EVERY SONG HAS A STORY
50 Years of Vida Celebration and Concert, 2022
Single, Poor, Fat
This is Jason Trinidad´s first and only EDM song. The version that he created with OHHOTDAM is fused with part of a Latin song that he wrote in the early nineties. The first version of Samaná was about Chicago, "the city of the wind, let us all be friends." The second version was about Miami but was changed when the 50 Years of Vida Celebration and Concert was organized in Samaná, Dominican Republic. Hopefully, this feel good song will leave listeners with a more optimistic view of the world. Why take everything so seriously and beat ourselves down?
Fiesta Flamenca
Jason Trinidad studied flamenco in the early nineties at Northeastern Illinois University. That´s where he realized that he had already written songs, including ¨A Secret,¨ using the phrygian mode or the Spanish Gypsy scale. Carlos Fonta, A world renowned Flamenco guitarist played "Fiesta Flamenca" at the Dr. Cool´s Songs, 2014 event in Miami, FL. He had a bit of trouble with the song as it did not conform with the standards or structure of a traditional Flamenco Tangos/Rhumba. Wait until he hears it when it becomes a Merengue (DCO's Album)!
Namorada
When Jason studied Portuguese at Northeastern Illinois University, he used some of the vocabulary that he learned to write "Namorada," a song about a man who starts eating "saladas, sandwiches, muitas bananas, batatinhas fritas" when he loses the love of his life. Unfortunately, it has been a challenge to find a native speaker to sing this bossa nova/samba piece. Therefore, the husband and wife team, Jim Collinsworth and Sheryl Spence, are turning it into a soothing instrumental piece using the guitar and flute.
Colorado Springs
On the way to Colorado Springs from Denver, a group of Trinis including Allison Bell, Jason Trinidad, and Sara Wells excitingly created the official song for that beautiful city. Maybe one day, the city will use it for their promotion. Sabrina Trinidad didn't have to rehearse for her performance as it's been ingrained in everyone Trinidad's brain since the Trinidad Family Reunion of 2017.
Hot Lips
This is another popular song amongst the Trinidad clan. Jason Trinidad wrote Hot Lips and other similar songs for a film that needed music with the word "lips" in it. Unfortunately, it did not make the cut but at least it is some people's favorite. One man recorded it in Indonesia a couple years ago so it made it that far. Melissa Gambino will sing Hot Lips on the stage at the "50 Years of Vida Concert."
Vida
It is safe to say that "Vida" is Jason Trinidad's most popular song. It was sung by Raquel Trinidad at Denise Trinidad's wedding and by Javier Rocha at a Homestead Carnival in 2007. The song's original title was "Shifra" but was changed to a more general/generic title. The karaoke video displays pictures of many audience members and it also commemorates Javier Rocha as he passed away in the fall of 2021.
Drum Circle
Percussionist, Edwin Trinidad, belongs to drum circles in Tampa, Florida. He will be bringing all that energy to Samaná along side Miguel Rodriguez (güira) and Greg Andalcio (steel drums).
A Wish
Jason Trinidad and Shifra Lipson had a pool in their first Miami home. Unlike many Miami residents, the Trinis used their pool. Jason wrote part of this "drawning song" in the pool to entertain his kids, nephews, nieces, and friends. The karaoke version created with OHHOTDAMN, one of Jason's nephews who swam in that pool and remembers that song, is not exactly a soft musical style. "A Wish" will sound more like a 70's Carpenters song on the English DCO album. Sabrina Trinidad, again, did not need to practice much since this is another popular Trinidad family song.
Insidious
Inspired by abusive relationships and 90's pop, the title of this song was changed from Idiot to Insidious to make it more PC. Perhaps Melissa Gambino will use both interchangebly.
Tu Mirada
Like Vida, this song was written on a long drive from Chicago to Miami. These songs possibly exist thanks to a broken stereo. If you can't listen to music, write it! Coqi Santana lives in Perú, the cartoon was created in South Korea, the writer is in the US, and the arranger-piano player in the Dominican Republic. This was truly an international project.
Faria
Jason Trinidad wrote this bachata in the spring of 2022. The original title was ¨Maria¨ but it somehow became the world´s first bachata about a woman in Pakistan. Since his ex´s name is Faria, he decided to make that switch.
