Sunday evening.
They were going back home after a night out—their way to say goodbye to the weekend.
It was a relatively long drive but it was worth it. She had been wanting to eat Italian food for a while and he loved risotto making it a great night for both.
Just as they were hitting the highway and running out of compliments for the food, she felt it was the perfect moment to listen to some music from her playlist.
As she went through her phone, she felt more in the mood for “oldies” and found a playlist she hadn’t listened to for a few years, but she knew she loved. She hit shuffle and a familiar tune started playing.
Her (singing): “Despacito, nanana nana besos despacito”.
Him (laughing): Love the “nana nanana” part.
Her: Ha. Ha. Ha. You’re hilarious. What does “despacito” even mean?
Him: “A little slow”
Her: “A little slow”? That doesn’t make sense… a little slow as opposed to a big slow?
Him: It’s just a Spanish thing.
Her: How do you measure slowness in Spanish?
Him: Just like you do in English…
Her: We don’t have little slows and big slows…
Him: Fair…
Her: But then how do you know if you’re going a little slow and not a big slow?
Him: There’s no big slow.
Her: Is a little slow just slower?
Him: Kind of…
Her: So how do you say slower?
Him: Más despacio.
Her (playful): Oh yeah, you do the “mas” like that time you said more hot instead of hotter!
Him (rolling his eyes): Yep, just like when I said more hot.
Her: So why don’t they sing “mas despacio”?
Him: Well, in Spanish when you add the “-cito” at the end of the word it’s not just a matter of size, it also carries the implication of care.
Her: Care? What do you mean?
Him: When he says “despacito” it’s not just slower, it’s slowly and carefully rolled into one.
Her: Oh, so it’s like nice and slow.
Him (glancing at her, smiling, then back at the road): That’s about right, yes.
Her: So what’s he saying in the lyrics? What’s the “nanana nana” part?
Him: Umm, the first time he says it he says “I want to breathe down your neck slowly”.
Her (playfully): Ooh, please do Mr. Fonsi. Breathe down my neck nice and slow…
Him: No more “despacito” for you.
Her (laughing): I’m kidding… what’s the other one?
Him: “I want to strip you naked…” (turning his eyes to her before finishing) “…nice and slow”.
Her (shocked): Is that what he’s saying?
Him: Yes.
Her: I thought they were dancing slowly…
Him: That’s part of the song, yes.
Her: Now I need to know what the whole song says…
Him (sighs): I don’t know the song by memory.
She unlocks her phone and searches for the lyrics.
Her: What does this mean?
Him: The first part is nonsense, then it says “You know I’ve been looking at you for a while, I have to dance with you today”.
Her: Okay, what else?
Him: Then this is “I saw your gaze calling me, show me the way, I’ll go”.
Her: Okay, that still sounds like dancing, then what?
Him: “You’re the magnet and I’m the metal, I’m getting close and planning ahead, just thinking about it my pulse gets faster”
Her: Oh now it’s getting hot…
Him (playful): “Now, now I’m liking it more than normal…” or is it normaler?
Her (mockingly): “iS iT NorMaLer” very funny… what’s he saying?
Him (chuckling): “Now I’m liking it more than normal—or more than usual—all my senses ask for more, we have to take this without rush”.
Her: Okay, now we get to the “despacito” part…
Him: So let’s go with “despacito” meaning slowly for the sake of translation.
Her: Sure, give it to me… nice and slow… (winks)
Him: I’m going to have to ban this song for you…
Her: As long as you ban it nice and slow… (bites her lip)
Him: Oh my… let’s get this over with… so he says “Slowly, I want to breathe down your neck slowly, let me whisper in your ear so you remember when you’re not with me”
Her: Ooh.
Him: “I want to strip you naked slowly, trace the walls of your labyrinth and make of your body a manuscript”
Her: I’m not even sure what that means but it sounds hot… will you make me a manuscript?
Him: It’s a fancy way of saying I’ll turn you into a pretzel.
Her (laughing, swatting his arm): Oh my God, how was this song on the radio?
Him: I don’t think most people pay attention to the lyrics…
Her (raising an eyebrow, scrolling further): Now I need to know, does it get worse?
