Merengue, salsa, bachata and flamenco music genres have gained worldwide acclaim; also popular is Latin House music.
Bob Marley was an international star renowned for his reggae music. This profound influence can still be felt today by Latin Americans who appreciate this genre, inspiring many Spanish-speaking artists to produce similar reggae tracks with Latin flavors.
Merengue
Merengue is a genre of rhythmic dance music which originates in the Dominican Republic. It became widely popular after many Dominicans immigrated to New York City during the 1960s, giving merengue the opportunity to influence other genres like rock and R&B music.
There are three primary forms of merengue. The oldest form is known as merengue tipico or perico ripiao and means “ripped parrot.” This style exudes ancient folk roots with more of a classic sound.
Merengue de orquesta is another prominent form of merengue that often features orchestral accompaniment. Olga Tanon was known as one of the artists who helped increase merengue popularity throughout Puerto Rico.
Salsa
Salsa combines Caribbean dance styles like Rumba and Cha Cha Cha with Latin musical influences such as Cuban Son and jazz music. Salsa songs often incorporate the clave rhythm which serves as the core groove for its musical style – played on instruments such as congas and bongos as well as brass instruments (such as trumpet or trombone) or strings (such as piano).
Salsa rose to popularity as a genre when radio technologies made it easier for musicians from different parts of the world to connect musically, culturally, and sociopolitically – leading to its creation as an open-ended musical form combining Caribbean African elements as well as New York City elements into one unique genre. At MCNY we use concert photography ephemera and video footage from 1970s New York City shows how salsa activism played out through this music form.
Bachata
Bachata originated in the Dominican Republic and blends European music influences with Afro-Caribbean rhythms. It is usually performed close embrace and features an effortless hip swaying movement on every count, accentuated by slow hip circles.
Bachata songs typically incorporate a guitar arpeggio that accompany the singer during each verse of the song, providing added emotion. Singing passionately gives this form of music its soul and captures audiences’ hearts and imagination.
Bachata music captures life’s joys and sorrows with equal force, often dealing with romantic relationships, love, heartbreak and longing. An iconic example is Peter Seeger’s rendition of Guantanamera which later was covered by artists such as Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi in Spanish language versions – an irresistibly captivating style of music which has since spread worldwide.
Tango
Tango conjures images of red roses, seductive dancers, and breathtaking beauty. It is a Latin American folk genre as well as the name for a specific form of dance.
Early sound recordings of tango music date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of the most notable musicians and singers associated with this era include Juan d’Arienzo, Rodolfo Biagi, Carlos Gardel, Anibal Troilo and Osvaldo Pugliese.
After Gardel’s death, there was a divide between supporters of traditionalist tango and those who believed it could be developed further and modified, leading to what is known as “Tango Nuevo” from 1930 through 1952 – led by Astor Piazzolla during this period and later becoming responsible for merging tango with other musical forms such as Jazz.
Corrido
Corridos are narrative folk ballads which provide commentary on anything from political events and natural disasters, horse racing and immigration to immigration issues. Each song usually begins with either an authorization or despedida from its narrator before moving on to tell its tale.
Corridos typically consist of 20-30 stanzas that offer rich details about an event being narrated, before concluding with an appealing moral and an acceptance from its performer.
Corridos may resemble narrative ballads from other countries, but its cultural context sets it apart. Corridos are closely tied to Mexican border history – famous examples include Pancho Villa and Emilio Zapata – but are uniquely representative of Mexican American identity and its Chicano movement, offering insight into issues facing Mexican-Americans today. Narcocorridos are another contemporary form which glorify drug traffickers.