Mochanano
Jason Trinidad grew up with Vietnamese kids who always sang a Vietnamese anthem that sounded like ¨Mochanano.¨ This is one of the nicknames that he and his wife gave their first son. Amazingly, it was a song (sung in a made up language that sounded like broken Vietnamese) that helped soothe the baby when he was crying. In the summer of 2022, Josué Rivera turned it into a guaracha sung, a style similar to Son Montuno and salsa. Seline, Jason's second child, was shocked by the song's new language, Spanish. Mochanano is about "ghosting" and two men will sing the version of the DCO album.
Bombero Popurrí
This mix of songs is dedicated to Jason Trinidad's four children, his sister Denise, and his Muñoz cousins. Bombero is a merengue that Jason created while playing with his oldest son using a little moveable fireman toy. The fireman´s little butt had a funny movement so a song was created about how the fireman put out the fire with his butt. The beginning of the song mentions his two daughters, Seline and Sabrina, who were present in a small fire that took place in the kitchen. A song that Jason wrote his younger sister on and about her seventh birthday follows. Alexander Lee (Ali) and Jason Allan (Babyjay) have their own songs in the mix. The last song was not written by Jason but is about Jason. The Muñoz family used to sing it all the time but the author is unknown.
ENGLISH PROGRAM
Single Poor Fat/Samaná
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Fiesta Flamenca
Music: Jason Trinidad
Guitar: Jim Collinsworth
Percussion: Edwin Trinidad
Singer: Shifra Lipson
Chorus: Sabrina Trinidad, Jason Trinidad, Denise Trinidad, Melissa Gambino
Namorada- Instrumental
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Mario Diaz
Guitar: Jim Collinsworth
Flute: Sheryl Spence
Percussion: Edwin Trinidad
Colorado Springs
Music: Jason Trinidad and Family
Arranger: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Singer: Sabrina Trinidad
Chorus: Denise Trinidad, Jason Trinidad
Hot Lips
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Singer: Melissa Gambino
Chorus: Sabrina Trinidad, Denise Trinidad, Jason Trinidad
Vida- Karaoke
Music: Jason Trinidad
Singer: Javier Rocha
Chorus: Jason Trinidad, Curtis Crumble
*Drum Circle
Bongos: Edwin Trinidad
Steel Drums: Greg Andalcio
Güira: Miguel Rodriguez
A Wish
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Singer: Sabrina Trinidad
Chorus: Denise Trinidad, Jason Trinidad
Insidious-
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Singer: Melissa Gambino
Chorus: Sabrina Trinidad, Denise Trinidad, Jason Trinidad
Tu Mirada-
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Josué Rivera
Please Stand Up and Dance!
Faria
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Josué Rivera
Mochanano
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Josué Rivera
Bombero Popurrí
Music: Jason Trinidad
Arranger: Josué Rivera
PROGRAMA EN ESPAÑOL
Single Poor Fat/Samaná
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Fiesta Flamenca
Music: Jason Trinidad
Guitarra: Jim Collinsworth
Percusión: Edwin Trinidad
Cantante: Shifra Lipson
Coro: Sabrina Trinidad, Jason Trinidad, Denise Trinidad, Melissa Gambino
Namorada- Instrumental
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Mario Diaz
Guitarra: Jim Collinsworth
Flauta: Sheryl Spence
Percusión: Edwin Trinidad
Colorado Springs
Música: Jason Trinidad y Familia
Arreglista: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Cantante: Sabrina Trinidad
Coro: Denise Trinidad, Jason Trinidad
Hot Lips
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Cantante: Melissa Gambino
Coro: Sabrina Trinidad, Denise Trinidad, Jason Trinidad
Vida- Karaoke
Música: Jason Trinidad
Cantante: Javier Rocha
*Drum Circle
Bongos: Edwin Trinidad
Steel Drums: Greg Andalcio
Güira: Miguel Rodriguez
A Wish
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Cantante: Sabrina Trinidad
Insidious-
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Vincent Trinidad (OHHOTDAMN)
Cantante: Melissa Gambino
Tu Mirada-
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Josué Rivera
Cantante: Coqui Santana
Please Stand Up and Dance!
Faria
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Josué Rivera
Cantante: Josué Rivera
Mochanano
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Josué Rivera
Cantante: Josué Rivera
Bombero Popurrí
Música: Jason Trinidad
Arreglista: Josué Rivera
Cantante: Josué Rivera