Bachata Music
The Dominican Republic is commonly known for merengue music, but other forms like Bachata are also very popular. Bachata music and dance originated in the countryside and rural areas of the Dominican Republic, and normally tells romantic stories including heartbreak and love. Bachata music was originally named amargue, which meant bitter music.
Bachata music was most popular among servants in The Dominican Republic, since they would make the music for fun after a long day of work. Bachata music was originally played on common objects, such as trashcans or fences, and some actually use the term Bachata to refer to trash.
Bachata music is a style of music that has been widely accepted through most of the Dominican Republic, but not by all. Even though it started off as music for the low class, it has evolved from bolero, which is an American style of music that originated in Cuba. The trash cans and fences were replaced with guitars, and additional instruments are also used. Bongo drums and a maraca are also major elements of Bachata music, and make it what it is today. Merengue also influenced Bachata music, making not only a type of music, but also a style of dance.
Bachata dance consists of a basic footwork with a series of very simple steps. It produces a back and forth or sideways motion, and consists of very simple dance steps like the chasse. The chasse is followed by touching your toe from your alternate foot on the floor beside your other foot. You then repeat the same steps in the other direction, and add any embellishment if you like. Some like to shake their hips while others just feel the rhythm of the music through their bodies. It is a fun and simple dance to learn, and it is up to the dancer to make it unique.
At first, Bachata music was considered worthless and dismissed by the Dominican Bourgeoisie since servants and other poor workers created it. The name Bachata means a rowdy lower class party, and the music was actually banned from Dominican radio and television programs until just recently. Even though Bachata music started in the slums of the Dominican, it has now begun to flourish throughout the Dominican Republic as well as many other parts of the world.
Bachata music is a humorous style of music, which incorporates sexuality, drinking, and many other risky ideas. Bachata music celebrates the strength of man, yet still shows his weakness to the power of sexuality and women. Bachata musicians incorporate stories of everyday life into their music, such as stories about women they love who don’t love them back. Because this style of music most commonly comes from one gender, there are mostly male performers singing about women.
Some believe that 1992 was the year that Bachata music was considered well known, due to the release of Juan Luis Guerra’s Bachata Rosa. Although it did win a Grammy, others believe this album played no role in the rise of Bachata music throughout the world. The title contained the word Bachata, but his album contained a style that was not at all related to Bachata.
Currently, the group Aventrua from the Dominican Republic is the most well known Bachata group in the world. Their single “Obsesion” dominated radio stations in Latin America, Italy, Sweden, and even Latin stations in America. Other popular Bachata musicians from the Dominican Republic include Anthony Santos, Luis Vargas, Raulin Rodriguez, and many more.
Even though servants who were just trying to have a good time invented Bachata music, it had been widely accepted as an entertaining type of music. Many different styles of music, including merengue and bolero, have influenced Bachata music and made it the popular dance music that it has become today.
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