Being Latino on Google Plus

Why Latinos can’t live without Salsa

Many of us can’t go a day without our ipod, car radios, Pandora mix, or YouTube music videos streaming in the background or on maximum volume over our headphones. And for many Latinos, some of that listening must include Spanish language music.

Most of us have our favorite genres – salsa, merengue, ranchera, bachata to name a few – and many of us enjoy a little bit of everything. Without these lyrics, beats, and melodies filling our homes and our heads, something essential would be missing. We can’t survive without our music because it provides a satisfying backdrop to our days and the perfect punctuation to the ups and down of our lives.

Para bailar: Perhaps the most obvious reason to listen to this music is to dance. More specifically, to dance your ass off. When you want to move, no hay nada como la música Latina. Translation: There is nothing like our music to get the party started. Whether you’re twirling across the floor with your partner or dancing body to body with that sexy someone, this music will rarely disappoint.  

For love…and heartache: Spanish language music is typically about love and passion. The topic of even most dance music is about loving that one unforgettable woman (e.g., No Hay Nadie Como Ella, La Querio a Morir) and often about that same woman breaking your heart (e.g., Me Voy, Hasta Ayer). Whether you’re celebrating the rapture of a hot blooded love affair or wallowing in the misery of a wretched heartbreak, our music – equal parts elation and tragedy –will match your mood and eventually set you right.

To connect with your family: An old ballad (from el año uno as my mom would say) has a special ability to reconnect you with your loved ones, especially those you’ve left behind in your native country. Sometimes, the elegance and power of certain instruments – the haunting melody of an Andean flute or the pulsing rhythm of an Afro-Latin drum circle – can transport you to un tiempo pasado, a time when your ancestors walked and danced on this earth. Their music can connect you to a world far bigger than your own.

For everyday life:  Of course, no one needs an excuse to listen to Spanish language music. Many Latinos and gringos alike enjoy it without purpose or premise. Whether you’re cooking or cleaning, walking or running, singing or dancing, our music is always a great complement to your daily activities and nighttime shenanigans.

Take a listen…you won’t regret it:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZK2wCpvwZg]

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_gSydN_BYM]

About Adriana Villavicencio

Dr. Adriana Villavicencio is the youngest child of Ecuadorian immigrants. She has moved 29 times in her life, taking her on a journey from California to Bangalore, India, and New York City, where she recently earned a Ph.D. in Education Leadership and works as a Research Associate at New York University. An avid traveler, Adriana has collected experiences in four different continents and 16 different countries. But as a former high school English teacher, some of her fondest memories are those of her brilliant and brilliantly funny students in Brooklyn and Oakland. Adriana has contributed to several publications including the Daily News and Space.com, and is a managing editor for the Journal of Equity in Education. She earned a B.A. in English and an M.A. in English Education at Columbia University, and currently serves on the board of Columbia’s Latino Alumni Association (LAACU). She enjoys scary movies with red vines, Sauvignon Blanc, and her Maltese dog, Napoleon.

To learn more about Adriana’s education consulting company, please visit www.theradicalideas.com.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.

Comments

  1. Not only I’m a fan of Hector and has been for years, I knew him personally. Ironcally a lot of time I’ve been confused with him as some acquaintances commented not only I look like him, even my voice sound like him. RIP y que Dios te tenga en la Glora my brother. Sometime I’ll publish one of the album I have never heard before…

  2. migueltio says:

    Great work Adriana! Latin music touches me deeply no matter the genre. We need it all!

  3. Saludos 11-11-11 dia lleno de buenas vibras, energia, amor, salud.. todo lo que sueñes!! ? Estamos Unidos Latino Americanos<3 por nuestra cultura..disfruta la musica en http://www.eularadio.com :)

Trackbacks

  1. [...] here at Being Latino have always done a great job of highlighting the importance of music to our culture, whether it’s an artist that we love or have recently lost, or just our general disdain for a [...]

Speak Your Mind

*