Cheo Feliciano’s 1971 album titled Cheo marked his much-welcomed return from drug rehabilitation.
The album's opening track that would soon became a classic in the salsa pantheon of standards: 'Anacaona'. The song has been described as the first major hit of the “salsa explosion” [1]. To this day, it remains a much-loved tune for dancers and listeners alike, with its appealing instrumentation, song structure, and alluring atmosphere — but all this is topped by the sublime sound of Cheo Feliciano’s vocals himself.
However, the merits of 'Anacaona' are not limited to purely musical aspects. Also important are the lyrics composed by Puerto Rican songwriter Tite Curet Alonso that make the song exemplary as salsa consciente, or "conscientious salsa" [2], a style which defined several salsa songs of the 1970s. Some reflection at the present time on the story of 'Anacaona' might suggest that it is now more relevant with popular awareness than ever before — even after 50+ years.
The lyrics speak of a noble woman who was a music composer and would become chief of the Taínos, inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola, where the Dominican Republic is located today. She repudiated the newly arrived Spanish colonizers, was captured, enslaved, and killed. Her name was Anacaona.
The song remarks on her fight to protect her people and their culture. It also laments at her demise. In a show of conscious inclusivity, national or romantic sentiments are downplayed since the song composer, a Puerto Rican, chose as his subject an indigenous inhabitant of a Caribbean island other than his own [3]; thus, Anacaona is portrayed not only as a noble symbol of her peoples’ resistance and tragedy, but also the story and plight of indigenous peoples across the Caribbean. To point, her confrontation with the Spanish was a form repeated time and again between indigenous peoples and European colonizers across the Americas for the next few centuries.
Image source: argia.eus
It seems that for ages popular awareness was never broad enough to include much historical injustice, especially the kind experienced by First Nations peoples. However, the topics of settler colonialism and related injustices are now on the rise within a swirling, global consciousness although they are downplayed or ignored by mainstream media; yet, the story of Anacaona is profoundly relevant today.
This tribute by composer Tite Curet Alonso, who wrote several songs touching on socio-cultural issues (including one about Anacaona’s husband, Caonabó), is an invitation for more awareness-raising on the injustices of the past and present.
Such is the understanding one can gain from learning the context of certain musical pieces. Salsa songs are no exception; in fact, many are rich in context.
References
1. Cesar Miguel Rondon. The Book of Salsa (Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 2008), 202.
2. Andrés Espinoza Agurto. Salsa Consciente (East Lansing: MSU Press, 2022), 149.
3. Agurto, Salsa Consciente, 150.
Salsa In Context
This blog post has been an exploration of Salsa in Context: the example of 'Anacaona', the first segment in a series which examines the background story of salsa songs. The aim is to raise awareness of the music that salsa dancers might be familiar with on the dance floor but in fact know little about due to language barriers. See all posts tagged "salsa in context".
PRESENTATION
Salsa in Context will be presented at 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival in Taipei, Nov 22-24.
“Salsa in Context - An introduction to develop your appreciation of salsa music as a dancer and listener”
by Angel Figueroa
(Josai International University)
Location: NuZone Exhibition Center, 2F (Salsa Room)
Date & Time: Sunday, Nov 24, 11:30-12:20
The 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival is an international salsa event organized by Calvin Wang and hosted at a spacious venue in Taipei with several invited international instructors, performers, and DJs. Social dancing is provided for both salsa and bachata dancers. Get tickets here.
FURTHER LISTENING
The song “Anacaona” was included in Episode 41 of Encanto Tropical: Tite Curet Alonso Tribute, which featured many great songs by the Puerto Rican composer. Click on the image below to open the episode webpage for more information and to replay the show.
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JACKET DETAILS
First released in 1971 by Inca Records, the 1972 pressing by Vaya Records is the version pictured in this post. It is a gatefold edition with interesting details including a note by Curet Alonso.
