Latin Music

From wiki: "Latin music (Música latina in Spanish and Portuguese) is a musical category encompassing music from any Spanish-speaking area from around the world mainly from Latin America and Spain. Most definitions of Latin music also include Portuguese-language music from Brazil and sometimes Portugal as well. The term, "Latin music", originates from the United States (US) due to the growing influence of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the American music market beginning in the 1980s. US trade industry groups such as Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Billboard magazine define "Latin music" as any type of release with most of its lyrics in Spanish regardless of genre."

So obviously it's a very vague genre with tons of different styles from tons of different places! Some popular styles include:

Salsa
Tejano
Bachata
Tengo
Merengue
Reggaeton
Ranchera
Rock
Pop
Jazz


Some resources are:
Latin Music | Billboard
Music
Latin Music | Los Angeles News and Events | LA Weekly


I feel like it's a bit awkward to have a thread for such a vague genre but music w/ Spanish or Portuguese lyrics and Latina/o artists rarely get any attention so I thought I'd put it in its own thread even tho I'll prob be the only one who ever posts in here tbh!! Even if you don't know the genre well, everyone knows about Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine and Selena so at the least we can talk about that!

 

I can post some cool Bossa Nova stuff tomorrow. Not a genre I'm super into but I dig what I know a lot

 

Here for the tejano

Actually just going to listen to whatever others post

 

If anyone is bored and needs recs, here's what I got at the top of my head (I'm bad at genres so bear with me):

Natalia Jiménez (pop)
Natalia Lafourcade (indie/electronic)
Gloria Trevi (pop/rock)
Paulina Rubio (pop)
Joan Sebastian (Rachera)
Shakira (pop)
Ricky Martin (pop)
Menudo (pop)
Belinda (pop)
Jenni Rivera (Banda)
Shelly Lares (Tejano)
J Balvin (Reggaeton)
Selena (Tejano)
Ximena Sariñana (alt/pop/rock)
Prince Royce (Bachata/pop)
Sofia Reyes (pop)
Alejandro Sanz (Flamenco/rock)
Gloria Estefan (pop/dance)
Miami Sound Machine (pop/dance)
Paty Cantú (pop/rock)
Tei Shi (indie pop)
Zigmat (electronic/pop)
Elida Reyna (Tejano)

 

Really excited to start digging into that list @Kiana. I also just realized I've never listened to Menudo

 

Generally an area I'm not huge on, but Estefan had some awesome early records

And yeah if bossa nova counts, I am into that as well.

 

tbh I've only ever listened to the Ricky Martin era. They have a ridiculously massive amount of albums tho

 

RRRRRRRROYCE!!!

My sister is getting married in DR, gotta know my bachata.

 

Not sure how I stumbled on this song, but I adore it:

 

Bossa nova definitely counts. That's why Latin music is awesome, because it's for everyone. There are so many genres coming from so many different countries that someone saying they don't like Latin music is like someone saying they don't like US music. Absurdity! There's something to love for everyone.

omg I'm so jealous of you. I don't like Ariana Grande but I almost went to her concert just to see him open, but then my sister got married that day. Then I had an opportunity to go to his meet and greet but I had a scheduling conflict. I'm always so close yet so far! Culpa al Corazón is my life rn. I hope it's a return to form from that English album I prefer not to speak of.

 

I know it's kind of a contentious point, but does Brazilian music count, too? Cause I dig some Tropicalia and will post the shit out of it in here. Haha

 

Not that I'm an authority or anything, but I def count Brazilian music.

 

Okay then I totally have things I can post in here. Haha

 

Throwback Thursday/Fun Fact Friday!!

In 2005 La Tortura spent 25 weeks at #1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, the second-longest running #1 hit in the chart's history.

A decade later, Shaki's second-place record was broken by Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias' El Perdón, which spent 26 weeks at #1

However, neither song came close to the record, which is 42 weeks at #1, held by Enrique Iglesias' Bailando (feat. Descemer Bueno, Gente de Zona). The international hit has over 1 billion views on Youtube!

 

Always loved La Tortura. That song is

Shakira >>>

 

Fun fact of the week - this time with links to videos cause I got a lot!:

Bachata is a genre of music that originates from the Dominican Republic. It was (and sometimes still is, by flops) considered crude and the music of the poor. However, the genre saw a resurgence (thanks to artists like Juan Luis Guerra) and is now looked at in a more positive light, especially since more mainstream artists are working within the genre! Here are some examples:

Romeo Santos, of Aventura fame, is referred to as the King of Bachata. I'm not sure why cause his voice is annoying to me but it is what it is. Probably because Aventura changed the face of the genre so I'll allow it. He has a song with Drake.

Prince Royce is referred to as Bachata Bae by me, and has worked with Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez. He also opened up for some indie singer named Ariana Grande, you may have heard of her idk. Last year he attempted an English album but we don't talk about that. Snoop Dogg was on it for some reason tho

 

For some reason this thread popped into mind, and then I saw La Tortura mentioned. Just yes.

 

This week it's Latin artists that briefly crossed over!

Thalía is known as one of the most successful Mexican singers ever, often referred to as the queen. I don't like her that much but sis crossed over with this hit!

Thalia feat Fat Joe - I Want You

Daddy Yankee still makes jams you guys. Don't even front like he doesn't. Barrio Fino went platinum in the US and is one of the best selling Latin albums in the US

Daddy Yankee - Gasolina

She hasn't released an album since 2007 but she gave us this timeless jam!

