Spanish music has had an immense influence on Latin American and Western music over its long and rich history.
Merengue is a graceful dance with lots of hip wiggles and foot-pop flourishes that originated in Dominican Republic during the nineteenth century.
Merengue
Merengue is a Latin dance and music genre that has gained immense popularity globally, particularly in regions with large Dominican populations. Its infectious rhythms have given birth to numerous subgenres of merengue music such as merengue fusion with styles like bachata, reggaeton, and North American pop music.
Merengue music was traditionally performed by an ensemble known as a conjunto tipico consisting of accordion, saxophone, guira (a home-made two-sided drum held on lap), and timbales. More recently however, groups have experimented with larger orchestra arrangements or even added electric instruments such as keyboards.
Though many classic merengue songs feature silly lyrics, others simply boast an infectious rhythm which will get your body moving. Check out these 34 merengue tunes to start dancing and feel the beat!
Salsa
Salsa transcends musical genre; it’s culture. Generations of Latinos have expressed themselves through salsa lyrics – from dance gatherings in living rooms to arena shows across continents.
Salsa emerged during the 1940s and ’50s due to its blend of Afro-Cuban music with New York jazz, created by Dominican musician Johnny Pacheco and Italian American businessman Jerry Masucci’s Fania Records label – an influential platform which popularized salsa around the world.
Pacheco assembled top artists such as Ray Barreto, Celia Cruz, Larry Harlow and Bobby Valentin into his Fania All-Stars for concerts that packed Manhattan’s Cheetah Club as well as tours across the globe.
Bachata
Bachata emerged in the Dominican Republic during the early 1960s, as an expressive genre and dance that expressed feelings of anguish, sadness and heartbreak. At first it was reserved only for rural communities or disreputable establishments like bars or brothels.
Lyrics of early bachata songs reflected rural, working class origins and used Dominican street slang; by the 1990s bachata gained wider international acceptance; Monchy & Alexandra and Aventura led by Romeo Santos made waves by modernizing and popularizing this form of dance music, topping charts and selling out arenas with performances. Today there are three primary sub-styles of bachata: Traditional, Sensual and Moderna.
Corrido
Corridos are narrative and lyrical songs which memorialize deeds, events or people from history. A corrido can commemorate heroes such as Pancho Villa or Emilio Zapata or even more controversial topics like barroom shootings or drug smuggling.
Though most stories may be based on fact, they often include inaccuracies and exaggerations to add depth or glorify their hero. The genre’s popularity skyrocketed during and following Mexico’s Revolution and spread through Texas as guitaristreros and conjuntos recorded songs on old 78rpm records, cassettes, vinyl records and even modern digital media formats such as Spotify or Pandora radio stations.
Many corridos serve as morality lessons. From stories of romance, heartache or folklore to brassy beats and dramatic performances such as that by Los Tigres del Norte’s La Puerta Negra, they deliver their messages through music that inspires emotion in viewers.
Reggaeton
Reggaeton music has quickly become one of the world’s most beloved genres due to its catchy beat and distinct sound, yet is widely criticized due to explicit lyrics that promote sexism. Regardless, its appeal remains strong.
Frankie Boy was one of the pioneering Reggaeton MCs to introduce it to Puerto Rican youth through urban mixes in the early ’90s, but after becoming religious he abandoned his career and left behind this genre.
Some artists have managed to keep the genre alive. Ivy Queen, for instance, has pioneered an effective strategy of circumventing censorship by including sexually suggestive lyrics in her lyrics and actively working toward gender equality within an industry still predominantly male-dominated.
Flamenco
Flamenco is an emotional art form combining singing (cante), guitar playing (toque) and dance, creating an unforgettable performance experience. Flamenco lyrics often address love, loss and the tragic events surrounding Spain’s Inquisition which saw local Jews, Christians, Muslims and gypsies killed off.
Music inspired by Romani peoples originating from Northwest India centuries ago has given way to flamenco music we now recognize today. Their influence, along with other Jewish, Moorish and Andalusian cultures combined with folk tradition of southern Spain to form what is commonly referred to as flamenco.
Vallenato music typically uses instruments such as an acoustic guitar, zambomba friction drum and castanets; lyrics may focus on love, community and happiness or, at times, loss or tragedy.