Unity: the Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Jesper Tverskov Leave a comment

If salsa dancing is going to be more than a secret pleasure for the few outside the Latino world, it really must be better grounded also in the local culture. If we love salsa dancing so much that we want it to become mainstream culture, it must be rooted in ourselves.

If we want salsa dancing to become for all of us, if we want salsa to be truly integrated into our own lives, then at least some of the songs must be in a language most people understand. Salsa with lyrics in your own language should be encouraged, and in English as second choice.

For that reason, I am a great fan of Salsa with English Lyrics and English salsa cover of popular songs. Salsa in English should be promoted whenever possible, and DJ’s should give the best of it a chance on the dance floor.

The Unity Project

That is why “The Unity Project: The Latino Tribute to Michael Jackson” is so important. Apart from concerts it has resulted in an album, in a live album, and in a multitude of videos on YouTube. The first video is the official teaser for the Unity Project:

Same video at YouTube: UNITY: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson Teaser 2015.

Michael Jackson’s songs were not that bad in the first place, with a lot of rhythms and musicality and with above average lyrics. A Latin adaptation and interpretation with great Latino artists could almost not but be successful.

Another intro to the Unity Project:

Same video at YouTube: A Latin tribute to Michael Jackson | Tony Succar | TEDxFIU.

In my opinion the Unity album has not only succeeded. It could be one of the best Latino albums ever, and a lot of it works well for salsa dancing. DJs at dance venues all over the world should give, what they like the best themselves a try, in order to broaden the base of salsa dancing as a genuine locally rooted international dance culture.