Love the dance, would want to like the music as well

[JC_Denton]

Hi Guys,

Been a salsa newbie for a while, definitely getting better though. I realized lately that as much as I love the look and the feel of salsa (,the dance), I can't say that I like (most of) salsa music that I end up listening to. For those that experience(d?) this, would you have any thoughts on whether this hindered your growth as a salsa dancer?

Thanks

 

[lolita]

Hi Denton,

I definitely feel you. I am not much into the music as well (not as much as others) and I started out because the dancers I saw were so effing sexy. However, it grows on you. When you get better at dancing, you'll start to visualize what you can do to certain songs, and some tunes will ignite a certain feeling that you'll have this nagging need to translate it into dancing.

My advice is, do not listen to much music just to force yourself to like it, but remember to ask people/djs for song ids when you come across one.

Don't sweat it. It will come.

 

[Salsa Bear]

Though I love salsa music in general, I hate most of the music they play in local clubs. They almost never play any of my favorites.

However, the pros say your taste changes as you become a better dancer and/or learn more about the music. Also, DJ's tend to play different music as the night wears on, catering more to beginners early in the evening, then ramping it up as the night wears on. So I may miss the best music, as I generally arrive and leave early.

I'm still getting a feel for the difference between classic salsa, romantic salsa, timba, etc.

 

[bailar y tocar]

I can't speak to your specific situation as to not liking the music but liking the dance. When I started out in the romantic salsa era of the 90's, I liked the dance but the music in the clubs was too lame to be an inspiration. It didn't have any impact on me because I had a more varied salsa music collection than djs were allowed to play in the clubs at the time. So my inspiration came from listening to good salsa music at home and dancing to boring salsa music in the clubs. My musical taste has evolved since then and the salsa played in clubs, dance studio socials and congresses has also evolved as well.

As you are based in the Bay area, you are one lucky guy. You can sample all styles of salsa dancing and all types of salsa music at different clubs, socials and congresses that cater to the different tastes. I believe it is one of a few cities anywhere where that is possible.

 

[Poppa-Stylez]

Good to hear i'm not the only one!

Being a newbie, i'm very picky with salsa music, as i come from an rnb/urban background. I find most of the stuff i'm hearing in clubs rather borring, but i've managed to find some cool stuff while exporing on the net. Only problem is, they never seem to play it in clubs!! Grrr. Hopefully the club tunes will grow on me soon, like the bachata ones did.

 

[sweavo]

My GF says sleep with a percussionist. Then you hear the percussion in everything.

Ahem.

The big problem that salsa music faces is that its pure form speaks a different language than most modern music. Without the kick drum and without heavy synth sounds, the modern ear doesn't know how to hook in to the music and feel it. If you turn your ear to the bells and the congas and how they interact with the piano, bass etc, then you can find the groove in salsa music. IMO this works better on 2 than on 1.

Read a bit about clave and listen to varied cuban music: son, danzon, changui, organo oriental, cha cha cha, guajira, reggaeton (bleurgh!), songo, timba (yikes), and puerto rican music: bomba, plena; and go on a rhythmic journey. Eventually your ear starts to catch details that you like and you start to get an emotional response to the music you hear in the club.

Music works by expectation and association, so just having a good time to some music can make that music more enjoyable next time you hear it. RnB works because it is more in the same ballpark as the music you hear on pop videos and in movies, whereas salsa music, if you only ever hear it in a stressful class situation, will not get the same associations.

 

[Smejmoon]

would you have any thoughts on whether this hindered your growth as a salsa dancer?

Yes. If there are no emotions, the motions I make is not a dance. Over time I've found quite a bit likeable salsa. It takes time to shift through heap of straws to find some flowers. Try to find a DJ in your area or internet that plays songs you like and explore from there.

No. My most influencial teacher was a musician himself and so I got started with the belief that good dance goes together with a good music. Most dancers I like dig music so I'm not alone.

 

[JC_Denton]

Thanks for replying to my post guys, glad to know I am not one of the only people here. For the most part, I have enjoyed cha cha, rumba, & samba, families of music very thoroughly. Just when it comes to salsa, something seems off (this is obviously an opinion on my end)

As you are based in the Bay area, you are one lucky guy. You can sample all styles of salsa dancing and all types of salsa music at different clubs, socials and congresses that cater to the different tastes. I believe it is one of a few cities anywhere where that is possible.

Yeah, it'll be a while before I think i can go to a club and say "hold my own" with most dancers there, but hey .

Good to hear i'm not the only one!
Being a newbie, i'm very picky with salsa music, as i come from an rnb/urban background. I find most of the stuff i'm hearing in clubs rather borring,

Yeah, I know what you mean!. I find it much easier to dance to rnb/urban background. Having very strong beats definitely helps.

Read a bit about clave and listen to varied cuban music: son, danzon, changui, organo oriental, cha cha cha, guajira, reggaeton (bleurgh!), songo, timba (yikes), and puerto rican music: bomba, plena; and go on a rhythmic journey. Eventually your ear starts to catch details that you like and you start to get an emotional response to the music you hear in the club.

