Track 2: YOU CAN'T RHUMBA

Music: Stephanie Torres
Lyrics: Stephanie Torres and Carrie Rambo

Vocals: Stephanie Torres (lead), Beth Kahlen, Carrie Rambo
Piano: Brian Ward
Bass: Dave Captein
Drums: Kurt Deutscher
Percussion: Israel Annoh

Lyrics:

On a hot Cuban night my sweetie and I siesta
But for fun-ah I like the Rhumba, it is the best-ah
It's the heart and the soul of Havana
And to dance-ah the Rhumba, oo-ah, I want a man-ah

So I go to the Club El Tropical with my sweetie
Then he drinks-ah some rum and then he just takes a seat-ie
As the room fills with infectious rhythm
And the band plays, my sweetie says he just wants to listen, and I say

Chorus:

Oh, no, you can't Rhumba, you can't Rhumba that way
Oh, no, you can't Rhumba, you can't Rhumba that way
Oh, no, you can't Rhumba, you can't Rhumba that way
Oh, no, you can't Rhumba, you can't Rhumba that way.

Then I spy a cute guy who smiles as I look him over
And I pay for my drink, look up and he has moved closer
Then he asks would I like-ah to dance
And I say to myself, why not? I wil take a chance

So he takes-ah my hand and leads me onto the dancefloor
When I glance at my date I notice he really looks sore
As our bodies, they sway to the music
And my sweetie's gone flush, it looks like he's gonna' lose it, and he says

(Chorus)

The rhythm puts thet ants in your pants, ooh, you just gotta' dance
C'mon baby, take-ah a chance, and do the Rhumba now

As the song-ah goes on he's asking me for my number
I politely refuse, his hands-ah, they start to wander
Still he pulls me in close for a quick kiss
Then I take-ah a spin sidestepping him as I say this, and I say

(Chorus)

Copyright 2001. All rights reserved.

About this tune...

We knew we wanted a Latin sounding tune and the melody was in my head for weeks before putting any words to it. I was stumped on what story to tell and passed it to Carrie to start the lyrics. She came up with the first verse, and then we had a spring board for the rest of the song. In the studio, Israel’s masterful percussion really made the song come alive. -- Stephanie