Bachata history by © Anna Leszczynska

Bachata is a popular music style and dance from the Dominican Republic. Although developed mostly in last forty years it gained international popularity. Nowadays, Bachata is well known not simply in the Caribbean but becomes more and more popular dance and music style in many countries. To understand its phenomenon it is necessary to introduce historical background and social group of origin that bachata arose from. Interestingly enough, bachata was not popular in Santo Domingo until 1990s. Although it appeared in early 1960s almost thirty years it existed among local groups without any significant commercial successes.

Contemporary bachata emerged from guitar music tradition that was at that time often accompanied by percussion instruments, for example maracas, clave, and guira. Moreover, at the beginning bachata songs were recognized as romantic, sentimental melodies similar to Cuban bolero. That source of music was primarily associated with the countryside and known as the "campo" music. Nevertheless, at first people who played bachata were close friends or neighbours, who gathered after work and just played for fun. That is how the sense of the word "bachata" appeared, meaning cheerfulness and referred to meetings that included music and drinks. Nonetheless, in the Dominican Republic the word gained other meaning as well. It used to be associated with the lower-class. First of all, such parties took place in the rural areas among workers who partied often and loudly. People gathered after work and met with their families and friends, very often by drinks, food and played guitar music known as bachata. Some years later, however the word gained other associations as well.

60’s

After the dictator Trujillo’s death in 1961 changes in social and economic situation, especially increasing poverty, made people to migrate. Many Dominicans moved from the countryside to larger towns and cities and had to face abandonment, exploitation and deep social disorder. Even though merengue used to be popular in rural areas as well, it was not quite proper in the new circumstances. Cheerfulness of merengue did not reflect social situation of the society after the end of Trujillo’s dictatorship. People living often without electricity and water did not enjoy jaunty merengue sounds. On the contrary, Bachata in the 1960s and 1970s allowed combining elements of rural culture with the possibility to attach values in the lyrical part. Guitars, bongo and maraca which were typical for the countryside musical sources were easily accessible for peasants. In fact everyone who was able to purchase guitar could perform bachatas and consequently was able to articulate his emotions through song lyrics.

In the 1960s guitar music in the Caribbean was associated with night life, and as such also with brothels. Drinking and prostitution used to be therefore linked by many with bachata. As a result for some time period it was publicly concerned as kind of music for soldiers or mostly male audience of so called "cabaret". It became the black sheep of the Dominican music. Consequently it began to reflect its environment. Therefore the new generation of bachateros (performers of bachata) used to devote their songs to love, fights, jealousy and topics generally connected with night-life activities. Previously lyrical bachatas have been rejected by the upper-classes because of its rural roots. It has been considered as vulgar and low quality music. Performers, as well as their audience used to be named "bachateros" and in that particular time, use of that term was derogatory. Therefore, its associations with cabaret increased upper-class condemnation for such music. Worsening living conditions reflected in songs underlined social problems such as drinking, women disparagement, violence and illicit sex what made them extremely popular among poorest citizens.

80’s

In late 1970s and in the beginning of 1980s "Bachata de doble sentido" appeared from the very popular "cabaret bachata" style. Doble sentido meant way of substituting words that they would sound similarly to others using rhymes that let the listener have impression that the next word that will follow will definitely be some curse or anything devoted to sex. Additionally doble sentido songs included verses made of words which connected (put one after another) changed their meaning into ones with sexual connotations. Appearance of "doble sentido" caused another series of criticism and at the same time has made bachata extremely popular. First significant commercial success of bachata was "consejo a las mujeres" by Blas Duran. This song was so extremely popular for several reasons. First of all Blas Duran introduced new sound it bachata ensemble. Use of electric guitar modified that genre forever. Moreover, that was the first song that was not recorded live. Instead, it was recorded on multiple tracks what influenced the audience and made it a commercial success.

90’s

In 1990s was the time of particular changes in music itself. Common use of electric guitar became first notable modification. Furthermore many middle class Dominican musician became interested in bachata recordings and performances and mark their personal aesthetics on the music which was previously considered underclass genre. Therefore also social perception of this music style changed and was no longer defined as entertainment for lower classes. Even though its ensemble was modified by introducing new instruments, bachata’s characteristic features such as guitar - led ensemble accompanied by guira rhythms remained unchanged. New wave of artists have transformed bachata aesthetics in the late 1980s and 1990s and at the same time originated its international popularity. "Tecno-bachateros" as they are recognized, enriched standard sound with synthesizers and established advanced arrangements. Even though the music stylistic had changed significantly, characteristic features of Dominican sound remained and therefore it is still known as bachata. Among one of the most prominent bachateros it is necessary to mention Juan Louis Guerra who gained international fame and received in 1992 the Grammy Award for the album "Bachata Rosa".

Another reason for its particular popularity may be the fact that guitar-based music is familiar for the audience in many countries all over the world. Additionally, bachata’s future is secure by the young generation of artists who are looking foreword to improve it and experiment with it. Spanish-speaking artists from many different countries began to perform bachatas and introduced them to wider audience, for example Mana with his guitar ballad and also great bachata hit "Bendita tu Luz". Nowadays, one of the most recognized and famous young bachata artists is "Aventura". Innovations made by Aventura musicians can be noticed i.e. in the vocals which seem highly influenced by R&B music. Introduction of sounds effects from rock guitar genre along with R&B-style female vocal application in the song "Obsesion" made it huge international success.

Popularity of bachata in the last decade may be caused by several reasons. Perhaps, R&B influences made it more attractive for young audience. Additionally, the way new bachata artists perform often reflect the impact of the mass hip-hop culture. Moreover, contemporary performers are not limited by economic circumstances as they used to be in the past. They are not limited by language differences or access to American music industry what helps to promote their music. Some, like Toby Love (former Aventura group member) sing his songs as well in Spanish as in English and combines very often bachata rhythms with R&B way of singing and performance what makes him extremely attractive to and popular among young audience worldwide. The way bachata developed during last forty years is a great example of how music may reflect its time. At the beginning, socially condemned it expressed values and everyday life of the poorest part of the society living in the countryside where bachata emerged from. As the social situation changed and people were made to migrate, it expressed social injustice, poverty and consequently social problems such as inebriety or prostitution. Its development let it finally to present form of combining traditional guitar - based Dominican sound with modern R&B style makes it more and more popular and probably this process will strengthen in the next years because of growing popularity of both Rhythm and Blues and Latin sounds.

References

  • Deborah Pacini Hernandez, Bachata: A Social History of a Dominican Popular Music. Temple University Press, 1995.
  • David Wayne, The History of Bachata. Available at: www.iasorecords.com/bachata.cfm
  • Rafael Falcon, Christine Yoder Falcon, Salsa: A Taste of Hispanic Culture. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998.
  • Isabel Zakrzewski Brown, Culture and Customs of the Dominican Republic. Greenwood Press, London, 1999.
  • Daniel Balderstone, Mike Gonzalez, Ana M. Lopez, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures. Routlegde, London, 2000.
  • Richard Nidel, World Music: The Basics. Routledge, New York, 2005.
  • Figueroa, Frank M. The infectious merengue.(history and influences of merengue music and dance), Latin Beat Magazine, February 1 2005.
  • Webpage: www.wikipedia.org