Through its long history, Spain has long been a melting pot of cultures; this has influenced its music genres to evolve rapidly.
La Movida Madrilea witnessed pop music shift away from mimicking Anglo-American trends, creating its own distinct identity – this period saw artists such as Alaska and Martirio emerge.
Flamenco
Flamenco is an intricate combination of dance, music and poetry that involves singing (cante), guitar playing (regado), polyrhythmic hand clapping (palmas) and castanets claps.
Traditional flamenco dance consists of the following components: Salida (entrance), Paseo, Silencio and Zapateado. Salida marks the start of each dance with upbeat or downbeat sections depending on its rhythm, while Silencio serves as a middle portion that may either slow or fast pace depending on what style is chosen by its performer.
Flamenco originated in Andalusia and is heavily influenced by Gitanos who were forced from their homes and communities. Today it serves to unite communities through shared passion for dancing; even beyond Andalusia its impact has extended across cultures like rumba, salsa and jazz; its potential is endless while its beauty remains timeless.
Norteno
Norteno as a genre draws heavily upon American country music. This can be explained by the fact that its string instrument, bajo sexto, was inspired by early types of American guitars created by immigrant artisans.
The genre draws its inspiration from Mexican folk songs and corridos – musical pieces which tell tales of outlaws and revolutionaries – that date back to 1910-1920 and served as propaganda pieces during Mexico’s revolutionary period. Corridos also served to memorialize revolutionary heroes.
Los Alegres’ success brought norteno into the limelight for producers in Mexico City who sought artists with a nationalistic, urban aesthetic. While norteno has come to incorporate other genres, its foundation remains as an expressive language of identity, resilience and humor among farmworker communities.
Pop
The 1990s witnessed a revival of Spanish pop music, with artists like Monica Naranjo gaining worldwide renown. Musically speaking, this period saw influences ranging from rock to electronica music being explored.
Navarre and La Rioja boast an abundance of traditional folk music culture, from upbeat muineiras to stately marching music accompanied by tabor pipe (txistu). Furthermore, these regions have strong cultural ties with Basque Country that are evident through dance traditions as well as arch and stick dance traditions.
Corridos are narrative folk ballads that recount stories about historical events, heroes and everyday life. Narcocorridos focus on themes related to drug trafficking and cartels while musically it typically features folk, rumba and ska rhythms and guitar-based styles.
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a musical genre that first made its debut in Puerto Rico during the 1990s and quickly gained widespread appeal throughout Latin America. This genre’s distinctive sound combines elements from reggae, Jamaican dancehall music, hip-hop rapping and merengue melodies into one unique sound; additionally incorporating Spanish lyrics for an urban sound.
Reggaeton has experienced explosive growth over recent years due to its infectious beats and catchy melodies. Many of its biggest artists come from Puerto Rico, such as Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon and Ivy Queen; Bad Bunny stands out as an iconic reggaeton artist worldwide with painted nails, colored hair and breaking gender norms in his appearances.
Karol G is another rising reggaeton star who defies genre classification, regularly collaborating with platinum artists like Pitbull and Nicki Minaj. Reggaeton music’s global appeal makes it an effective means of connecting people through its sound and unifying people through its message of unity through music.
Rock
In the 1960s and 1970s, Spanish rock music emerged with influences from American and British pop music. Now, this popular genre combines catchy melodies with unique Spanish elements; artists like Vetusta Morla and Rosalia have become known for their musical prowess and poetic lyrics.
Bachata and merengue are beloved rhythms loved by fans worldwide. Boasting rippling guitar lines accompanied by heart-wrenching melodies, these rhythms have quickly become staples at dance clubs and festivals worldwide.
Vallenato music originated on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, drawing upon African, Indigenous, and Spanish musical traditions to weave a melody evoking love and folklore with lyrics narrating love stories and other tales of everyday life. In 2020 Gregorio Uribe brought this style to wider international prominence during a Carnegie Hall Musical Explorers concert.
Reggaeton combined elements of reggae and dancehall music with Puerto Rican bomba, salsa and hip hop for an original style known as Reggaeton – its own dembow rhythm and Spanish-language rapping were hallmarks of its success, popularized by global hits from artists such as Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi such as Despacito and Gasolina respectively.