Lumidee - Never Leave You (Uh Oh)

Gerardo signed Bubba Sparxxx and helped Enrique Iglesias attain US mainstream success. For this, we are in his debt

Gerardo - Rico Suave

 

This week's edition for the one person who reads this thread (me!!!) is novela actors that also sing. Or singers that also act in novelas. However you wanna look at it. Links to save browsers!!


1. First up, my bb Jaime Camil. Jaime is known for his role as Fernando in La fea más bella aka Ugly Betty, among other things. He's also known for his role as Rogelio in Jane the Virgin where he deserves all the emmys!!! He was also in Por Ella... Soy Eva where he put out this bop

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2. Y'all might know Diego Boneta cause he has crossed over! He was on Rebelde about a group of kids at a boarding school who form a pop band (it was available on netflix last time I looked. Check it). This band also toured irl and were extremely successful in Latin America. You might know Diego from his starring roles in Rock of Ages, Scream Queens, and the remake of 90210

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3. Jencarlos Canela is an American actor/singer. He started out at a young age as a singer in a pop band and left to pursue solo work. He had a notable role in Más Sabe el Diablo among other titles in his filmography!

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Ricky Martin is a Puerto Rican international superstar who rose to fame with iconic boyband Menudo as a lil bb at age thirteen!

FYI this video is totally work clicking for the matching sparkly outfits and the choreo and a cute lil mini Ricky!!


Ricky put out a buttload of albums with Menudo in just four years (Menudo has like a billion albums honestly it's ridic) and released his first solo alum in 1991 to great success. Nobody could deny the talent or the hair



In 1998 he released Vuelve and blessed us all. He also won a Grammy for it!

Certified bop, la bomba

His next album was his crossover hit, Ricky Martin (not to be confused with his debut album of the same name), which has sold over 22 million copies worldwide!

Come sip on this cup of life, y'all

2010 was a big year for Enrique! He released his autobiography Me, which landed a spot on the New York Times Bestsellers list! That was also the year he officially came out as a gay man and became an inspiration to millions!

And guess what? bae is still bopping. In 2015 he released his fantastic album A Quien Quiera Escuchar for which he won a Grammy!! He released some bops too

While mainstream radio was trying to come up with which basic hit was song of summer for 2015, Ricky knew he had it with La Mordidita!

Adios to the haterz tbh!

 

This week's edition is: Mainstream artists who have tried to break into the Latin music market, so get ready to hear some broken Spanish y'all! Videos behind the links to save browsers!

Beyonce "I Wish I was Latino" Knowles

She did a collab with massive star Alenjandro Fernandez! Amor Gitano

She recorded her hit Irreplaceable in a Spanglish version called Irreemplazable!

And Destiny's Child performed a Spanish song with superstar Alejandro Sanz back at the 2002 Grammys!

NSYNC

In order to capitalize on the Latin music boom of the 90s show their love to their Spanish speaking fans, NSYNC recorded some of their hits in Spanish. The did Spanish versions of Gone

And also This I Promise You!

Mariah Carey

If you're wondering wow, it seems risky for artists who do not speak Spanish to sing in it cause what if the translations are all off??? Come no further! This is a case of a Spanish translation becoming a DISASTUH cause it is grammatically incorrect and fans dragged her for it. My All "Mi Todo"

She also recorded Hero in Spanish. It remains a smash

If you've also ever thought wow, I love Open Arms by Journey. I wonder what it would sound like sung in Spanish by Mariah Carey?? Your dreams have been answered

Drake

He is like rly obsessed with Dominicans lately. Did he take a trip there recently? What is the deal? He released Hotline Bling which is basically a love letter to bachata and dancehall music, and then worked with king of Bachata Romeo Santos on Odio

Ariana Grande

You can't tell wtf language she is singing but Ariana Grandemon recorded a Spanglish version of The Way

 

rly want to break into more bachata. It's the only latin sound I've grown to enjoy. Other than mariachi, I guess.

 

But that live performance they did with Son By Four tho.

Also I will always and forever love "A Puro Dolor."

 

and never forget 98 Degrees

 

For this bump of the thread I'm lazy and decided to give a small snapshot of some stuff released so far this year. This is by no means even close to getting everything so feel free to add your favorite songs of the year so far, the two people who follow this thread!!


1. After the success of his smash hit Ginza last summer, J. Balvin finally released his album Energía last June! Energía debuted #1 on the Top Latin Albums chart. It included his hit song Ginza, and Safari produced by Pharrell Williams, who features on the track as well

2. Maluma released his hit song El Perdedor on his album last year but it wasn't a single until this year! It stayed near the top of the charts for weeks

Maluma - El Perdedor (Official Video)


3. Sofia Reyes is the mentee of bachata star Prince Royce. They released their collaboration song Solo Yo earlier this year. I think her voice sounds better in the English version tho so I'm posting that one!

4. Bachata Bae Prince Royce released an attempted English crossover album last summer that we don't really talk about now. To make up for it he released the cute lil jam Culpa al Corazon in January

Culpa al Corazon - Prince Royce


5. Enrique is like King of Summer Songs after international hit Bailando in 2014 and El Perdon in 2015, and he delivers once more with Duele el Corazon, his hit song with Wisin! I'll be honest there's a chance I might be one of those hysterical crying girls when I see him in September, like ur abuelita reacts when she sees Ricky Martin

6. Lastly, the song of summer (in the latin music world cause lbr Mainstream US Top 40 fails at summer songs lately) La Bicicleta reigned supreme this summer. This effort from two of Colombia's biggest stars, Carlos Vives and Shakira, was huge this summer. La Bicicleta gave Carlos his 12th #1 hit on the Latin Airplay chart, putting him behind Ricky Martin and Enrique for most #1 hits in the chart's history! It was Shakira's 11th, tying her with Gloria Estefan!