Parade, Latin Rhythmn, & Feeling The Heat

admin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:26:00 GMT

6/15/08-I was thinking of going to the Puerto Rican parade in
Manhattan andthen reporting here my adventures, but it is
so incredibly hot today that I decided I would have first
row seat from my apartment and watch it on TV. It is
a lot more fun... of course I'm missing the
possibility of sweating profusely, but just for fun I
opened my window and turned off the air conditioner
while I write this, to feel it more “real”.

Basically is the same thing as every year.
Politicians and VIPs marching down, trying to get the
support of the nearly 2 million people that are on
Fifth Avenue. And thousands of people marching with
flags, representing the different coalitions and
organizations.

Something I didn't see before, was a
group of old but restored cars, practically looking in
mint condition. I guess that is another stereotype,
that Latinos are very good at restoring old cars.

I'm watching it with the hosts from channel 9. They
are really talented people, but they fell for some
kind of mistake from their producer and started
following the beat of the music with some sticks and
maracas. Then they got up and danced to something
that was definitely not the rhythm of the music in the
background and they had NO rhythm whatsoever. Then
the flutist Nestor Torres joined them and “taught”
them how to create some music with the sticks and the
maracas while he played a little melody with the
flute... I am sorry to report that it was very
pathetic!

Why do people think that with sticks and maracas they
can create Latin sounding music? Tito Puente is
probably turning on his grave if he is listening to
that!

I think everyone should feel free to do what they
want, and be as bad at it as they are (I'm a terrible
dancer, but I dance every once in a while and don't
care what people think), but I guess I wouldn't do it
on TV, specially if everything seems so stereotyped.
On the other hand, if I was getting paid for that,
then I would have to dance to my terrible rhythm!

The food they showed on TV looks so nice that it made
me hungry for some Pastelón, or empanadillas... well,
I guess I have to go and get dinner at my Puerto Rican
friends. They are also at home avoiding the heat!

Sally de la Puerta

El Connoisseur : music

Parade, Latin Rhythmn, & Feeling The Heat