That sounds like the way to go. I think hearing more salsa based music and thinking about it will create associations that might help me illicit an emotional response. So far, when I listen to salsa music, I am just struggling to find the beat. Even while dancing, its mostly making sure that I keep to beat. Forget musicality for the moment.

Yes. If there are no emotions, the motions I make is not a dance.

I completely agree. That is an excellent point, I can't really feel salsa music leaving an impression on me. I'd have a much easier time feeling other families music (like, cha cha, rumba, samba, etc).

If any of you guys have suggestions on particular salsa artists, or even specific songs that would recommend, i'd be very happy to hear.

 

[Salsa Bear]

If any of you guys have suggestions on particular salsa artists, or even specific songs that would recommend, i'd be very happy to hear.

I just recently discovered classic salsa and LOVE some of the songs by Hector Lavoe (particularly "El Cantante") and Ruben Blades. I think Blades' songs, in particular, often focus on political themes and may not be "designed" for dancing. On the other hand, I find them very powerful and moving compared to some of the more shallow modern salsa, which has lost its roots.

I think this video speaks volumes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFuiVl0W8uY

I believe "Vivir Lo Nuestro" is widely credited with helping launch the romantic salsa style, and it's another of my favorites. Orquesta La Palabra's salsafied version of "Lady" is another popular favorite, and I also like "Y Yo Va" (both the rap and non-rap version).

I love salsa with blaring brass, like "Black Mambo" (MamboKats) and "Descarga de Hoy" (Cubanismo!).

Aicha (Africando), with its French West African influence, is really cool, as is Tanta Saudade (Sambatuque), a "Brazilian salsa" song recorded by a local (Seattle) band.

I just recently discovered Bio Ritmo and love some of their songs, especially "Bin Bin" and "Bionic Boogaloo."

"En Mi Puerterro" is a popular example of salsaton - a fusion of salsa and reggae.

But I'm rambling. There are many lists of "favorite" and "top" salsa songs online.

 

[chrisk]

If any of you guys have suggestions on particular salsa artists, or even specific songs that would recommend, i'd be very happy
to hear.

I think I might have written it before, but not sure: Feel free to start a new thread in 'Salsa Music' for getting music suggestion either based on songs that you already enjoy or based on some genres that you like to get accustomed to.

 

[timberamayor]

Hi Guys,
Been a salsa newbie for a while, definitely getting better though. I realized lately that as much as I love the look and the feel of salsa (,the dance), I can't say that I like (most of) salsa music that I end up listening to.

When I started dancing I didn't speak Spanish and I couldn't tell salsa from merengue from bachata from cumbia. It all sounded the same to me. It was at the end of the 90s and in Stockholm the clubs played music from everywhere, so it was a mix of salsa romantica, NY, PR, Colombia and Cuba. I bought a couple of March Anthony and Victor Manuelle CDs to listen to to "study" but to me it was just music for dancing to, not something you'd actually choose to listen to at home or on the radio.

But once I got used to it it started seeming more like "normal" music and I eventually discovered that the songs that drove me crazy were pretty much all from Cuba. I know that the majority of salseros seem to have an aversion to Cuban salsa (timba) but timba is IMO a more modern salsa. Nearly all timba groups have a kick drum, and most use both timbales, congas and a full drum kit as well as possibly having bongos. So you get your kick drum right there.

Timba like salsa is based on son or guaracha for the most part and mixed with jazz and possibly afro-cuban rumba. But the Cuban groups were also very heavily influenced by funk and you hear that both in the percussion and the horn riffs (mambos). They have balanced that out by using concepts form afro-cuban music such as the use of the batá drums that are reflected in the role of the bass, for example. Also Cuban piano tends to be exciting with piano hooks that catch the dancers and distinguish one song from another within a split second. Many songs also have what we refer to as "gear changes" in the rhythm section where the dancers switch to despelote and tembleque. There is a lot going on in a single timba song.

So you might give some Cuban music a try. No guarantee you will love it like I do, but it is different from the salsa you are hearing at the clubs and you might just like it. I guess I will make a different thread for suggestions for Cuban music that people can try out.

For those that experience(d?) this, would you have any thoughts on whether this hindered your growth as a salsa dancer?

I think it's possible to learn tons of moves without really liking the music, but the whole musicality thing comes from being able to "feel and interpret" the music, so I think your dancing would probably benefit from finding some music you like. My whole reason for dancing now is the music, not the moves or the perceived "sexiness". I now listen almost exclusively to salsa (timba) and I have even learned to speak Spanish so I can sing a long. But then I'm a bit obsessive Ahem, ok, very obsessive.

 

[JC_Denton]

Thanks for your suggestion guys. I am already on it, hunting me some salsa music.

I think it's possible to learn tons of moves without really liking the music, but the whole musicality thing comes from being able to "feel and interpret" the music, so I think your dancing would probably benefit from finding some music you like.

Absolutely. I am in that rut, learning a bunch of mechanical moves, unable to overlay musicality on top of it.

I think I might have written it before, but not sure: Feel free to start a new thread in 'Salsa Music' for getting music suggestion either based on songs that you already enjoy or based on some genres that you like to get accustomed to.

Will do.

@Salsa bear

Thanks for those particular suggestions and the youtube link. I will soon add those to my collection