My children put Darte un Beso (Give You a Kiss) on one day and I knew I had to add it to the Music Library Project. This is one of the most popular songs I have heard played in Colombia in the last decade. I distinctly remember hearing it on family vacations in Giradot and at the gym in group classes. When I hear Darte un Beso it embodies a certain ambience of the elusive serenity of young love –Latina style. It’s not ordinarily the music I would find appealing, but if I just let it wash over me, it evokes a certain warmth and tranquility of an elusive sub-culture I still feel unaccustomed, but somehow drawn to.
It comes from Prince Royce’s third album Soy el mismo (I am the same). It reached number 1 on the Hot Latin Songs de Billboard. In the music video below it shows Prince on a beach where he falls in love with a young woman and sings to her about how he feels. The video ends with the woman who ends up turning out to be a mermaid. How can you not be drawn to that story? The video currently has 1.4 billlion views and I can see why.
A crude English translation follows:
[Verse 1]
Loving you as I do is very complicated
Thinking how I think of you is a sin
Staring the way I stare at you is forbidden
Touching you how I want is a crime (Uh)
[Pre-Chorus]
I do not know what to do
For you to be fine
If turning off the sun to turn on your dawn
Falar in Portuguese, learn to speak French
Or lower the moon to your feet
[Chorus]
I just wanna kiss you
And give you my mornings
Sing to calm your fears
I want you to not miss anything
I just wanna kiss you
Fill your soul with my love
Take you to know the sky
I want you to not miss anything (Read more here)
The single became an international hit for Prince Royce in the United States, Latin America and Spain. At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2014, the song received three nominations and is recognized as one of Prince Royce’s signature songs. Darte un Beso is ‘Bacahata‘ music as far as the genre goes. I have written about Bachata in other articles especially the music of one of Latin America’s most recognisable artists – Luis Guerra.
References:
1. Date un beso – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Very nice Matt! Your kids have good taste!
Hi Sharon. Thanks. Sometimes I can’t fault them.
Cinderella of the sea! That was lovely, Matt.
I’m delighted you like it Nancy.
I didn’t know there were definition terms regarding music. You would have to chain me to a seat to listen to Shakira. I’ll give you music latina street style if you like which you could never westernise. I really think they couldn’t give a sh&t if they are struggling to attain a post modern voice. I heard ‘Vivir Mi Vida’ by Marc Anthony across baseball stadiums in Nth America. Is that post modern?
Good beat..video is intriguing…
She’s better looking than you. lol
Absolutely a fact Matt. Ha ha 😂
This song is sort of like a Latin alternative to “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz.
I can see how one could make that comparison.