The clave, for some quick background, generally refers to one of 2 things when spoken of in reference to music. It can refer to the actual instrument (2 thick wooden sticks that are used to tap out a rhythm), or it refers to the actual rhythmic pattern that they beat out. The patterns vary on whether you're playing salsa, son, samba, rumba, etc.
Essentially, without the clave, latin music would be soulless and flat. The clave gives the music it's flavor, it's dance-inducing properties. It's the key to the music.
This song is an ode to the clave. Love it. There's a few particular lines in the song that led me to pick it out of my list today, as follows:
No hay esperanza sin ilusiones
Y no hay engaño sin decepción
Amor sincero sin corazón
Y sin clave no hay son
Translation? I suppose I could... but a direct translation doesn't really express what it means. Instead, enjoy Celia Cruz as she appeared back on a weird 70s era variety show! The song she's singing is, if I'm not mistaken, of Peruvian origin, which makes me warm to it even more.
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