Spanish music is immensely diverse, reflecting every facet of Spain’s rich history and culture. Ranging from flamenco’s sensuous sounds to reggaeton beats and beyond – there’s sure to be something appealing for every taste in Spanish music.
Traditional Ecuadorian music reflects both Indian and mestizo influences to some degree, including rhythms like vals peruano and sanjuanito.
Tango
Tango is a dance genre combining European and African influences, which originated in working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The music possesses a deep emotional melancholic quality usually performed by orchestras that include bandoneon, violin, piano and double bass instruments.
After Carlos Gardel’s death, there was a notable divide among traditionalists like Rodolfo Biagi and Juan d’Arienzo and evolutionists like Carlos di Sarli and Anibal Troilo; those wanting to reduce ensemble sizes and explore new musical avenues.
NewTango (Tango Nuevo), as it became widely known, emerged with the arrival of a new generation of musicians. It embraced both orchestral influences from tango’s history as well as lyrics exploring contemporary topics – the result was a contemporary form of Tango that remains immensely popular today.
Merengue
Dominican merengue music became a wildly popular dance style during the 1980s. Many Dominicans began migrating to New York and other cities where merengue clubs opened, where merengue clubs soon emerged as their preferred form of entertainment.
Angel Viloria and Conjunto Tipico Cibaeno was the first merengue group to gain widespread renown in the United States, distinguished by an innovative musical style incorporating jazz orchestration elements and saxophones to give merengue music a less rustic sound.
Merengue tipico remains one of the cornerstones of merengue music, often featuring two parts that alternate between fast rhythm known as merengue derecho and more improvisation and hard-driving melodies in a second part called jaleo. Merengue music’s improvisational sections often contain catchy, syncopated riffs which motivate dancers.
Norteno
At first listen, Jaime Guevara’s norteno rendition of Plain White T’s hit “Hey There Delilah” may appear like just another cover tune; however, upon hearing accordion’s entrance into the mix–we quickly become aware that we’re witnessing something completely unique!
At the turn of the nineteenth century, regional Mexican music merged with that of German and Czech settlers living in Texas to form Tejano or norteno music, which features polka, waltz and corridos (ballads) which recount history or celebrate revolutionaries like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Norteno music is typically performed by ensembles known as conjuntos which often include accordions and bajo sexto strings known as tololoche instruments for performance.
Norteno music has experienced an exponential surge in popularity recently. Part of this may be attributed to its appeal among young Latinos looking for cultural identity, or simply being catchy and easy to dance to.
Pop
Pop music in Spain refers to all musical genres that are considered popular within its borders. Some forms may be traditional while others incorporate modern elements; one such trend is NeoFolk which brings back folk songs from different regions by mixing electronica with pop elements.
Bachata is an iconic Latin pop music genre that originated in the Dominican Republic and features romantic guitar lines accompanied by romantic themes. Additionally, rock and reggaeton influences can also be heard within this form. Some notable bachata artists include Romeo Santos and Monchy y Alexandra who specialize in this form.
Melengue is another Latin music genre, with roots in Spanish folk songs. Well-known merengue artists include Maridalia Hernandez, Angela Carrasco and Olga Lara – three prominent merengue performers who make merengue music today.
Reggaeton
Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but has become an immensely globalized genre, drawing heavily from hip hop and Jamaican dancehall influences. Reggaeton lyrics are typically spoken aloud rather than melodically sung; like hip hop, reggaeton lyrics may also include explicit themes related to drugs, violence, poverty and sexuality that have caused some controversy within this genre. Artists such as Bad Bunny have transcended genre barriers with popular hits like Un Verano Sin Ti and Me Porto Bonito
Reggaeton draws its inspiration from hip hop and Jamaican dancehall music; however, it should not be considered “hardcore” Latin hip hop as such; true Latin hip hop has an identical or nearly identical beat to mainstream American hip hop while reggaeton’s stems from an indigenous Jamaican rhythm called Dem Bow.