Oye Como Va

Tito Puente

About Oye Como Va

"Oye Como Va" is a song written by Latin jazz and mambo musician Tito Puente in 1962. Mexican-American rock group Santana's rendition further popularized the song, which reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 11 on the Billboard Easy Listening survey, and number 32 on the R&B chart. The title comes from the first words, which can be translated as "Listen to how [it] goes" or "Hey, how is it going". The song has the rhythm and tempo of cha-cha-cha. It has similarities with "Chanchullo" by Israel "Cachao" López. Latin Beat Magazine wrote: "Cachao's tumbaos for his 1937 composition of 'Rareza de Melitón' (later changed to 'Chanchullo') inspired Tito Puente's signature tune 'Oye Como Va'." On the original recording of the song the voice of Santitos Colon, the Puente orchestra singer at the time, can be heard in the song along with those of Puente and other orchestra musicians. Cachao can be heard playing contrabass in some of Tito Puente's live versions of "Oye Como Va". The song has had many arrangements and remakes by a number of artists in various tempi. NPR included the song in its "NPR 100: The most important American musical works of the 20th century". 


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Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa' gozar
Mulata

Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa' gozar
Mulata

Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa' gozar
Mulata

Oye como va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa' gozar
Mulata

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!


Tito Puente

Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente, (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000), was a Latin jazz and salsa musician and composer. The son of native Puerto Ricans, Ernest and Ercilia Puente, living in New York City's Spanish Harlem community, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" (The King of the timbales) and "The King of Latin Music". He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz compositions that helped keep his career going for 50 years. He and his music appear in many films such as The Mambo Kings and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54. He guest starred on several television shows including Sesame Street, The Cosby Show and The Simpsons. more »

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Written by: Tito Puente

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Authorship
"Oye Como Va" was originally written and recorded by Tito Puente in 1963. This famous Latin jazz and mambo musician, known as “El Rey del Timbal," has made enduring contributions to Latin music.
Cover Version
The song achieved massive popularity when it was covered by Santana in 1970. This version of the song is one of Santana's most famous covers and helped them achieve great commercial success.
Album Success
Santana's version was released on their 1970 album "Abraxas," which hit number 1 on the Billboard charts. The album was eventually certified 5x Platinum, with "Oye Como Va" being one of the standout tracks.
Lyrics
The song's title, "Oye Como Va," translates to "Listen to How it Goes" in English. The lyrics, written by Puente, say, "Oye como va/ Mi ritmo/ Bueno pa gozar/ Mulata," which means "Listen to my rhythm/ Good for enjoying/ Mulata."
Santana's Interpretation
Santana gave the song a rock treatment, with their version featuring an electric guitar played by Carlos Santana himself. This was in contrast to the original Tito Puente version, which was a mambo tune with prominent horns and percussions.
Recognition and Awards
"Oye Como Va" has been recognized by the Grammy Hall of Fame as a significant piece of musical history and was inducted in the year 2001.
Genre Fusion
The song is a perfect blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, and rock music. It's a significant symbol of the Latin rock genre, pioneered by Santana in the late '60s and early '70s.
Cultural Impact
Both Tito Puente's original and Santana's cover version of "Oye Como Va" have had significant cultural impact, and are considered anthems in Latin and pop music.
Sampled and Covered
Beyond Santana's famous cover, the song has been covered or sampled by numerous artists across various genres, demonstrating its enduring popularity and influence.
Live Performances
"Oye Como Va" continued to be a fan favorite at both Santana's and Puente's live performances up until Puente's passing in 2000. It remains a staple in Santana's concert setlists.

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