Tartamudos translates to "stutterers" or "stammerers". It's a very unusual and specific word to find in a song, especially in the context of love.
Juan Luis Guerra uses it in the line "Amores sabios, amor barroco, De tartamudos y amores cojos" (Wise loves, baroque love, Of stutterers and lame loves). This creates a vivid and somewhat quirky image, suggesting that love can be awkward, imperfect, and still profound, making it a memorable and intriguing choice.
Juan Luis Guerra opens "Amores" with a catalogue rather than a story: love that never ends set against love that runs lukewarm, "Amor fingido, amores necios" [Feigned love, foolish loves] beside "Amores locos y amores cuerdos" [Crazy loves and sane loves]. Each pair contradicts the one before it, and that's the point — he's naming every shape love takes instead of picking a favorite.
The verses keep stacking opposites: loves that fight, loves that wait, loves that cry, loves that burn. "Hay amores que luchan" [There are loves that fight] sits right next to "Hay amores que esperan" [There are loves that wait], and the song never settles into one verdict. It closes on the same image it opened with — love that burns — leaving the contradiction standing instead of resolving it.
Juan Luis Guerra is a celebrated Dominican musician, singer, composer, and record producer known for his influential role in popularizing merengue and bachata music around the world. Born in Santo Domingo in 1957, he graduated from Berklee College of Music and has since crafted a distinctive style blending traditional Dominican rhythms with jazz, salsa, and Latin pop.
With a career spanning over four decades, Guerra has sold more than 15 million records globally and earned numerous accolades including 28 Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards. His poetic lyrics and innovative fusion have made hits like "Ojalá Que Llueva Café" and "Bachata Rosa" timeless classics that continue to captivate audiences internationally.