Salsa Styles In Latin American Music

For centuries, song and dance have been a vital part in creating and expressing a community’s sense of identity. Through each, members are able to pass on traditions, make political statements, and express themselves. The tango and salsa styles of music and dance are prime examples of mobilities in Latin American music that help foster a sense of identity among the smaller communities, although each required international attention before earning recognition from its home country. Each style of music is a special hybrid of all kinds of influences, demonstrating a deep history that can also give some insight to the social outlook of the times. Despite the time gap between the emergence of the two styles (tango first appearing in the early 19th century while salsa came into the scene around the 1970s), both styles have contributed a significant impact in establishing a sense of identity among Latin American music.
The tango is a form of popular dance music originating from urban areas of Argentina. Its lyrics strongly romanticize a sense of loss, singing of misery, pain, unsuccessful love, and the …show more content…
Leading up to salsa, boogaloo took precedence and even earlier larger Latin bands dominated the stage. Salsa reflects the adventurous lifestyle and need for new that consumed the 1970s and 80s. Initially, the salsa was practically monopolized by the record company, Fania Records. Much of the Cuban sound can be traced back to the record company recording Cuban songs to avoid paying royalties and taking advantage of the embargo. However, since Fania Records was so vital to the salsa sound, their style of recording became a hallmark for the genre. Eventually, salsa began to spread out across the US and gained a strong foothold in the West Coast, especially Cali. The rising popularity spurred more and more dancing audiences, until the salsa established international