Muela

The muela is the lively part of the montuno in which the singer talks to the dancers and the audience before setting up a new coro.

🗣️ Where does the word come from?

Literally a muela is a molar. In Cuba dar muela ("to give molar") means to chatter, sweet-talk someone or spin a smooth line. That is exactly what the singer does here.

🎤 What happens?

  • Talking instead of singing: the singer calls out, jokes and addresses the dance floor directly.
  • The groove keeps going: the band keeps playing the montuno under the talk.
  • Run-up to a coro: the muela usually ends by setting up a new coro.

🔀 Muela and pregón

  • Pregón (guía): sung lines by the lead singer between the coros.
  • Muela: spoken; the singer talks to the audience and builds up to the next coro.

💃 For dancers

Listen in: in the muela the singer often announces what is coming, and sometimes calls out to the dancers directly.

📝 Sources