50 Songs for My 50th Birthday

Fifty. 50. Fiftieth.

It's just a number right? Depends on how you look at it. And that is what life is really about: how you look at it.  Oh, and what you do with it.

Party? Almost everyday is a party ... fiesta.  You just gotta make sure that you are the first and last one ... on the dance floor.

There are so many people looking at others dance.  They say to themselves "I can't dance" or "I can't move like that" so they never step onto the dance floor.  They never try, never take a step.  Many clap or tap their feet while they sit down.  To stay seated is safer and more comfortable. I've never been one to sit still especially when good dance music is playing.

I don't know what fifty (50) will bring but I know that I will bring everything to everyone and everything I got. 

So what will be different? Nothing really.  The only difference is that I will be the same person just one more year older.

There are 48 days until my birthday (February 12).  So I have chosen 50 songs for my fiftieth.  These are my favorite dance songs.  When I listen to them, I remember dancing to these songs as a kid, a teen, a young adult and now older and getting close to 50. 

These songs are significant because of the beat, where I heard them (at a party or club) and with whom I danced (friends and former loved ones).

I hope you enjoy looking through these 50 songs (videos) I compiled.  They are not meant to be listened to but danced to.  Make sure to play it loud and wear your dancing shoes. 

50. You Should Be Dancing by The Bees Gees. No question about it.  Get up and move! 

49. I Feel Love by Donna Summer. I love dancing and definitely feel love and spread it with those around me when I dance.

48. Dance (Disco Heat) by Sylvester. When you have a funky, consistent beat like this one ... you can't resist and dance.  You gotta "GET UP AND DANCE!

47. Lovin' is Really My Game by Brainstorm. What a classic tune.  Every time I hear it I get up and move. 

46. There But for The Grace of God by Machine.  Exactly.

45. Love is the Message by MFSB. Always deep and close to my heart.

44. Voyage by Souvenirs. Lots of memories of parties and clubs.  This song is a classic disco dance tune.

43. Keep On Dancing by Gary's Gang. When you feel like sitting down, this song reminds me what I  were made for. 

42. Get Down Tonight by KC & The Sunshine Band. You get up and dance to GET DOWN! Listen and you will know what I mean.

41. From Here To Eternity by Giorgio Moroder. You have to be a true disco lover and dancer to enjoy a track like this one.  

40. A Little Bit of Jazz by Nick Straker.  Hearing music like this tune really "shakes you through the stratosphere."

39. Blue Monday by New Order. "Tell me how does it feel?" When you dance this tune with lights and booming sound ... nothing like it anywhere.  

38. Living on Video by Trans X. Big time video during the early 80's but I never cared.  I just wanted to listen and dance.

37. Situation by Yaz. This sound is like no other. 

36. My Forbidden Lover by Tapps. When I was in high school, this song dominated all the parties. Everyone got up and danced to this song.

35. Shake It Up by Divine. You can really shake it up when you dance this track.  

34. L'amour Toujours by Telex. In the early 80's, this fast, hard synth sound was popular because it got you up and moving. 

33. Set It Off by Strafe.  I heard this track at a party in Queens, NYC and I will never forget the impact. 

32. The Mexican by Jellybean Benitez. This track will always get me up and dancing until "Morning', sad mornin'" until it's time to go home.  "Mexican!!"

31. Moody by ESG. After all these years of listening to this track, it never fails to deliver. 

30. Cavern by Liquid Liquid. That bass is all you need to get you to move. "Something of a phenomenon!"

29. Can You Feel It by Mr. Fingers. Although not one of the first House Music tracks I heard, I love the sophistication and pressing percussion of this track. "House Music is a universal language understood and spoken by all." 

28. I'll House You by The Jungle Brothers. A mix of hip hop and House. "Check this out!"

27. Move Your Body (House Music Anthem) by Marshall Jefferson. The classic House Music track that tells you what to do: MOVE YOUR BODY! Yeeeeeeesssss! 

26. Can You Party by Royal House.  Any song that starts with Malcom X saying "Too black!" and "To strong!" is gonna get you to move.  "Can you feel it?" Absolutely!

25. Do It Properly by 2 Puerto Ricans, A Blackman and A Dominican. "There's so many ways to do it!" The build up is worth it!

24. You Used to Salsa by Rich Rich ft Ralphi Rosario. Classic House Music.

23. Sume Sigh Say by Todd Terry ft House of Gypsies. Listen to those drums! "Que lo que pasa aqui?" C'mon!

22. Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) by Crystal Waters. Amazing! Will keep you dancing all night!

21. Love and Happiness (Yemeya y Ochun) by River Ocean ft. La India. House Music with traditional Caribbean rhythms. "All you gotta do ..." Wow!

20. Push The Feeling On by Nightcrawlers. A bumpin' track that reminds me of the NYC clubs of the 90's.

19. Robi-Rob's Boriqua Anthem by El General & C & C Music Factory. During the 90's, this track was played in every house party and wedding.  

18. La Rebelion by Joe Arroyo.  I had always heard Latin music in my home but never "danced" it, truly danced salsa until I danced this song.  

17. Vivir Lo Nuestro by La India & Marc Anthony. Classic track.  Love it!

16. Etnia by El Grupo Niche. Great dance track with a helpful reminder about race and prejudice in our society.

15. Medley (Barranquillero, La Guyaba, La Rebelion) by Raulin Rosendo. Three Colombian dance tracks sung by a Dominican salsero that filled the dance floor whenever played in the clubs. Seeing him live was something special.  Dancing to these tracks back-to-back was even more special.

14. La Cura by Frankie Ruiz.  No doubt about it when it comes to salsa, Frankie Ruiz was and will always be one of the best.  If you got to see him live, it was a true musical experience.  RIP.

13. Esta Cache by Oro Solido. This merengue will be one of my favorites in this genre.  Great dance track!

12. La Candelosa by Los Hermanos Rosario. A solid merengue that anyone can dance to anytime you hear it.  Amazing dance track. "Sensual!"

11. Bilongo by Eddie Palmieri. One of the greatest singing a classic tune of love and magic. 

10. Azucar by Los Van Van. I can't describe what I feel when I dance this song. 

9. Tahonero by Los Muñequitos de Matanza. A true dancer has roots and mine run straight to Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and Puerto Rico. Call and response. Drums. I am never more alive than when I dance this tune. 

8. Magalenha by Sergio Mendes. I love samba and this is a great track to learn how to dance samba. Muite axe!

7. Fruta Fresca by Carlos Vives. When I married my wife Barbara, we picked this as one of our wedding songs.  

6. El Pescador by Totó La Momposina.  Dancing Cumbia makes me feel alive in so many ways.  This song is special because it was the first Cumbia I ever danced to with a Colombian dance group.  Just listen to the drums!

5. Matador by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. Rock en Español was big in the 90's.  This is my favorite song of this genre. Great tune!

4. Another Star by Stevie Wonder. Again, words cannot describe when I dance this song especially when I look at my wife as we dance together.

3. Moliendo Cafe by Africando. This re-make of an old Cuban song is still a favorite among salseros. You can't get enough when you dance this tune.  Wait for the drop in the second part of the track.  A dancer's dream. 

2. Yay Boy by Africando. It doesn't matter if you can't understand the words, the music is universal and dancing it with my mother makes it magical.

1. I Want to Thank You by Alicia Myers. I can't thank God enough for the gift of life, music and dance. This song says so much.