Zafacón is a fun, regional word for "trash can," used primarily in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It's a great example of how Spanish varies by country.
In this classic salsa track, Héctor Lavoe uses the word to deliver a powerful diss. He sings "al zafacón yo te eché" (I threw you in the trash can), brutally dismissing a former lover as something worthless and disposable, just like yesterday's news.
Periódico de Ayer (Yesterday’s Newspaper) is Héctor Lavoe’s witty salsa headline about an expired romance. With the swagger of a newsboy on a busy San Juan corner, Lavoe tells his ex that her love was once sensational but is now as worthless as yesterday’s paper: exciting at dawn, confirmed by noon, forgotten by dusk. Each verse flips through the “pages” of their relationship, filing her name in the scrapbook of oblivion while the band’s brassy punches shout out playful insults and street-wise ad-libs.
Behind the catchy coro “¿y para qué leer un periódico de ayer?” lies a lesson in self-respect. Lavoe celebrates the freedom of moving on, urging listeners to toss out what no longer serves them and dance toward something fresh. The song’s irresistible groove turns heartbreak into a block-party parade, proving that sometimes the best way to recycle old news is to spin it on the dance floor.
Héctor Lavoe, born Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez in Ponce, Puerto Rico, was a legendary salsa singer renowned as "El Cantante de los Cantantes" (The Singer of the Singers). He rose to fame in the 1960s and '70s, notably collaborating with Willie Colón and the Fania All-Stars, becoming one of salsa's most influential voices.
Lavoe's distinctive voice and charismatic stage presence helped popularize salsa music internationally. Despite personal struggles and a tragic life marked by addiction and loss, his timeless hits like "El Cantante" and "Mi Gente" continue to inspire Latin music lovers worldwide.