My first time going to see an artist live was at a baile, which is a concert and a dance where they typically play regional Mexican music. It’s one thing to listen to the songs on Spotify — but it was entirely different getting to see the grupos, or groups, perform live. Hearing the sound of the instruments, the trumpets, the guitars, and the singer’s vocals sounding exactly the same live, all while being able to dance… it was a sick first concert.
Call me biased, but as someone that speaks Spanish and English fluently, I think more people should listen to Latin music. In recent years, Latin music has been becoming more and more integrated in the mainstream media with trending Tik Tok audios and your favorite American artists collaborating with Latin artists.
Don’t get me wrong. I listen to music in English all the time too. As much as I love listening to The Weeknd or Lana Del Rey when I’m down in the dumps, there are just some moments that are better captured by Natalia Loufourcade or Caifanes.
As a first-generation American, I was raised speaking both Spanish and English. For the longest time, I felt the need to rebel against my mom’s Latin music and solely listened to music in English. Over time, I finally gave in and allowed myself to listen to Maná, which is one of my mom’s all time favorite Llatin rock bands. I fell in love with the music and came to realize that Latin music is so deeply rooted in my life.
With every song I listen to, there is always a memory, a feeling, just something that reminds me of good times. “De Música Ligera” by Soda Stereo reminds me of walking into the kitchen on Saturday mornings to my mom cleaning while she waited for something to cook on the stove. “Cumbia Sobre El Rio” by Celso Piña reminds me of my first time walking down the streets in Mexico City, navigating through the crowd in a busy tianguis. “Rompe” by Daddy Yankee reminds me of running errands with my aunt while she babysat me on Sundays.
There’s something so lively about Latin music, something that is just able to bring you joy and put a positive mood in the air. Even if you don’t understand what the song is saying, you have to admit that you can never go wrong with playing some Bad Bunny or Pitbull songs.
Before anyone says it, I get that reggaeton might not be for everyone. Some people prefer indie over pop music, and there’s plenty of that in Latin music. Not all music in Spanish fits under one category — under one genre. There are countless genres that you could choose from. Personally, I love rock in Espanol as much as I love Mexican corridos or South American reggaeton.
So give Latin music a chance. I mean, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S. Even if you don’t understand the lyrics I promise it’ll be a great way to expand your knowledge and get to learn about different cultures. Who knows, maybe you’ll even love it as much as I do.
Tiffany Marquez Escobar is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at marqueze25@up.edu.
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