Taboo

"Taboo" by Don Omar explores the dual themes of nostalgic heartbreak and the celebratory, cathartic power of dance. At its core, the song is about a past relationship where the narrator was hurt by a lover who has since left. The opening lines, which are a direct interpolation of the famous song "Llorando se fue," set a tone of bittersweet irony: "Crying she left, the one who one day made me cry." This establishes a narrative of reversed roles, where the person who caused pain now experiences it, haunted by the memory of a love she "didn't know how to take care of."

The bilingual lyrics, switching between Spanish and Portuguese, broaden the song's cultural landscape, grounding the story in a vibrant Brazilian setting. The Portuguese chorus, "A recordação vai estar com ela aonde for" ("The memory will be with her wherever she goes"), emphasizes the inescapable nature of this romantic regret. The mention of "Dança, sol e mar" (dance, sun, and sea) frames these memories within an idyllic, passionate environment, suggesting the love was beautiful but ephemeral. This juxtaposition of a painful memory against a backdrop of lively celebration is central to the song's meaning.

Ultimately, "Taboo" is not a song of mourning but of liberation. It encourages listeners to dance away their sorrows. The driving reggaeton beat and repeated exhortations to "menea" (shake it) transform the narrative from a lament into a party anthem. It conveys the message that while emotional scars may remain, life continues, and joy can be found in the physical release of dance. The title "Taboo" itself alludes to the once-sensuous and 'forbidden' nature of the Lambada dance, adding a layer of sultry defiance to the act of moving on.

The song narrates a story of a past love affair, told from the perspective of a man who was once left heartbroken. The opening immediately establishes this theme, stating that the woman who once made him cry is now the one leaving in tears. This reversal of emotional fortune is a central point of the narrative. He reflects on how she is now the one who will be haunted by the memory of a love she failed to appreciate and nurture. The lyrics suggest a sense of karmic justice, as she experiences the same pain she once inflicted.

The setting transitions to a vibrant, almost dreamlike Brazilian landscape, specifically mentioning places like Bahia and São Paulo. This imagery, filled with references to the sun, sea, beach, and sand, serves as a beautiful but poignant backdrop for his memories. The Portuguese chorus reinforces the idea that these memories are inescapable and will follow her wherever she goes. The elements of "Dança, sol e mar" (dance, sun, and sea) become keepers of their shared past, a bittersweet reminder of a love that was as intense as it was fleeting, reigning for a moment like a king before it was lost.

Despite the underlying theme of lost love and sorrow, the song powerfully pivots towards an anthem of liberation through dance. The beat intensifies, and the lyrics urge movement and celebration. Phrases like "Mi nena, menea" ("My baby, shake it") and descriptions of a body "asking for samba and heat" transform the emotional tone from one of passive remembrance to active, joyful release. The dance becomes a way to process the pain, to forget the past, and to live fully in the present moment. The imagery of a "waist on fire" and the energetic setting of a favela party create a sense of catharsis. The narrative concludes by blending the pain of the past with the exhilarating freedom of the present, suggesting that while the memory of lost love remains, life, passion, and dance go on. The song effectively captures the duality of feeling nostalgic sorrow for what was lost while simultaneously celebrating the vibrancy of life in the here and now.

"Taboo" was released on January 24, 2011, as the second single from Don Omar's collaborative album Meet the Orphans. However, the song's journey began earlier. A low-quality preview was first shared online on October 19, 2009, with the intention of including it on a planned re-release of his album iDon, which was to be titled iDon 2.0. This re-release was ultimately cancelled, and the song was later remastered and included on Meet the Orphans in 2010.

The song was written by William Landrón (Don Omar), Gonzalo and Ulises Hermosa, and Milton Restituyo, and produced by A&X (Alcover & Xtassy) and Eliel. Its most defining characteristic is the prominent use of the melody from the 1981 song "Llorando se fue" by the Bolivian group Los Kjarkas. This melody was globally popularized by the French-Brazilian group Kaoma in their 1989 smash hit "Lambada." Don Omar's version reimagines the melancholic folk melody with modern reggaeton and electronic beats, creating a fusion of nostalgic and contemporary sounds. By directly crediting the Hermosa brothers from Los Kjarkas, Don Omar avoided the copyright issues that plagued Kaoma's version. The music video was filmed in Brazil and the Dominican Republic, directed by Marlon Peña, and features clips from the movie Fast Five, in which Don Omar also starred.

The lyrics of "Taboo" employ several symbolic elements to deepen its narrative of love, loss, and liberation.

• The Siren (Sirena): The line "Una sirena que hechiza" ("A siren that bewitches") serves as a metaphor for a captivating, perhaps dangerous, new attraction that helps the narrator forget his past love. Sirens in mythology are known for luring sailors to their doom with enchanting songs, symbolizing a powerful and irresistible temptation that distracts from sorrow.
• Fire (Candela): The description of "Una cintura prendía en candela" ("A waist lit on fire") symbolizes immense passion, energy, and the liberating power of dance. Fire represents a destructive force that purges the old (the painful memories) and a creative force that fuels new life and excitement on the dance floor.
• Dance, Sun, and Sea (Dança, Sol e Mar): These three elements, mentioned in the Portuguese chorus, collectively symbolize the vibrant, idyllic peak of the past relationship. They are now cast as eternal witnesses or guardians of the memory ("guardarei no olhar" - "I will keep in my gaze"), representing a beautiful but now inaccessible past. They symbolize the bittersweet nature of memories that are both cherished and painful.

The emotional landscape of "Taboo" is a complex mix of nostalgia, bittersweet satisfaction, and exuberant joy. The song begins with a tone of melancholic reflection, conveyed through the sampled "Lambada" melody and the lyrics about a past love who is now experiencing the pain she once caused. This creates a feeling of longing and wistful remembrance. There's a subtle undertone of vindication or karmic justice, as the narrator observes this turn of events.

