Congrats! DId you meet him in London or DR?

unfortunately in dr
and with all the bad comment i could have from everyone!

Pienso que "Antony Santos, Zacharia Ferrera y El Torito" siempre!

Best group ever: Munchy Y Alexandra because they have a stronger nostalgic base fan than Aventura could ever dream of having, but many have to say that Aventura revolutionized bachata just as it was in its peak of dying because reggae-ton had started to take over.

anthony santos is the i like aventura but EL MAYIMBE IS THE BEST HE HAS THE MOST HITS WHEN DROPS A SONG EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN

I most agree with you wiggs, but u forgot Yoskar Sarante

Oh yeahhh Yoskar Sarante... great that you mentioned him. Thanks and which reminds me to go listen to some bachata right this very now.

ok, guys and dolls, you can clean up the AR15 rifles and prepare the firing squad, because i am about to make a few observations about the bachata i know will just rankle people who say it is taking over the world. remember, these are just opinions. but to me, it is too limited at present, and, unless some creative input is introduced, it will be blown away eventually by reggaeton. i am not an authority on the cultural influences which drive the bachata, but every last song i hear has the same basic guitar riff. it appears that the music is highly structured, and maybe designed for lyrical, rather than melodic, expression. i am not familiar with the new bachata stylings in the states today, but the ones i hear in the DR all sound alike to me. the reggaeton boys are using creative instrumentation, such as synthesisers, sampling and drum machines, vocorders, etc, and all kinds of creative overdubbing to make the music exciting. i enjoy dancing the bachata with a delicious dominican lady, but it does not matter to me which song it is. i really cannot tell the difference between the songs i hear on the radio. then again, maybe there is some sort of payola going on, wherein some of the more creative offerings do not receive airplay. also, it does not allow for creative dancing styles, because of the rigid bass lines, and it is difficult to vary the speed. the dance remains etched in stone, unlike the salsa, which allows for unlimited creativity. maybe if someone starts producing bachata with brutal brass sections, such as gran combo, that would relieve the monotony. then again, that could end up contaminating the intent of the music to be, what appears to me, a campesino cultural expression

The lyrics are what makes the music special. In bachata, especially here in NY and DR people dance it using faster movements, different movements, while still hit it on the third beat. I mean bachata, is great music and you can definitley use some creativity within it's "so-called" rigid regiments...

you are right about having to hit on the third beat, or you would be dancing like a gringo. ..but seriously, it needs variation. nobody can confuse James Brown with Troutmann Brothers and Roger, but it is both Funk.

Dreads!
No! Don't go there dreads!

You will be ex-communicated. They will dispatch the Mob Squad and hunt you down Dreads.

Just kidding.

I do I agree with some points made about Bachata. However the sounding alike statements you made can be expected if you are not Hispanic. When I was in the Midwest many Anglos would say the same upon hearing me play my salsa. They remarked that it sounds the same.

" It sounds like popcorn popping" they would say. ( i guess the syncopation)

But Bachata has a strong following in central America and specifically the coastal cities of Latin America. Bachata is often called or considered "Dominican Blues"

Much of the problem with Bachata is the lack of creativity and its simplistic arrangements. It is unlike Salsa which has a more complex beat rhythm and instrumentation consisting of 7 or 8 beats (this depends on which school you are from).

Bachata believe it or not was first introduced to mainstream U.S or the world by Juan Luis Guerra (JLG) in his "Bachata Rosa" CD. Unbeknown to many, several of the songs are Bachata.

But JLG produced a masterpiece. A work of art. He soften the beats and guitars so that they weren't overwhelming or excessive. Soon after, Bachateros were springing up everywhere in the DR.

Bachata at first had a difficult time taking off in the states due to that early forms where rough and really hard on the ears.


Some of the early Bachateros (after JLG)
Theodoro Reyes
Rauline Rodriguez
Luis Vargas
Anthony Santos
El Ciego



My preference is Frank Reyes, Zacarias and Joe Veras, Luis Vargas then Aventura In addition this probably wouldn't be a surprise to everyone but my preference in Latin music is Salsa (old school salsa).