Between 27 June 2014 and 26 June 2015, I listened to the more than 7500 songs in my iTunes library. Every day I picked a song, whichever I liked the most, or the song touched me the most on that day. If there were other songs that I liked on a particular day, I placed them on a “Runners Up” list. I listened to songs on that list again after I finished listening to the songs in my library.

Each song is accompanied by a brief description of the selected piece, such as the year the song was originally published and the genre it initially catalogued. I’ve also included an explanation on why I’ve picked that song.

Here’s a preview on how the list is presented. This song is from Week 03.

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15 FRIDAY 11 JULY 2014

Cuban Pete – Desi Arnaz

I know you must be wondering why this one moved to the list so soon after only being on the runners up list for a few days. Well, it’s not the same version. Desi Arnaz recorded this one in 1946. The one on the runners-up list is the version Desi recorded with Lucille Ball for their 1950s mega-hit I Love Lucy.

Introduced by Desi himself in 1946 in the movie of the same name, Cuban Pete, along with Babalu, is closely associated with Desi Arnaz’s act.

Before moving to the United States, I only knew Desi as the one who loved Lucy. But I made a point of study him during my master’s program and was impressed by all of his accomplishments in Television. As some of you may be aware, Desi was a pioneer not only in television production but also in the way networks do business and distribute their shows. How many Trekkies out there? Without Desilu Productions, the company he founded with Lucille Ball, nobody would have gone where no man has gone before. Desilu produced the first year of Star Trek before Paramount Television absorbed the studio. Just saying.

Song Title: Cuban Pete – 1946   Genre: Soundtrack   Artist: Desi Arnaz   Composer: Joseph Norman (Jose Norman)   Lyricist: Joseph Norman (Jose Norman)   Album: The Best Of Desi Arnaz The Mambo King

Favourite Lyrics: Si, senorita, I know that you will like the chicky boom chick / ‘Cause it’s the dance of Latin romance / And Cuban Pete doesn’t teach you in a hurry like Arthur Murry / You’re now in Havana and there’s always mañana.

Runners Up: Long Ago and Far Away • I’ve Never Been in Love Before • Vida Mia • Where or When • All the Things You Are

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