A form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and the rural neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Bachata was created primarily by servants, who played it after their work days ended. They made the music out of ordinary objects like those commonly found in a backyard such as trash cans and fences. In some rural areas of the Dominican Republic, bachata means trash, but most citizens also agree that it means a party. Bachata did not begin as the popular dance music that it is today and it was not acceptable among higher society. Its subjects are often romantic; especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak and sadness. In fact, the original term used to name the genre was amargue ("bitterness," or "bitter music"), until the rather ambiguous (and mood-neutral) term bachata became popular. It has been compared to the blues although in modern times it bears similarities to R&B
Stylistic Origins
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic,
Typical Instruments
Guitar, bass guitar, guiro, maracas, bongo
Mainstream popularity
Latin Countries (Dominican Republic), New York
Juan Luis Guerra Seijas (born June 7, 1957) is a Dominican singer, songwriter, and self-producer who has sold over fourteen million records worldwide and has won numerous awards, including ten Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards. He won 5 Latin Grammy awards in 2007 in the same night which ties him with Juanes to hold the record for most Latin Grammys won in one night. He was born in Santo Domingo and is the son of Olga Seijas and Gilberto Guerra, a baseball player. He is one of the most internationally recognized Dominican artists in decades past. His pop style of Merengue and Bolero and Afro-pop/Latin fusion have garnered him considerable success outside the Dominican Republic. Juan Luis Guerra is sometimes associated with the popular Dominican music called Bachata, and while this association is partially true, he actually uses the basics of Bachata rhythm with a more Bolero feel to the melodies in some of his songs. He does not limit himself to one style of music, instead, he incorporates diverse rhythms like merengue, Bolero-Bachata, Balada, Salsa, Rock & Roll, and Gospel. "Ojalá que llueva café" is one of his most critically acclaimed self-written and composed pieces. A remix of "Llave De Mi Corazón" with Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas is also an example of his fusing of different genres.
From Wikipedia
