Dominican Republic Trip

Bachata, also called “music of bitterness” due to its high passion content; it is a rhythm born in Dominican Republic and it has been part of Dominican people for decades, especially in towns and rural areas. At the end of the 80s this rhythm began to expand in order to reach the top of success and popularity.

Batacha emerges from a mixture of son and Cuban bolero; it’s enjoyed by popular mass.  The main instrument of this spirited and contagious rhythm is the guitar along with the marimba and maracas. Bachata genre has been supported by composers and singers who have been responsible of taking this genre to its maximum level of expression. At the beginning, Bachata was discriminated and considered low class music but nowadays it has a privileged place in Dominican Culture.

Bachata also has a particular way of dancing which consists of a feet and heaps movement with a swing or “tumbao” that has three times and little steps. Batacha choreography looks spectacular and it has been on the best stages of the world like in the awards Premios Lo Nuestro.

There have been many dedicated and selfless artists who have sang and composed for this genre; the most famous of them:: Jose Manuel Caldero, considered the father of bachata, Luis Segura (el añoñaito), Antony Santos, Yoskar Sarante, Luis Vargas, Zacarías Ferreira, Juan Luis Guerra who gave it a very particular touch in his album “Bachata Rosa”, Frank Reyes with his most recent exit “Princesa”, Joe Veras, Hector Acosta (el torito) among others of equal quality up to reaching the internationalisation of this genre with Grupo Aventura and Monchy & Alexandra.

Bachata is present in most of dominican social and cultural activities in clubs and discos in the entire country.  It is undoubtedly a rythm that has changed a lot but it always preserves its essence.  Bachata productions are available in all musical stores in the country and abroad; it’s just a matter of asking for the favorite bachata Singer and enjoy it.

Listening to Bachata is something that most be done at least once in life; these lyrics express pain, love and suffering turned into songs; for all dominicans residing abroad it breaks their heart at listening to one of these songs they have not listened to for a long time, like the Antony Santos’ song called Voy pa’ ya…