Bachata Music Guide: Notable Bachata Artists and Tracks

Bachata music is a genre of Latin music that originated in the Dominican Republic. From a rhythmic standpoint, the music is a variation on the slow-tempo bolero sound, though bachateros, or bachatera musicians, fold many different musical styles into bachata songs, including merengue. Bachata music is typified by a slow, sensual beat, romantic or bittersweet lyrics, and instrumentation anchored by either acoustic or electric guitar. A Latin dance style, known as bachata dance, similar to the Cuban bolero, is frequently performed to bachata songs.

Traditional bachata music, which emerged in the mid-twentieth century, is frequently compared to American blues music, both from a musical and social standpoint. Like the blues, bachata often focuses on heartbreak and lost love: bachata was initially known as “amargue,” which means “to make bitter.” Bachata eventually became a fixture of modern Latin dance charts and dance floors across the Caribbean, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Today, bachata has absorbed the influence of different Latin and Western music styles, from R&B and pop to techno and hip-hop, each of which has increased its tempo and expanded its sound. As a result, there are many different styles of bachata dance, from the basic steps of traditional Dominican bachata to Western or original bachata, bachata moderna (modern bachata), and even a tango hybrid called bachatango.

The history of bachata music begins in the early 1960s when the death of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo in 1961 lifted decades of hardship and censorship.

• Beginnings: Singer José Manuel Calderón recorded the first-ever bachata songs, “Borracho de amor” and “Que será de mi (Condena),” in 1962. The singles, which skewed closely in sound to bolero, opened the floodgates to other bachata artists and helped launch the Dominican music industry.
• Existing on the fringe: However, its rustic sound and emotional lyrics earned bachata the enmity of the Dominican Republic’s monied classes, which regarded bachata music and dancing bachata as vulgar and lust-driven. Bachateros found no support from mainstream music venues or radio stations but were embraced by working-class neighborhoods and clubs. This environment influenced the lyrical tone of bachata music, which featured themes of lust, crimes of passion, and despair; this, in turn, made the genre more popular with listeners and made stars of such performers as Leonardo Paniagua.
• The addition of electric guitars: The 1980s saw bachata artist adapt their sound to increase the genre’s popularity with a growing musical audience. The electric guitar replaced the requinto, or lead acoustic guitar, as the driving force behind many songs. The lyrics turned to more romantic topics, and tempos grew faster and closer to merengue. A cadre of rising stars, including Luis Vargas, Anthony Santos, and Juan Luis Guerra, whose 1992 album Bachata Rosa brought the genre a Grammy, gave bachata and Dominican popular music worldwide exposure.
• Mainstream success: Bachata’s stratospheric ascent in Latin music and culture continued unabated in the twenty-first century when acts like Aventura played Madison Square Garden, and Monchy y Alexandra scored huge chart hits.
• Adapting to the times: Bachata also continued to adapt to changing tastes by folding elements of Western-based Latin music, like reggaeton and hip-hop, into its core sound; former Aventura frontman Romeo Santos enjoyed success in both the US and other English-language countries with this fusion format. US hitmakers were also drawn to bachata, as evidenced by New York-based Prince Royce’s collaborations with Marc Anthony (“Adicto”) and Shakira (“Deja Vu”), and songs by Romeo Santos with Usher (“Promise”), and Enrique Iglesias (“Loco”).

There are several defining characteristics. Among them are:

1. 1. Bolero sound: The bolero’s slow tempo and romantic tone defined the sound of early bachata; many first-wave bachata songs were remakes of classic bolero or valses (waltzes). Instrumentation was also closer to what was heard on bolero, including strings, brass, and piano. As the form developed, musicians added other sounds to the basic bolero format.
2. 2. Five-piece grupo: For decades, bachata groups were anchored by five musicians: lead guitar, or requinto; rhythm guitar, or segundo; bass guitar; and percussion, which is frequently bongos or tambora with guira or maracas. Like the music itself, the instrumentation has changed over time, including the adoption of electric guitars and synthesizers.
3. 3. Lyrics: Romance is the primary focus of bachata song lyrics, though, like the music itself, the exact approach has changed over time. Early bachata lyrics concerned loss and heartbreak, like José Manuel Calderón’s “Borracho de amor,” but more adult themes rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. Song lyrics built on sexual double entendres—known as “doble sentido”—became popular during this midpoint. Eventually, bachata returned to the subject of love, albeit with a more positive and enthusiastic focus.

There are many notable bachata artists in the genre’s long history, including:

1. 1. Aventura: Bachata supergroup Aventura is credited with helping to create the modern bachata sound. The group—composed of Anthony “Romeo” Santos, cousin Henry Santos, and friends Lenny and Max Santos (and briefly, future solo bachata star Toby Love)—added elements of funk, R&B, Spanish and English vocals, and boy band pop to the bachata mix; the result was such global hits as their 2002 single “Obsesión” (with Judy Santos).
2. 2. Frank Reyes: Two-time Latin Grammy nominee Frank Reyes, the self-appointed “prince of bachata,” enjoyed a slew of hits on the US Latin and Tropical Airplay charts with such romantic singles as “Noche de Pasión,” the title track from his 2014 album. In 2019, he teamed with fellow bachata veterans Raulin Rodriguez and Zacarias Ferreira, among others, for Romeo Santos’s hit LP Utopia.
3. 3. Hector Acosta: The former lead singer for the bachata act Los Toros Band, Acosta’s solo career has netted three number-one singles on the US Tropical chart, including 2014’s “Tu Veneno” (“Your Poison).” His 2010 album Obligame received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Tropical Album.
4. 4. Romeo Santos: Since departing Aventura in 2011, Romeo Santos has enjoyed remarkable success as a solo bachata artist, including seven number-one singles on the US Latin charts. Santos performed three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, which was recorded for his 2012 live album The King Stays King. Santos has also branched into acting with roles in the 2015 film Furious 7, among others.

There have been many notable bachata songs over the past half-century, including:

1. 1. “La Mejor Versión de Mi,” Natti Natasha: This stirring track by singer Natti Natasha featured on her 2019 Top 5 Latin album, illumiNati, documents the emotional turmoil of domestic abuse. Romeo Santos joined Natasha for a remix released that same year.
2. 2. “Me Emborrachare,” Grupo Extra: The Swiss-based five-piece Grupo Extra makes “urban electronic bachata,” which leans closer to pop music than traditional bachata. The exuberant 2017 single “Me Emborrachare” typifies their approach.
3. 3. “Propuesta Indecente,” Romeo Santos: In 2016, Santos became the second Latin artist to achieve one billion views on YouTube with the music video for this steamy single. It also topped the US Latin, and Tropical charts. Other notable hits by Santos include “Eres Mia.”
4. 4. “Te Extrano,” Xtreme: The Stateside duo Xtreme’s history on the charts began with this Top 20 single from their self-titled 2005 album. The song, which fuses bachata with classic R&B, led to a string of Top 10 hits, including “Shorty, Shorty” in 2007 and “Eres Mi Todo” in 2012.

The difference between bachata music and salsa music—as well as the difference between bachata dancing and salsa dancing—is tempo. Though both are in 4/4 rhythm, salsa has a faster beat, while bachata has a slower, more romantic sound. Bachata’s primary instrument is a guitar or guitar line played on a synthesizer, while brass provides the fuel for many salsa songs.

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