"Yembereque" loosely translates as "party, dance, rhythm" in Afro-Latin linguistic traditions, and this track delivers exactly that. A heavy Puerto Rican bomba shot through with jazz shapes, it rides a relentless rhythm section groove, tough horn lines and old-school call-and-response coros with an overall sound that could have stepped straight off a 1970s Fania release. Vocalist Carlos Peña fronts the track with melodic swing and natural sonero phrasing that is utterly irresistible, while rising UK trumpet talent Olivia Cuttill steps up with a solo full of warmth and melodic invention, rooted in the classic era but firmly at home in today's Latin jazz scene.
Lyrics
YEMBEREQUE
CORO
YEMBEREQUE PA’ QUE LO BAILE USTÉD
YEMBEREQUE PA’ QUE LO BAILE USTÉD
VERSO 1
Yo lo traigo bien sabroso, candencioso para usted
Este ritmo yembereque pegajoso, ya tú ves
Mueve pronto la cadera, acompasada con los pies
Gózalo, gózalo ahora, y verás qué bueno es
CORO
YEMBEREQUE PA’ QUE LO BAILE USTÉD
YEMBEREQUE PA’ QUE LO BAILE USTÉD
VERSO 2
Saca pronto tu pareja, no te lo vayas a perder
Mueve el cuerpo con soltura, yembereque yembere
Toda mi gente vacilando, y gozando se le ve
Con mi ritmo yembereque, yembereque, sí nene
CORO
YEMBEREQUE PA’ QUE LO BAILE USTÉD
(Te veo vacilando)
YEMBEREQUE PA’ QUE LO BAILE USTÉD
PIANO SOLO
(Hablado)
“¡Apúntalo!”
CORO / PREGÓN
YEMBEREQUE
(Mueve la cadera)
YEMBEREQUE
HORNS
YEMBEREQUE
(Para usted)
YEMBEREQUE
Yo sé que a ti, yo sé que a ti, qué rico va, te va a gustar, te va a gustar
YEMBEREQUE
(
Acompasao)
YEMBEREQUE
La vida es una tómbola, tom‑tom‑tómbola, y todos juntos vámo a bailar
YEMBEREQUE
(Pa’ vacilar)
YEMBEREQUE
MAMBO
CORO
YEMBEREQUE
(Díselo, Olivia)
TRUMPET SOLO
YEMBEREQUE
Qué maravilla
(Trumpet solo continues)
CORO/PREGONES
YEMBEREQUE
(Mi gente lo gozó)
YEMBEREQUE
Pero qué bonito y sabroso baila mi gente el yembereque, yembereque
YEMBEREQUE
(Gózalo, gózalo)
YEMBEREQUE
Ven, ven, ven, ven, ven, ven, pa’ que lo goces tú, ven, pa’ que vaciles tú
MOÑA
(Hablado)
“Y el ritmo yembereque, pa’ que lo gozé el mundo entero!”
CORO/PREGONES
AL COMPÁS DEL YEMBEREQUE MI GENTE YA VACILÓ
Todo el mundo vaciló, todo el mundo lo gozó
AL COMPÁS DEL YEMBEREQUE MI GENTE YA VACILÓ
Y yo les digo, mi gente, yembereque terminó
ENDING
(Hablado)
“¡Aí ná’ ma’!”
“¡Apúntalo! Suavena”
YEMBEREQUE (English translation)
INTRO
CHORUS
Yembereque so you can get up and dance
Yembereque so you can get up and dance
VERSE 1
I’m bringing it real tasty, with that heavy groove for you
This catchy Yembereque rhythm, you can feel it, yes it’s true
Get those hips moving quickly, let your feet keep time in style
Enjoy it, enjoy it right now, you’ll see how good it feels in a while
CHORUS
Yembereque so you can get up and dance
Yembereque so you can get up and dance
VERSE 2
Grab your partner right away, don’t you let this moment slide
Move your body nice and loose,
Yembereque, Yembereque ride
All my people having fun, you can see they’re feeling free
With my Yembereque rhythm, Yembereque, oh yes indeed
CHORUS
Yembereque so you can get up and dance
(I see you having fun)
Yembereque so you can get up and dance
PIANO SOLO
(Spoken)
“Write it down!”
CHORUS / VOCAL CALLS
Yembereque
(Move those hips)
Yembereque
HORNS
Yembereque
(Just for you)
Yembereque
I know for sure, I know for sure, you’re gonna feel how good it is, you’re gonna like this groove
Yembereque
(Right on the beat)
Yembereque
Life is like a big tombola, tom‑tom‑tombola, and we’re all gonna dance as one
Yembereque
(For having fun)
Yembereque
MAMBO
CHORUS
Yembereque
(Tell ’em, Olivia)
TRUMPET SOLO
Yembereque
What a wonder
(Trumpet solo continues)
CHORUS / LEAD CALL
Yembereque
(My people really felt it)
Yembereque
How beautifully and with such flavour my people dance the Yembereque, Yembereque
Yembereque
(Enjoy it, enjoy it)
Yembereque
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, so you can feel this too, so you can have your fun
MOÑA
(Spoken)
“And this Yembereque rhythm, so the whole world can enjoy it!”
CHORUS / VOCAL CALLS
To the groove of Yembereque my people are already having fun
Everybody’s having fun, everybody’s feeling good
To the groove of Yembereque my people are already having fun
And I’m telling you, my people, Yembereque is done
ENDING
(Spoken)
“That’s it, man!”
“Write it down! Real smooth!”
