ya te lo digo
cual es la angustia
esta centrada en mi ombligo
te hablo enserio si crees en mi
dejate llevar y no te angusties asi
hey yei hyei
voy pal' san juan
vamos pa' alla
pero vamos de one
llevame en la buena-ena
esa es tu tarea-ea
conserva la elegancia
si no es lo que sea.
el flow
es lo que quiero yo
ritmo y sabor
venga del blow
The song "San Juan" by Sidestepper is an upbeat and flowing tune that explores themes of self-doubt and the fear of the unknown. The song begins with the singer exclaiming "Hey yei hyei, voy pal' San Juan", which roughly translates to "Hey yeah yeah, I'm going to San Juan". The song is a call to adventure, a journey into the unknown, but there is a sense of trepidation that underlies the excitement. The refrain "llevame en la buena-ena, esa es tu tarea-ea, conserva la elegancia, si no es lo que sea" roughly translates to "take me in the good mood, that's your task, keep the elegance, if it's not what it is".
The song talks about the fear of not being accepted or appreciated, as in the lines "si no te fluye pienso 'que ironia', que paso con este ni un poquito me queria", which roughly translates to "if it doesn't flow for you, I think 'what an irony', what happened with this one who didn't even like me a little bit". There is also an underlying theme of jealousy and comparing oneself to others, as in the lines "si estas deseando las cosas de los demas, ya hasta te duele que yo me sienta bien" which roughly translates to "if you are desiring what others have, you even hurt that I feel good".
Overall, "San Juan" is a song about taking risks, being yourself, and dealing with the fear and uncertainty that comes with that. The song encourages us to embrace the unknown, to take chances, and to stay true to ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey yei hyei
Excitedly and energetically expressing the desire to venture to San Juan.
voy pal' san juan
Intending to travel to San Juan.
vamos pa' alla
Encouraging someone to go with them to San Juan.
pero vamos de one
Insisting on going alone, without any company.
y yo no se
Expressing uncertainty about the direction they are headed to.
a donde vas a llegar
Questioning where the person is planning to arrive.
si estas deseando las cosas de los demas
Accusing someone of envying others' possessions.
ya hasta te duele
Stating that the person is experiencing emotional pain.
que yo me sienta bien
Referring to the fact that the person is bothered by the idea of someone else being content.
y yo me angustio
Admitting to feeling anxious or uneasy.
y me pregunto ¿por que?
Wondering why they are feeling this way.
si estas feliz
Noting that the person should be happy.
si tienes swing
Pointing out that the person has a good rhythm or vibe.
si te parece dejemo' la cosa ahi
Proposing to leave the issue as it is.
te gusta el bing y la guitarra
Referring to the person's musical tastes.
y la cosa mala oye dejala que salga
Suggesting to let the negative aspects of something be exposed or released.
si no te fluye pienso 'que ironia'
Reflecting on the irony of something not working out.
que paso con este ni un poquito me queria
Questioning why someone did not show them any love or affection.
llevame en la buena-ena
Asking someone to take them on a good and positive journey.
esa es tu tarea-ea
Assigning the task to the other person.
conserva la elegancia
Urging someone to maintain their elegance and gracefulness.
si no es lo que sea.
Stating that it does not matter if it is something else.
que es lo que me angustia
Questioning what is causing their anxiety.
de lo que pueda pasar
Anxious about the potential events that could occur.
un pasito pa' aca y un pasito pa' alla
Referring to taking small steps forward and back.
o un paso en falso que me haga temblar
Concerned about making a mistake that could cause them to falter.
o un juramento que no pueda alcanzar
Worried about committing to something they may not be able to achieve.
pero quiza te abra mi corazon
Might open up their heart to someone else.
pero lo valores como frase de cajon
Expressing the idea that they do not want their words to be dismissed as cliches.
bien 'underground'
Referring to being off the beaten path or outside the mainstream.
si no me gusta ya te lo digo
Stating that they will express their dislike if they do not enjoy something.
cual es la angustia
Asking why they feel anxious.
esta centrada en mi ombligo
Acknowledging that their anxiety stems from a self-centered perspective.
te hablo enserio si crees en mi
Assuring someone that they are being genuine if they trust them.
dejate llevar y no te angusties asi
Encouraging someone to go with the flow and not worry so much.
el flow
Referring to the style and rhythm of the music or dance.
es lo que quiero yo
Expressing the desire for a certain type of flow.
ritmo y sabor
Describing the desired qualities of the music, including rhythm and flavor.
venga del blow
Referencing the type of musical influence they want to experience.
Writer(s): Richard Blair, Ivan Benavides
Contributed by Samantha N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Blair Darby
One of my all-time favorite musical groups. Sidestepper is legendary