MARCELO GEORGE
Here are some great examples of non-Salsa songs that have been transformed into lively Salsa versions:
"Billie Jean" – Tony Succar
Tony Succar’s version of Michael Jackson’s pop classic demonstrates how the song’s iconic elements—its hooks and memorable melodies—can be preserved while seamlessly transforming it into a vibrant Salsa piece.
"Ne me quitte pas" – Yuri Buenaventura
This rendition of the famous French song, immortalized by Édith Piaf, retains the emotional depth of the lyrics while infusing it with the lively and dynamic essence of Salsa. The harmonic changes enhance the vocal melody, offering a fresh, spirited interpretation.
"El sol de la noche" – Salsa Celtica
This fusion beautifully blends Celtic melodies with Salsa’s rhythmic and instrumental elements. It’s an inspiring example of how two seemingly distant musical cultures can come together to create something extraordinary.
"Clocks" – Coldplay & Buena Vista Social Club
This collaboration preserves the iconic intro of Coldplay’s hit while transitioning into a Salsa montuno style. The brass arrangements, jazzy influences, and dynamic interplay between verses and instruments make it an awesome adaptation.
"Let It Be" – Tito Nieves
Tito Nieves’s rendition of The Beatles’ classic adapts the diatonic harmonic progression to fit the Salsa clave. Key Salsa features like Coro/Pregón, brass dialogues, and dynamic changes (arriba, abajo) shine through while staying true to the essence of the original song.
"Fragilidad (Fragile)" – Milagros Pinera & Sanmera
This adaptation of Sting’s “Fragile” transforms the song into a Salsa masterpiece while maintaining its original spirit. The long, harmonic background notes are paired with Salsa’s energetic phrasing and rhythmic clave, showcasing how Salsa can bring a Latin dance vibe to almost any song.
Not everything in life fits perfectly, and music is no exception. When it comes to creating Salsa versions of songs from other genres, certain criteria can sometimes be overlooked, forgotten, or even ignored.
DISCLAIMER
I want to make it clear that this is just my perspective. I have no intention of undermining the effort and creativity that goes into these projects. Many of these songs have gained popularity despite straying from the essence of the originals, and it wouldn’t be fair to call them a “disaster.” Just like other genres, Salsa has the right to experiment with creative mash-ups and unique interpretations. After all, creativity knows no bounds!
That said, when adapting songs into Salsa, I believe it’s important to maintain the essence of the original pieces. This involves carefully adapting their rhythm, harmony, and melody while staying true to the spirit of Salsa and its key elements. Below, I’ve highlighted a couple of examples where these aspects could have been handled better:
“Careless Whisper” (Rumores) – Orquesta la Palabra
The intro of this version before the rhythm starts, doesn’t reference the original song at all. While adding something new can be a good thing, the brass melodies that attempt to recreate the iconic, sensual sax intro lack the character of the original. This might be because the tempo is faster, altering the phrasing and intention behind that sweet sax melody. Additionally, the dense reverb that defines the original’s intro is absent in this Salsa adaptation.
The lyrics include sections that aren’t part of the original, but the combination of Spanish and English is handled impressively. However, the chorus remains unchanged from the original, without being adapted to fit the clave, which creates a slightly off-putting feeling.
The second half of the song completely loses the essence of the original, to the point where someone unfamiliar with "Rumores" wouldn’t recognize this as a cover. Only the ending—which mirrors the intro—offers a connection to the original piece.
“Beat It” – Rhythms del Mundo
Let’s focus on the intro. This version incorporates the electric guitar from Fall Out Boy’s cover of "Beat It," rather than the original by Michael Jackson. While interesting, this choice significantly changes the character of the song.
The transition to Salsa, with brass instruments layered over the electric guitar riff, feels forced. There’s no natural blending between the elements, making it sound like two different songs being played simultaneously rather than a cohesive interpretation.
Once again, these are just my personal observations. My critiques are based on the criteria I’ve outlined on the "TUTORIALS" page for creating Salsa adaptations that stay true to the original while embracing the genre’s unique elements.