Before all of you hang me, let me say that I like bachatas and I am not of of those who say that only lowlives, tigueres, chopos and tourists involved with low-class Dominicans listen to it.

The thing is that most well-off Dominicans and many who consider themselves "educated" and "decent" think that because bachata was indeed a genre for the lower class many years ago, that it's still listened by the same class of people to this day.

Most well-off, "decent" or "educated" person I know in the DR, wouldn't even consider talking about bachata. Forget about them even listening to it. It's taboo.

Even if I think that there are some bachata songs that would make anybody run to the hill and kill yourself, there are so many great bachatas out there it's not even funny.

They have this mentality that because Bachata was a "barra genre" and that since barras were frequented by lower-class Dominicans, that to this day the same class of people listen to it. Wrong, in my opinion.

Many even curse Juan Luis Guerra for bringing it back and making it "hip".

What do you posters think, is it fair for them so say such a thing?.

The problem with Bachata is that the artist involved fail to elevate bachata to a higher level. When I say elevate bachata I dont mean directly but rather indirectly. e.g extending an artist own creativity and going beyond the comfort zones often limited by their fan base. Expanding their fan base by creating, merging or crossing genres. Dominicans always stick to what is safe.

In the early 90's during the initial emergence of bachata, in Miami, it was considered Chusmeria music mainly by the Cuban community. Radio Stations, and elevated night clubs would not play bachata for several reasons such as hard melodies, another was that most if not all bachata was on unknown foreign labels and thus it would have to compete with deep pockets of U.S. labels and other more popular hispanic genres, Bachata was not listened to night clubs because of its implied association with those in Dominican communities who were/are on a different social class.

Dominicans suffer from myopia, are Risk averse and are too Dominican.

bachata will never elevate itself beyond anything more than its current state unless an intrepid artist takes a plunge.


You can search for read other threads on dt regarding this issue.

So TuPapuapa, in not being domincan myself what do well-off Domincans listen to? Not just boring old Mozart or Bethoveen I hope. lol! just jokin'. Enlighten TuPapuapa, enlighten.

I couldn't agree with you more, even if I try.

There are still a few radio stations in the DR that refuse to play bachatas.

It's a shame but most bachata singers in the DR, except for Juan Luis Guerra, who's actually a merenguero, are thought as lowlives, including most of the well-known.

Once I was taken to a Frank Reyes concert in Santiago and let me tell you that on that day, I swore I'll never go see him again.

He cursed, dirty-talked more than a sailor.

I am not saying I don't curse, but come on, there's a time and place for everything, just sing and shut the hell up.

My friends and I thought it was funny when he did it once, but it became old when he kept doing it every chance he got.

But the funnier thing is that everybody else had a ball every time he cursed.

It was lowlifeness, tiguerage and choperia at their best.

And for that reason, ladies and gentleman, most well-to-do, decent Dominicans wouldn't be caught dead going to see a bachatero perform.

Bachata music is for Lowlives, Tigueres and Chopos those are the people that like to listen to that garbage. I hate that music and I always will and most of the people in my family as well as other Dominicans that I know hate that music too and consider it low class.

You all know which way Im going with this going by my name;

Bachata? good or bad?

This all depends on what socio-economic background your coming from in the DR, it is as follows;

Middle Class/Upper class Dominicans; Will generally hate bachata, claim it is for chopos, instead listen to US and South american Rock, you know who you are! I suspect they will listen to bachata in secret when not in the presence of their social circle of jevitos/jevitas lest they become social lepers/ostracised.

Working class/campesinos; Will without a doubt LOVE bachata, will play it out loud in their Honda Civics on the backs of their 70cc motorbikes on their personal radio, and not give a f%$k about anyone else as they will assume all Dominicans love bachata.

One word AVENTURA......the rest of the world cant be wrong, I have heard bachata most places Ive gone when abroad, some acheivement for lowlives, tigueres and chopos.

Guess if its not Mana or some other Anglo bull%$t its not good enough, well all you bachata haters, your all wrong! Rock isnt our heritage, bachata is, it comes from our soil, embrace it

Look back a generation or two and you'll see you all come from the country so quit putting on airs!

Re sophistication; Have you heard some of Anthony Santos stuff, sounds like the Doors!

Well linda, I am not well-off (I only play one on the internet, lol).

I can't talk for anybody else but just because I was born in the DR doesn't mean I have to loooove merengue and/or bachatas.

Actually, my favourite genres are Country and Salsa.

That doesn't mean I don't like Merengue or Bachata, no no no, they are just not favourites.

I basically like everything, from Classical to Big Band to Rock to Soft Rock, to R&B to Pop to Disco to Jazz to Raggae to......well, you know where I am getting at?.

Shit, I even like a few Operas.

I guess you can say I am a man of all genres. Jaja.

Actually, no, Raggaetton and Rap can kiss my ass!. LOL.

I do know some Dominicans stuck on Merengue and Bachata. That's all they know and that's all they want to talk about.

You can say, I guess, they don't like to "spand their horizons".

Bachata is depressing... It's always about a guy who got dumped and its trying to get his woman back... There are few bachata songs in my Ipod... like 7 out of a selection of almost 1,500 songs.


LONG LIVE ROCK N ROLL

The panameños should be all executed by firing squad for having the guts to create that atrocious musical genre by the name of Reggaeton. The worse thing of all is that, were it not for the bachata, almost all of our youth would be occupied raving and fawning like lunatics about Daddy Yankee and all his disparates.

No so fast, my bachata hater friend, there are a few people out there who listen to it and are not Lowlives, Tigueres and/or Chopos.

I'll be honest, I can't stand to listen to Joe Veras, Anthony Santos and a few others but there are some great bachatas by Juan Luis Guerra, Alex Bueno, Fernandito, Los Toros Band (well, Hector Acosta), Milly Quezada (and others), that even if not bachateros, do an amazing job singing it.

Give them a try.


Ps: look at that, this is AfroLatino'sPapaupa's 100th post. Hurray!. Lol.