Testing John Leguizamo's Latin Music Knowledge
6/29/20267 min
This week on Track Star* Jack is joined by comedian, actor, and producer, John Leguizamo to cover some iconic Latin artists and discuss how Latin music speaks for and resonates with populations around the world. Along the way, John and Jack consider how Bad Bunny became the #1 artist in the world, how salsa in the 70s created a space for Latin people in New York, and the cultural significance of the breakthrough by Latin artists in the past few years. John takes us on a brief and powerful journey through a slice of the history of Latin music, with many dance breaks to accompany. This Episode's Track List: EoO - Bad Bunny La Freak - Paloma Mami & Rauw Alejandro The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five El Cantante - Héctor Lavoe Despídase bien - Carin León Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine) - James Brown
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJack Coyne· Host0:00
Before we start the music, introduce yourself.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:01
I'm John Leguizamo. What's up?
Jack Coyne· Host0:03
Tell me about this jacket.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:05
New York Knicks in the house.
Jack Coyne· Host0:07
Here you go.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:08
What's that?
Jack Coyne· Host0:08
I'm gonna play you some songs.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:09
You gonna play my hair?
Jack Coyne· Host0:10
[laughs] And you just gotta tell me who the artist is. You've done this before.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:14
Well, you expect me to remember everything I've- I know, it's different songs ... did with you?
Jack Coyne· Host0:17
But, but when we- I have a, I have a full life, bro. When we- [laughs] I'm not just sitting around waiting for your call.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:21
[laughs] [singing] Oh my God, Bad Bunny's the- Yeah ... is the dopest ... It's incredible that Latin music is number one in the world.
Jack Coyne· Host0:37
Yeah.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:37
10 top songs in the world right now are all Latin artists. How he- how incredible is that?
Jack Coyne· Host0:42
Finally.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:43
And yet everywhere else ... Yes. And everywhere else we're, we're still missing. Why?
Jack Coyne· Host0:48
It's, it is happening.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:49
Why is it, why is it? Tell me, explain, explain my Lat- my Latin culture why.
Jack Coyne· Host0:51
I do think it's happening, that there's a recognition here in this country for the first time, like, on a, in a major way.
John Leguizamo· Guest0:57
Why? Because of, uh, what's going on politically and, and all the horrors we watch on, uh, on social media?
Jack Coyne· Host1:02
I think just culturally there's people that have broken through. It's resonating on a wider level. Like, someone like Bad Bunny, right? Like, there's pushback when he plays the Super Bowl, but no one cares. It's the biggest Super Bowl halftime show ever.
John Leguizamo· Guest1:13
Yeah, in the history of Super Bowls.
Jack Coyne· Host1:14
Right? That's, all the pushback is bullshit.
John Leguizamo· Guest1:16
Yeah, yeah.
Jack Coyne· Host1:16
The reality is- Yeah ... this guy is resonating with millions and millions of people around the world.
John Leguizamo· Guest1:22
Well, careful again. [laughs] This guy, he got Jersey plates. He's gonna kill somebody.
Jack Coyne· Host1:26
Thank you.
John Leguizamo· Guest1:27
You should be thanking us. I helped him carry the, the St- was it