Puerto Rico y La Música
Nina Chehab
Introduction
This slideshow aims to explore Puerto Rican history and culture through the lens of music! The following presentation is split into 6 parts:
1: A Glimpse of Puerto Rico’s History…
1: Puerto Rican History (Continued)
1: Puerto Rican History (Continued)
2: Musical History in Puerto Rico
2: Musical History in Puerto Rico, Salsa
2: Musical History in Puerto Rico, Merengue
2: Musical History in Puerto Rico, Bomba
2: Musical History in Puerto Rico, Plena
2: Musical History in Puerto Rico, Reggaeton
2: Musical History in Puerto Rico, Latin Jazz
3: Q&A with Daisy Lopez
3: Q&A With Daisy Lopez
Q: What was your favorite kind of Puerto Rican music growing up?
A: My favorite type of music was always Puerto Rican salsa growing up. I grew up in a household where money was very tight, but the one thing we could always count on was music to be there for us at the end of the day. So, my siblings and I always loved listening to something we could dance to.
Q: What was your favorite artist growing up?�A: I loved Willie Chirino, who was a Cuban artist, and Hector Lavoe a lot. Hector’s music was very popular in the 70s and 80s. He sang salsa songs and I particularly liked “El Malo”.
3: Q&A with Daisy Lopez
Q: What do you like about Puerto Rican music? �A: Apart from the fact it brings everyone together, I also really like how upbeat it is. A lot of Puerto Rican artists use music to talk about heavy topics relating to the island, but I love how even though the message can sometimes be sad to see, it is performed in a manner that can make everyone dance and feel happy.
Q: Why is Puerto Rican music so important to the culture in your opinion?
A: Puerto Rico is all about the music. Its history is never talked about in the United States, but our music is how we keep the legacy alive. Everywhere you go there, there’s music playing. It’s what brings everyone together, of all ages. In PR, everything is about music. We are born dancing and listening to our music The rhythm is born with us, it’s in our blood! I remember seeing my grandma making delicious food and dancing while cooking. The radio was turned on since the moment you woke up. We cleaned with the music in the background and danced with the mop. I guess it made things better. There’s no moment in a Puerto Rican person without music! Salsa, it’s as romantic and passionate as our culture.
4: Bad Bunny
4: Bad Bunny’s Influence
“They killed Alexa, not an man in a skirt.”
5: Song Lyric Analysis
Yo no me quiero ir de aquí/
No me quiero ir de aquí/
Que se vayan ellos
Puerto Rico está bien cabrón, ey
Está bien cabrón
De Carolina salió el reggaetón
I don’t want to leave here,
I don’t want to leave here,
They should leave
Puerto Rico is really awesome,
Really awesome,
From Carolina came reggaeton
5: Song Lyric Analysis
Y los hijo' de puta de Bayamón (tú sabe)
Ey, ey
Quiere montarse en la ola y no han ido a Rincón
Un besito pa' abuela en el balcón
And the sons of b****** from Bayamón (you know),
Want to hop on the wave and they haven’t been to Rincón
A kiss for grandma on the balcony
5: Song Lyric Analysis
6: Concluding Remarks
Sources and Further Reading