| "Oye Cómo Va" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Tito Puente | |
| from the album El Rey Bravo | |
| Language | Spanish |
| Released | 1962 |
| Genre | Cha-cha-chá[1] |
| Length | 4:26 |
| Label | Tico Records |
| Songwriter | Tito Puente |
"Oye Cómo Va" is a 1962cha-cha-chá song byTito Puente, originally released onEl Rey Bravo (Tico Records). The song achieved worldwide popularity when it was covered by Americanrock groupSantana for their 1970 albumAbraxas. This version was released as a single in 1971, reaching number 13 on theBillboard Hot 100, number 11 on theBillboard Easy Listening survey, and number 32 on theR&B chart.[2] Theblock chordostinato pattern that repeats throughout the song was most likely borrowed by Puente fromCachao's 1957 mambo "Chanchullo",[3][1] which was recorded by Puente in 1959.[4][5]
The song has been praised by critics and inducted into theLatin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001 and theGrammy Hall of Fame in 2002. Due to its multinational origins–Cuban, Puerto Rican and American–and its many versions by artists from all over the world, "Oye Cómo Va" has come to represent "the interconnectedness, hybridity and transnationality" of Latin music in the United States.[3]
"Oye Cómo Va" was written and recorded by Tito Puente and his orchestra in 1962 forTico Records. The name of the song is taken from its refrain: "Oye cómo va, mi ritmo..." (Listen how it goes, my rhythm). The song was arranged as acha-cha-chá with a repeated pianotumbao consisting ofblock chords and a vocal refrain sung by a chorus, typical of cha-cha-chá. The song's introduction and piano vamp which are highly similar to the 1957mambo "Chanchullo" byIsrael "Cachao" López. According toMax Salazar, it is likely that Puente was inspired by Cachao's tune when composing "Oye Cómo Va", given the clear similarities.[1] In fact, Puente recorded the song in 1959 for his albumMucho cha cha (RCA Victor).[4][5] The second section of the song resembles the introduction to "Te Enseñaré", written by Sergio Calzado and recorded by Estrellas Cubanas in 1960.[6][7] Sergio Calzado's brother, Rudy, is the lead singer in Puente's recording.
Puente himself recorded "Oye Cómo Va" live on many occasions, including his 1980Montreux Jazz Festival appearance with the Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble.
The lineup in the original recording was the following:[8]
| "Oye Como Va" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single bySantana | ||||
| from the albumAbraxas | ||||
| Language | Spanish | |||
| B-side | "Samba Pa Ti" | |||
| Released | 1971 | |||
| Recorded | 1970 | |||
| Studio | Wally Heider Studios (San Francisco, CA)[9] | |||
| Genre | Latin rock | |||
| Length | 4:17 | |||
| Label | CBS | |||
| Songwriter | Tito Puente | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Santana singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Oye Como Va" (audio only) onYouTube | ||||
Santana's arrangement is a "driving, cranked-up version"[10] in a new style ofLatin rock, addingelectric guitar,Hammond B-3 organ, and arockdrum kit to the instrumentation and dropping Puente'sbrass section. The electric guitar part takes on Puente'sflute melody, and the organ provides accompaniment (with organistGregg Rolie's discreet use of theLeslie effect). There are several guitarsolos and an organ solo, all of which are rooted in rock and theblues but also containlicks similar to those of the original arrangement.[10][11]
Tito Puente, speaking in the intro to his recording of "Oye Cómo Va" on the albumMambo Birdland, said "Everybody's heard of Santana. Santana! Beautiful Santana! He put our music, Latin rock, around the world, man! And I'd like to thank him publicly 'cause he recorded a tune and he gave me credit as the composer of the tune. So, since that day... all we play... is Santana music!" The version of the song onMambo Birdland is a Santana-sized version. When interviewed, Puente explained how he was initially outraged by his song being covered by a rock band, until he received his first royalty check.[5]
Santana's version was inducted into theLatin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001[12] and theGrammy Hall of Fame in 2002. It was also included in theNPR 100 list, "the most important American musical works of the 20th century".[10] In 2021, it was ranked No. 479 onRolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[13]
Santana's recording was sampled by2 Live Crew on the song "Mamolapenga" from their 1990 albumBanned in the U.S.A..
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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The song has been covered by various musical artists, in both Latin and Jazz styles.
| Musician / Artist | Year Performed | Album | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Cuba | 1963, 1970 | medley with "Aprieta el pollo" | Latin |
| Azúcar Moreno[24] | 1990 | Bandido | Latin |
| Gerardo Mejía[25] | 1991 | Mo Ritmo; song titled Latin Till I Die (Oye Como Va) | Latin |
| Julio Iglesias[26] | 1994 | Crazy; medley "Guajira /Oye Como Va" | Latin |
| Banda M-1[27] | 1994 | Single | Latin |
| Fruko y sus Tesos[28] | 1999 | Todos bailan salsa | Latin |
| Celia Cruz[29] | 2000 | Single | Latin |
| The Conga Kings[30] | 2001 | Jazz Descargas | Jazz |
| Kinky[31] | 2004 | Recordatorio | Latin |
| Chisato Moritaka[32] | 1990,1992 | Kokon Tozai | Latin |
| Natalie Cole[33] | 2013 | Natalie Cole en Español; medley "Oye Como Va/La Ultima Noche/Quien Sera/Yo Quiero Contigo Bailar/Guajira" featuringArthur Hanlon | Latin |
| Bobby Hutcherson | 1975 | Montara | Jazz |
| Michel Camilo[34] | 1997 | Thru My Eyes | Jazz |
| New Orleans Nightcrawlers[35] | 2000 | Live at the Old Point | Jazz |
| Eliane Elias[36] | 2006 | Around the City | Jazz |
| The Ventures[37] | 1971 | New Testament | Jazz |
| Percy Faith | 1971 | Black Magic Woman | Easy Listening |
The song has been remixed by DJs as well. Two remixes charted in theUnited Kingdom. A remix of Tito Puente Jr & The Latin Rhythm's 1996 version of the song reached #36 in the UK charts. A second remix, released in 1997, peaked at #56.
ThePeter Griffin version, fromFamily Guy, was part of “Pete’s Headphones” on Season 17 Episode 15 “No Giggity, No Doubt”.
A full rendition was performed by the character Gil Godwyn, played by American actorBrent Spiner, backed by a 9 piece jazz band, in the 1997 filmOut to Sea.[38]
