Three (3) reasons to increase our knowledge of Latin Music

The culture of Latin-American countries is very rich. Our music, food, and social customs make us unique as an ethnic group in general.

Music plays a huge part of our Hispanic culture. The music we listen, share, and dance to makes the centerpiece of many of our social gatherings. When I invite friends to my home, music plays a main role on creating the atmosphere for the occasion. The playlist can go from Salsa, Mariachi, Latin pop, and Vallenato., I may switch to the more mellow Latin sound like Bachata, Charlie Zac  and Ricardo Arjona.  we may feel like dancing or singing along to Reggaeton, Cumbia, and Rock in Spanish. In our culture, the music sets the stage for the gathering, or you use the music to set the ambiance you want for the occasion. Either case, music tends to serve as the center piece that to bring us together.

Music is one of our main ways to express our culture. Here is the definition of “culture” by the Merriam-Webster dictionary:Culture – a): the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations; b): the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time

We are in a Digital Age, where we can take our music practically anywhere. I can easily fit my entire playlist in my iPhone. Or even stream it thru Spotify.  We have the ability to share our Music with our friends and family. Per Merriam- Webster’s definition of culture, we should have the “capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations”. The question is, can we explain the story behind the music we are sharing?

So, here are my three reasons that drives me to know more about Latin Music are to: a) learn more about our culture, b) enjoy more our music, and c) share by passing the knowledge.

1. Learn: in order to pass along our musical culture and keep it alive, we need to learn more about it. The Mexican Ranchera was used to tell stories during the old civil war times, you can understand what was behind those old songs, and its easy to pass on that knowledge.

2. Enjoy: by knowing the story behind the music, you will enjoy the music in a different way. When you know that Prince Royce’s  “Corazon Sin Cara” is based On woman who suffered from depression, you listen to it differently. Or when you can recognize that a “salsa” song by Willie Colón could contain Puerto Rican rhythms, you appreciate his work and creativity a bit more than when you just thought of it as a simple “salsa”. You can also learn to appreciate and even love music genres from other countries, which you may not have paid much attention in the past. I leaned to love vallenato through my Colombian friends.

3. Share: once you know the story behind the music, others will appreciate the music and the story behind it as well.  The songs will have more meaning.