Him (shifting in his seat, checking the rearview mirror): Umm, yes…
Her: Then keep going!
Him: Here he says “I want to see your hair dance, I want to see your rhythm, show my mouth your favorite places.”
Her eyes widen and she giggles in disbelief.
Him: “Let me cross your danger zones, then provoke your screams till you forget your last name.”
Her: No way!
Him: Way.
Her: I thought they were just dancing slowly!
Him: I mean, technically they’re dancing…
Her: Your mouth should not be in my favorite places while we dance…
Him (giggling): Not in your favorite places…
Her: You idiot.
Him: Just saying!
Her: This song is long…
Him: It is, I’m not translating all that… but this part here Daddy Yankee says “I want to see how much love fits into you” and I’m sure he’s not talking about love…
Her: Wow, for real?
Him: I have a strong suspicion he’s talking about something else…
Her: This part is different, what does it say?
Him: Well, the “pasito” would be a small step, so it’s like “Small step to small step, soft, softly, we get closer, little by little, when you kiss me with such ability I see you’re malice with delicacy”
Her: Ooh, I like that.
Him: Then he kind of says the same again but the second part is different, now he says “That beauty is a puzzle and to solve it I have the piece, hey”
Her: And right back at it, fuck…
Him: Fuck is right… (he starts laughing like someone who laughs at his own joke before anyone else gets it)
Her: What? How’s it right?
Him: Well, they go back to the chorus and this part they say “Let’s do it on a beach in Puerto Rico”
Her: That’s not dancing anymore, is it?
Him: After that he says “Till the waves yell ‘Oh lord!’ and my stamp stays with you”
Her: No fucking way they say that in a song that played on the radio!
Him: They did…
Her: But that’s clearly not about dancing anymore!
Him: No, it isn’t…
Her: Kids sing and dance to this song!
Him: They do, yes.
Her: I swear I’ve seen people from Church singing this, that’s hilarious.
Him: I know, I’m sure I’ve seen Ms. Goodrich singing it…
Her: Yes! She’d be so embarrassed if she knew what she’s saying.
Him: Well… she’s not saying much, she’s doing the same “nanana” you do.
Her: Very funny.
Him: It’s true.
There was a short pause then she turned to him.
Her: Okay from now on when I say I want you “despacito” know I don’t mean dancing…
Him: Just know I’m not taking you to the beach to hear the waves yell “Oh lord”!
Her: Why not?
Him: Because… we’re almost home now.
Her: Don’t you even think you’re going to get out of this conversation…
The conversation kept going discussing vacation destinations—all of them with beaches—for the remainder of the ride.
Once home they got more into their usual cadence. There was teasing, there was talk about Monday and work.
As the night went on, and they went to their bed, she started kissing him and humming a very familiar melody… and he started kissing her… a little slow.
The end
And that’s how a simple song on the highway becomes a lesson in... cultural education. Special thanks to Kristina Ray for making this audio version possible—her comedic timing and genuine reactions brought this conversation to life in a way the written version couldn’t quite capture.
Remember: always check what you’re singing before you sing it at church. 😉
If you enjoyed this story, you might want to check out my previous short story where another mystery unfolds:
Thank you for reading, for your time, and for being you. 😊
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I love how something that sounds so innocent can have all that layered meaning underneath. Maybe that’s why I still love it ….it’s not just catchy, it’s alive. Always loved the song 😁
Amazingly well done guys love both the narriaion and the context behind this song.
Most love songs are pretty dirty if you really listen and it's wild how much radio play they get.
The one song that always suprises me is so popular on the radio is semi charmed life. Its about the struggles and unpredictable nature of early adulthood. It mentions doing crystal meth. Sex. All the things. And its played on the radio all the time. Even in a super Christian community that is well off you hear people sing along
"Dooin' crystal meth'll lift you up until you break
It won't stop, I won't come down, I keep stock
A tick-tock rhythm, a bump for the drop
And then I bumped up, I took the hit that I was given
Then I bumped again, then I bumped again" is literally in the song..
As well as "You're the priestess, I must confess
Those little red panties, they pass the test
Slides up around the belly, face down on the mattress"
But most people think it's an upbeat song about loving their semi charmed life. Which is... half true