Music can be an engaging way to learn Spanish. No matter whether you prefer dancing or singing your way towards fluency, there is sure to be an album or genre of Spanish music out there for every taste!
Around the end of the 19th century, popular genres of Spanish music began to appear, particularly romantic ballads performed by musicians like Raphael and Camilo Sesto who quickly rose to fame.
Merengue
Merengue is a dance and music genre popular in Dominican Republic. Initially, its instruments consisted of strings (guitars, tres, cuatro and quinto), box bass guyano and the guira – an instrument with metal scrapers held by hand that are used on every beat to produce its rhythmic pulse.
Merengue became increasingly popular after Petan Trujillo was shot dead in 1961, when its tempo increased and new instruments like saxophones and accordions were introduced into its repertoire. Tiico ensembles gave way to larger combo configurations led by Johnny Ventura and Wilfrido Vargas who led larger ensembles for performances of this style of music.
Merengue remains a beloved dance genre among Latino communities worldwide and serves as an influence on salsa and bachata styles of dancing. The relaxed yet unhurried beat makes merengue easy for dancers to execute complex steps with pretzel-like hand movements without needing as much training or precision as other dance forms do.
Bachata
Bachata, an infectious Latin-influenced dance style from Dominican Republic, fuses Caribbean and Latin musical influences. Characterised by soft hip motions and turns, Bachata dance can also be used to tell stories through playfulness and storytelling.
Bachata’s rise from its origins as an underground music genre to global popularity is truly amazing. Just like its counterparts in Latin America, Bachata serves as both an agent and reflection of social change.
At its origins, bachata was defined by its melodic guitar accompaniment and emotive lyrics. Later it evolved by adopting new instruments and reaching wider audiences; also having influenced other Latin American and ballroom genres such as salsa and merengue.
Salsa
Salsa is a vibrant and energetic dance music genre which originated during the mid-20th century among Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrants residing in New York City. Its distinctive rhythmic percussion draws upon traditions found within Cuban Son, Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena music, as well as other Caribbean styles.
The development of salsa music in the United States was greatly assisted by phonograph records and radio technology, which made communication between musicians easier, allowing Caribbean and American musical cultures to blend and transform one another.
Salsa can be traced back to Arsenio Rodriguez and his Son cubano ensemble, which added a horn section and tumbadoras (congas) to Cuban rhythm instruments like bongos, bass drums and tres. This provided the framework for its eventual integration into North American jazz culture.
Reggaeton
Youtube has opened up an entirely new audience for Spanish-singing artists such as J Balvin. YouTube provides them with a platform on which they can showcase their talent in music that’s more gentle than reggaeton has ever been before.
Balvin’s new style has been widely applauded, as its focus shifts away from sexual innuendo and toward romantic themes, representing an important shift in how women are depicted within this genre, which had once been predominantly male-driven.
Though positive changes have taken place in dancehall, there remain issues that must be addressed within its genre. These include homophobic elements in Shabba Ranks’ 1990 dancehall classic “Dem Bow” beat that laid the groundwork for this new genre and objectification of women.
Flamenco
Flamenco is an art form that represents centuries of cultural exchange in Spain. It originated through encounters among Jewish, Arab, and Gypsy cultures in Andalusia.
Flamenco dance was traditionally not taught in schools; rather it was passed down from family members or penas (teachers). Flamenco is an extremely rhythmic style characterized by palmas (hand clapping) and castanets. Instrumentation for flamenco typically includes guitars (both electric and acoustic), cajon, percussion instruments and vocalists.
Flamenco music comprises three main genres, known as bulerias, seguiriyas and guajiras. A bulerias is characterized by fast flamenco rhythms which allow for much improvisation, creating excitement and liveliness during performances. Seguiriyas feature songs which gradually change tonality during performances; finally guajiras refer to religious-influenced dance songs.