ESENDOM

Cultura y conciencia

Wash Your Hands: Bachata Artist Valerio Comes Clean in this Interview

Bachata, Culture, Interview, Music, Notas rítmicasNelson SantanaComment
“I’m glad that I can bring awareness to the community.”
— Valerio

By Nelson Santana
April 6, 2020

Within Dominican communities, the song “Wash Your Hands” has become a sensation—or more appropriately a social media instant classic. Although cheeky and funny, the song brings attention to hygienic practices, urging people to wash their hands, especially during this coronavirus pandemic. Originally, the song was recorded by bachata and merengue group Valerio as a means to bring attention to people not washing their hands after using the restroom at nightclubs. Amid the current COVID-19 epidemic that has nearly paralyzed the world, Valerio rerecorded the song, altering the lyrics to reflect life in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

ESENDOM reached out to Valerio to explain the genesis of the “Wash Your Hands” song. In this interview, we also discuss the origins of the group’s name, formation of the band, and more.

N. Santana: The original song sends a positive message in a cheeky way. Why did you originally make this song (pre-coronavirus)? 

Well, the song “Wash Your Hands” para mi [for me] was more of un corito that I came up with a few years back. We were out celebrating my brother’s birthday and we went out to a club. Turns out that this club had one of those big bathrooms where you wait inside instead of making the line outside.

So as him and I waited inside, we saw a gentleman using the restroom. When he finished, he walked right past the sinks; he didn’t wash his hands. So before he exits, my brother taps him and says, “My man, wash your hands.” I thought we were about to get into a fight in the bathroom. I thought he was going to be offended. But the guy just looked at us, put his head down and went in, washed his hands.

The idea of washing your hands, the lyrics, you know, “you’re in the club, poppin bottles. But you ain’t wash your hands. We got a problem.” I see that all the time. Every time I perform in different places, you’re in the bathroom and you see these guys leave and you see them back out on the floor with their bottles and giving everybody dabs and handshakes and I decided to write a song about it. “Wash your hands.”

N. Santana: You changed the lyrics of the original song and this new version notes the coronavirus. The new version is still cheeky, but I think it takes a more serious tone. Can you please take us through the process of writing this song, why you wrote it, why you recorded it, etc. 

The reason I rerecorded “Wash Your Hands” was because I had a lot of people reaching out to me that know the original version telling me I should rerecord, it should be a great time [as] everybody needs to wash their hands. And I will be honest, at first I didn’t pay much attention. I was just like, “whatever man, deja eso así” [just leave it as is]. But the people kept asking. El pueblo siguió exigiendo [people kept demanding it] and I was like “you know what? “Como yo soy de la gente déjame yo complacer el público mio” [Since I’m for the people, let me give my audience what they want] and I rerecorded it in about 48 hours. I got the musicians together. My brother and I we rerecorded the video. We did it ourselves and we edited it. We did all of that ourselves. As soon as I put it out, it started circling right away. It’s available on iTunes, Spotify, all digital platforms. Both versions are available for everyone. You have the original, you know, “you in the club poppin bottles” and then you have the “coronavirus, aquí llegó.” I’m glad that I can bring awareness to the community and to my followers and to everyone. Although it may come off funny, this is still a serious matter here and a good way to prevent it is washing your hands.

So that’s why we recorded the coronavirus version of “Wash Your hands.” Wash your hands!  

“Although it may come off funny [the song], this is still a serious matter here and a good way to prevent it is washing your hands.”
— Valerio

N. Santana: Who is Valerio? When was the group formed? How was the group formed? Who are the core members? Why the name Valerio? 

Valerio is a bachata and merengue band. I formed the group about a decade ago; it used to be called Mega Banda. After a few years of performing, I decided to re-brand and come out with something fresh, so I went with my last name. That’s my last name, Valerio. We spent months looking for a new name, something fresh, and a friend of mine suggested “Why don’t you just call it Valerio, it’s such a nice last name?” I said, “You know what? Let’s do it.” So I just went with Valerio. The core members are my brother and I, Moni, segunda [rhythm guitar] also singer and myself. We are Valerio.

The Valerio brothers.

The Valerio brothers.

N. Santana: Where are you from? What is your background? 

I am from Queens, New York. And to be specific, I’m from Jamaica, Queens. Sometimes when I meet people I tell them I’m from Jamaica, Queens, and they figure I’m from Jamaica Estates Queens, and I’m like, “no, no, no. I’m from Jamaica, Parsons,  Hillside, Sutphin, Merrick.” That’s where I’m from and I take pride in my neighborhood.

My parents are from the Dominican Republic. I would be considered a Dominican York. I grew up in a real Dominican household life. I was born and raised here. I’ve been here my entire life. Would I leave? I’m not 100 percent sure. I love the city where I’m from.

N. Santana: What role(s) do you see artists fulfilling at this time of the COVID-19 epidemic? 

I see artists uniting a little more, which is nice to see. I see a lot of them that were beefing or whatever it is, a few months ago, you see these guys on Instagram Live together and playing y compartiendo. I see everybody more together now, which is nice to see because it’s serious out here, man. I like it when I see two rivals squash the beef or put that aside at least for the time being and unite and entertain the people, [help] get their minds off of this just for a second, because a lot of people are suffering and sometimes you just want to  depegarte un poquito [disconnect for a bit].

“You’re in the bathroom and you see these guys leave and you see them back out on the floor with their bottles and giving everybody dabs and handshakes and I decided to write a song about it. ”
— Valerio

N. Santana: How did you get into bachata? 

I got into bachata at the age of maybe 12, 13. My first instrument was a güira, which I love, and tambora which I love. I’ve always loved that combination and the bongos and everything. And there was a year I went to [the] Dominican Parade and I saw a guy playing guitar there and I saw how everybody reacted to this guy’s guitar.

And that’s when I knew, listen, I have to know how to play guitar. A few months later, I asked my father, “Let me get some money, man, so I can buy a guitar at the pawn shop.” I hadn’t really seen the guitar and the guitar was $60. And I went to my father and asked him $60 and he gave me $40.

So I went back to the pawn shop and I said, “Listen, I really want this guitar, but all I got is $40.” So that’s where I started to learn how to hustle and how to negotiate in the streets. And we went back and forth. He said, “alright, give me 50.” You know, all I’ve got is $40. Give me 45. And I said, “No. All I have is 40.” So I sadly started to walk away. And right before I got to the exit of the pawn shop, he said, “ta bien, dame lo 40  [ok, give me the 40]. I got my first guitar, and that’s how I started learning it.

N. Santana: Who are your inspirations as an artist? 

My inspiration as an artist I would have to say…crowd favorites Antony Santos, Luis Vargas, Raulín, Teodoro, Aventura. I don’t specifically have a favorite. Well, that answer always changes, too. Depends what I’m going through. Depends what I’m living at the time. A lot of people have a specific bachatero that they love. But if you are going through a breakup and you’re upset about it, you tend to lead to Luis Vargas. But if your girl left you and you don’t care and tu ta en la calle, callejero, you listen to Antony Santos. But if you want to cry about it, there’s Teodoro Reyes, si tu ta enamorao’ you can listen to Zacarías o Joe Veras or Raulín and stuff like that.

Having Fun with “Wash Your Hands” on Social Media

Note: Emmanuel Espinal contributed to this interview.

Bonus video: Mi cafecito