Think for a moment what the word “worldly” connotes in its modern usage: a high level of formal education; sophistication; open-mindedness about cultures, languages, and ways different from our own. All in all, these can be seen as quite positive attributes. In cosmopolitan circles, one might fondly refer to a well-traveled and/or multilingual friend as “worldly,” perhaps with a slight air of envy at their mobility and adventuresome lifestyle.

As I sit here listening to 1965′s “Scandal Ska” by the legendary Skatalites of Kingston, Jamaica, I can’t help but get nostalgic about a time and a place that I’ve never actually known. But the power of this music lies in its very universality. That said, I can’t help but notice that a considerable proportion of these songs’ uploaders and commentators on YouTube are Spanish-speaking.