Spanish music has transformed over time with the introduction of different styles. Salsa and reggaeton have become particularly popular genres of Spanish music.
Flamenco is an intricate rhythmic dance music of Spain’s Gitanos or Gypsies that embodies both passion and beauty.
Merengue is an upbeat style that blends African, Taino and European accordion instruments for an upbeat rhythmic pattern known as quintillo that can be romantic or festive in tone.
Norteno
Norteno (literally northern music) is a genre of Mexican folk music characterized by accordion and bajo sexto – two instruments which originated in northern Mexico, with European influences like polka, waltz and schottische being its foundational elements. Corridos often tell tales about outlaw heroes such as Pancho Villa or Emiliano Zapata which remain an enduring legacy from this musical style.
Norteno musicians draw on experiences in rural life, working-class realities and migration experiences to compose songs with social significance. Norteno music continues to provide identity, resilience, humor and memory for migrant communities across the United States. Collaborations between musicians from other genres has broadened norteno music’s audience reach; examples include Natanael Cano and Junior H’s bass-heavy “corrido tumbados”, or more melodic “sierreno” of Intocable.
Tango
Tango is an emotionally expressive dance that requires close partner cooperation and emotional expression. The nuances of its rhythm and tempo may be complex but also fluid and spontaneous, creating an unforgettable dance experience.
Tango first developed among Argentine lower classes for recreational dancing purposes or in brothels. By the early twentieth century, its style spread throughout Europe as salon music became influential on it.
Tango dance has been officially acknowledged by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage since 2009. Known for its embrace, fluid movements, and strong sense of partnership, tango is an expressive form that unifies people across different cultures through dance – inspiring romance, sensuality, and energy like no other genre can.
Merengue
Merengue is an exhilarating, rhythmic dance genre with upbeat drum music that captures its playful yet inclusive spirit, making it a favorite choice among couples and groups alike.
Quintillo rhythm figures have long been seen as being fundamental to merengue dancing; purists believe that without this figure a merengue cannot truly exist.
Merengue de orquesta (big band) music styles emerged during the 1930s to 1940s. Inspired by swing-era jazz, these performances featured large orchestras consisting of saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm section instruments such as tambora, guira and congas. Over time however, merengue evolved into a medium-sized combo format featuring less wind instruments with accordions being an especially controversial addition.
Salsa
Salsa is an energetic musical and dance genre that incorporates several Latin American musical styles, creating infectious rhythms filled with energy that fill the room, while lyrics typically highlight themes of love, celebration, and cultural expression.
Salsa utilizes a wide range of instruments, from percussion and horns to piano and vocals. A sonero singer frequently adds their own lyrics improvising lyrics that give each song its unique sound.
Salsa music emerged during the 1940s and 1950s, when Cuban son and mambo were combined with New York jazz and Latin American folk music. By the ’80s, different variations like salsa erotica and romantica had appeared, featuring slower melodies with lyrics about love and romance; critics however have claimed these forms have watered down its distinctive sound.
Reggaeton
Reggaeton music features its trademark dem bow rhythm, mixing Spanish lyrics with rapping. It has become an integral part of Latin culture and gained worldwide popularity thanks to Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” outselling all English-language artists on American charts.
Reggaeton’s success has brought it closer to mainstream audiences, yet also deepened divisions in Spain over class, race and identity. Some middle and upper-class Spaniards associate reggaeton with gang violence in Latino neighborhoods as well as reality TV shows that depict low-income communities as having problems that they themselves cannot handle.
Artists like Bad Bunny and Residente address these tensions through songs that draw attention to sexual exploitation in Latin America while advocating gender equality, while singers like Natti Natasha take steps towards shifting the genre’s overt male-narrated sexuality in favor of female agency with each beat.