However, this reflective mood is consistently interrupted and ultimately overwhelmed by a powerful wave of celebratory energy. The driving reggaeton beat, the insistent calls to dance ("Mi nena, menea"), and the vibrant imagery of a Brazilian party create an atmosphere of pure, unadulterated joy and physical liberation. This results in a dynamic emotional journey for the listener, moving from the sorrow of a memory to the euphoria of the present moment. The overall feeling is one of catharsis—processing past hurt not by dwelling on it, but by dancing through it. The fusion of the sad melody with the happy beat creates a quintessential 'dancing with tears in my eyes' experience, making the song emotionally resonant on multiple levels.

"Taboo" achieved significant cultural impact and commercial success upon its release. It successfully revived the globally recognized "Lambada" melody for a new generation, blending 80s nostalgia with the contemporary sounds of 2010s reggaeton. The song was a major chart success, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, as well as the Latin Tropical Airplay chart. It also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 97.

A major catalyst for its widespread popularity was its inclusion in the soundtrack of the blockbuster film Fast Five (2011). The music video prominently features clips from the movie along with its stars Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, cementing the song's association with the globally successful franchise and exposing it to a massive international audience. The video itself has garnered over a billion views on YouTube, highlighting its enduring popularity. "Taboo" received the award for "Urban Song of the Year" at the 2012 ASCAP Awards, recognizing its commercial success and impact. It stands as one of Don Omar's most iconic tracks, alongside "Danza Kuduro," and is remembered as a quintessential Latin party anthem of the early 2010s.

"Taboo" is built on a highly rhythmic and danceable foundation. The song's rhythm is primarily driven by the classic dembow beat, a staple of reggaeton, which provides a consistent, infectious pulse that encourages dancing. The tempo is upbeat, creating a feeling of energy and celebration. Musically, this driving rhythm is layered with the fluid, syncopated melody of the "Lambada" sample, creating a compelling interplay between the steady reggaeton groove and the more flowing, melodic elements.

The lyrical rhythm and rhyme scheme are crafted to complement this musical structure. The verses often follow a simple AABB or ABCB rhyme scheme, making the lyrics catchy and easy to follow. For example, in the lines "De noche, la luna, las estrellas / La playa, la arena / Para olvidarme de ella," the rhyme between "estrellas" and "ella" provides a satisfying lyrical hook. Don Omar's vocal delivery varies in rhythm; in the reflective verses, his phrasing is more melodic and legato, while in the dance-focused sections, his delivery becomes staccato and percussive, with phrases like "Mi nena, menea" acting as rhythmic chants that punctuate the beat and drive the energy of the track forward.

"Taboo" is a rich blend of musical and literary techniques that contribute to its global appeal. Musically, its most prominent feature is sampling and interpolation. The song is built around the iconic melody of Los Kjarkas' "Llorando se fue," famously known from Kaoma's "Lambada." Don Omar fuses this Andean folk melody with a modern, high-energy reggaeton beat, characterized by the dembow rhythm, and layers it with bright, techno-friendly synthesizers. This creates a genre-fusion that bridges generational and cultural gaps.

Lyrically, the song employs a bilingual narrative, seamlessly switching between Spanish and Portuguese. This is not merely a stylistic choice but a narrative device that geographically and culturally anchors the song's story in a Brazilian context, evoking the spirit of Lambada's origins. The vocal delivery shifts from a smooth, melodic tone in the verses to a more rhythmic, commanding chant in the dance sections ("¡Mi nena, menea!"), mirroring the song's thematic shift from reflection to celebration. The use of repetition in the chorus and the dance hooks makes the song incredibly catchy and memorable, a key feature of successful dance-pop anthems.

What is the song 'Taboo' by Don Omar about?

'Taboo' tells a story of a past love who once caused the singer pain but is now crying over the love she lost. While reflecting on this bittersweet memory, the song transforms into a vibrant anthem encouraging listeners to dance away their sorrows, blending themes of nostalgic heartbreak and joyful liberation.

What famous song does Don Omar's 'Taboo' sample?

"Taboo" prominently features the melody of the song "Llorando se fue," originally by the Bolivian group Los Kjarkas. This melody is most famously known from the 1989 global hit "Lambada" by the French-Brazilian group Kaoma. Don Omar's track re-contextualizes this iconic tune within a modern reggaeton framework.

When was Don Omar's 'Taboo' released?

"Taboo" was officially released as a single on January 24, 2011. It was the second single from his collaborative album, <i>Meet the Orphans</i>, which was released in late 2010.

Why is the song called 'Taboo'?

The title 'Taboo' is likely a reference to the dance style Lambada, which the song is based on. When Lambada became a global phenomenon, it was often marketed as "The Forbidden Dance" due to its sensual and close-partner movements, creating a legend around it being taboo or prohibited.

What language is 'Taboo' by Don Omar sung in?

The song is bilingual, featuring lyrics in both Spanish and Portuguese. Don Omar sings the main verses in Spanish, while the chorus, which directly evokes the Brazilian roots of Lambada, is sung in Portuguese.

Was 'Taboo' by Don Omar in any movies?

Yes, "Taboo" was prominently featured in the 2011 blockbuster film <i>Fast Five</i>. Don Omar also had an acting role in the movie, and the song's official music video includes scenes and cast members from the film, which significantly boosted its international popularity.

What does 'Llorando se fue la que un día me hizo llorar' mean?

This opening line translates to "Crying she left, the one who one day made me cry." It's a key lyric that sets up the song's theme of reversed emotional roles and karmic justice, where his former lover is now experiencing the same sadness she once caused him.