Wow ! Did someone suggest the song ? The lyrics are about a man to whom a son is born . The father is severe and raises him with an iron hand , as his son is destined to be a real man someday . But the boy grows up to be gay and moves away from home . Years later a woman passes the father on the street and says " Hi Dad , don't you recognize me , it's me your son , Simon " .
This is a fascinating song, with a fascinating story. I recommended this and was very aware of the story in the song. The music is simply the best salsa there is! Dark but true. Happens everyday, every where.
Thanks for suggesting the song to Mr Jam . I love this song - both the smokin' music and the true to life lyrics . Willie Colon is great . My favorite is Willie and Célia Cruz singing the Brazilian song Usted Abusou .
Willie Colon is a salsa legend from the legendary Fania Records!!!! This had great story telling & great music. Even tho the ending was sad, Willie says at the end , we must have compassion & He without sin throw the first stone. In my opinion, I think it was made to be an upbeat salsa song because in the Latino community this is a taboo subject & maybe it’s a way to get the message of having compassion.
That song doesn't make any sense for someone who doesn't speak Spanish, what's interesting and iconic about the song, more than its rhythm, is the lyrics.
The lyrics was composed in 1986 by Omar Alfanno of Panama. It was released in 1989 and sung by Willie Colón, who is a pioneer in the salsa genre. Colon is a legendary Salsa composer, arranger, singer, trombonist and bandleader and has been known to make socially and politically conscious music. This record is no different. The song reflects on the Latino macho image, gay taboos at the time, and HIV, which was a prominent health issue at the time of this song’s release. In the song, Simon, who was born in 1953, didn’t live up to his father’s image of growing up to become a man (El Gran Varón). Simon surprised his father (Don Andres) upon his return from abroad, as a transgender. Subsequently, Don Andres, swayed by public opinion, disowned his son, Simon, and never spoke to him again. During their estrangement, Simon kept writing to his father, but the father was unrelenting. As time elapsed, Simon stopped writing to Don Andres, and the father, who was starting to soften on his stance, became curious about his son’s whereabouts. Eventually, Don Andres received the sad news in the summer of 1986, that Simon had died of “a strange disease” in the hospital (HIV). The lyrics say that no one wept for the patient in bed #10 (Simon). The song ends with a plea for people to accept others, who may be different than them. This is a classic song with a tragic content. It’s really meant to reflect and not dance. The musical arrangement, nonetheless, and its lyrics are off the hook. I have this album. It’s got great songs on it.
@@byronmcgee4118 salsa or jazz? Salsa has African rhythms with Latin melodies. Jazz is music formed by African Americans with European influenced styles, mainly French. No African origins.
