Making the Zocalo Sparkle

Saturday night, thousands of people danced and sang under the rain to the rhythms of Willie Colón, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and Van Van

 

Carlos Carrasco Araizaga

 "I want to dedicate this concert to all those who will vote this year, whether in the United States or in Mexico. There are 120 thousand of you here, so (Andrés Manuel) López Obrador must have at least 120 thousand people on his side. Right?  I bring greetings from Mayor Bloomberg and New York's entire Latin community." So began the performance of Willie Colón, who said that he almost jumped out of his plane to be there Saturday night in front of approximately 120 thousand spectators gathered in the Mexico City Zocalo, according to the organizers.

With the song "Juanito alimaña" (Johnny Bugs), Colón reaffirmed his role as a public-opinion leader. Besides encouraging the audience to vote, he recounted the features of some of the "vermin" who come into power and who are "friends" of Rubén Blades' "Pedro Navajas," the pimp who abused prostitutes and charged them for protection.

The audience at the Zocalo requested more of the songs Colón composed with the former singer from his band that broke up at the beginning of the 70s. Hector Lavoe and Willie Colón composed many songs together, which are still remembered by their fans and were heard once again Saturday night. "El Todopoderoso" (The All-Mighty) inspired the most singing and dancing. Some even shed a few tears, which blended in with the light rain that bathed and refreshed the Plaza of the Constitution for more than two hours. The aroma lingering after the rain mingled with the smell of cigars smoked by the fans who spoke with a Caribbean accent. Many boasted of their Cuban and Dominican ancestry.

At that moment, numerous couples started to dance, stripping off the jackets or raincoats they had brought with them to avoid getting wet. Little by little, the area set aside for the concert's press coverage cleared, opening up a dance floor opposite the other end of the stage, where the disabled and elderly had their own space. Those in wheelchairs kept an eye on the crutches and white canes entrusted to them.

But it was not just a night of nostalgia in the Zocalo. Colón also performed his most recent hits. In fact, the trumpeter, born in the Bronx but raised according to his parents' Puerto Rican customs, delighted the audience with a selection of songs that would rarely be heard, even at a private party.

"Talento de televisión" (Television Talent), "Idilio" (Idyll), "Asia," and "Gitana" (Gypsy) were performed in one stretch, and more than three couples caught the beat and sang at the top of their lungs while moving to the salsa rhythm.

"El gran varón" (The Big Man) was one of the songs that concluded the concert organized by the Mexico City government. The line-up also included Van Van and Gilberto Santa Rosa, who inspired the fans to non-stop dancing to the Caribbean rhythms of the three bands.

Santa Rosa, who also appeared in Salón 21 the same night, played for more than an hour, during which he sang both old and new songs. "Que alguien me diga" (Somebody Tell Me), "Sombra loca" (Crazy Shadow), and "Qué manera de quererte" (What a Way to Love You) were performed to much emotion, both because the fans were so pleased to hear them, and because they had the opportunity to see their idol up close and feel that "he is singing just for your ears," as one over-50 female fan commented after bursting into tears when hearing "Mentira" (Lie), the theme song for the TV soap opera "Mirada de mujer. El regreso" ( Woman's Glance. The Return).

And although no one had heard of them to start with, the Cuban group Van Van succeeded in captivating the Zocalo audience, which by 8:00 numbered around 70 thousand, and at its peak, reached 120 thousand, a record turnout.

The concert, which started at 6:00 p.m., did not end until five hours later when, at the stroke of midnight, Colón thanked the fans for their attendance.