Once our Beginner students have got to grips with the basics, like which is their left foot and which their right, the difference between forwards and backwards and so on, then we often find that they want to get hold of some music to practise to.This begs the questions, where can I buy some Salsa music and what the heck is Salsa music anyway?This section provides our own thoughts on the subject and some recommendations.
Salsa Music
Salsa dancing developed as a blend of a number of different styles of Latin dance, hence the name, “sauce” in Spanish.Not surprisingly, there are also a number of different styles of music including Hard Salsa, Romantica Salsa, Modern Salsa, Fusion Salsa with a hip-hop or R&B flavour and more.Most Salsa is in Spanish of course, but there is some in English.There is also music which isn’t Salsa at all, but is fun to dance Salsa to, including whole musical genres, such as Reggaeton.At Salsa Locura, we also like to have a smattering of tracks suitable for other forms of Latin dance such as Merengue, Bachata and Cha Cha Cha, which adds a little further variety.
You will occasionally come across people with very firm views on Salsa music, perhaps feeling that only Hard Salsa is proper Salsa, or that Salsa music must be in Spanish.There may be something in that, but it does seem rather limiting.To us, sticking to just one style of Salsa music is a bit like sticking to just one style of food, or always having sex in the same position.It’s a matter of personal choice, but we prefer to experiment and pick what we like from everything that’s available, rather than stick to just one style.We also realise that just because we like it, it doesn’t mean that everyone will, so we try to play a variety of different styles.
Having said that we have no strong preference, we find that some types of music are more suitable for Beginners than others.As a Beginner, first and foremost you want something that isn’t too fast.It’s useful if there is a strong beat, so that you can concentrate on your dancing and not the timing of the music. Tracks in English can be easier to relate to for English speakers, so we also find that some Beginners have a preference for them.We try to play music in our classes that is easy for Beginners and Improvers to dance and learn to, regardless of whether or not it is “true” Salsa.
Hearing the Beat
It’s not unusual for Beginners to have a little difficulty picking up the beat of the music, particularly distinguishing the 1 beat from the 5.Why is that?Well, we have a theory.
A lot of people listen to music but let’s be honest, most of us listen to it superficially.We sing along to the words, hum along to the melody or tap out the beat.We don’t sit there counting out the beat.Basic Salsa dancing is taught against a beat but, as we’ve never paid much attention to it before, we find that we’re not much good at picking it up.People who have a serious interest in music, musicians and experienced dancers for example, are used to breaking the music down and do so automatically without even being conscious that they’re doing it.They look at the rest of us and wonder why our lips are moving!
So as a Beginner starting out dancing Salsa, what do you do about it?Well, first of all, at Salsa Locura we will try to play music at our Beginner classes that makes it easy for you.Secondly, practise!Try counting out the beat when you’re listening to music, bearing in mind that it’s actually not that difficult, it’s just that you haven’t tried it before.You will probably learn most quickly if you listen to Salsa music, but any music is better than none.With enough practice and a little natural ability, you may even reach the unconscious level and be able to stop counting the beat out in your head.Don’t expect it to happen overnight though.
Buying Music
The selection of Salsa music in most UK music stores is poor to non-existent.If it’s there, it’s likely to be in the World Music or if you’re really lucky, the Latin Music, section.You may also find individual artists in the hip hop, R&B or popular music sections, particularly if the music is “not quite Salsa”.For a greater selection, use the Internet – www.amazon.co.uk is good and you will find a specialist Salsa web site, with music recommendations, at www.salsafever.co.uk.Finally, if you’re lucky enough to visit the USA, don’t waste the opportunity.Stores such as CircuitCity and Borders often have extensive collections and at Borders, they usually have headphones that you can use to listen to samples from the album.
The easiest way to buy a variety of Salsa music in one hit is to buy a compilation CD.Unfortunately, compilations can be very hit and miss and a number that claim to be Salsa music don’t have a single Salsa track on them.Alternatively, they contain the sort of “popular” Salsa music that any self-respecting Salsa DJ would not be seen dead playing – look out for tracks like Mambo No. 5, Guaglione (Guinness advert) and Johnny’s Mambo in this category.Having said that, Mambo No. 5 is actually not a bad track for Beginners' practice.
Ideally, listen to a compilation, or in fact any album, before buying it.If you can’t listen to it properly, websites like www.amazon.co.uk will often have 30 second samples for some or all of the tracks on an album, which at least gives a flavour. If you're at a dance or class, ask the DJ for the titles and artists for tracks you like, but don’t ask them to make copies, as that is illegal.If none of that is possible, look for Salsa “names” on the album.If you don’t know any Salsa “names” then I’m afraid you’re down to pot luck!We’ve bought some real turkeys on pot luck, particularly in the early days, but we’ve also picked up a few really good albums.Bear in mind that most Salsa DJs are pleased with two or three good dance tracks on an album, so don’t expect too much.
The modern way to buy music is, of course, as downloads over the internet. We joined Napster recently, with mixed results. There was plenty of Salsa and related music available, but we already had some of it and a lot of it wasn't really what we were after. A lot of music we would have liked, wasn't there. After a lot of searching, we bought about 2 and a half hours worth of music, which may not sound like very much, but is actually a fair return given the earlier comments about most CDs only having two or three decent tracks. Our view is that it's well worth a try if you have the time available to do some searching, particularly if you don't have much of a collection to begin with. Oh, and if anyone knows any good sites for downloading Salsa music, please let us know!
Recommendations
We have a modest collection of Salsa music, more than enough to keep a party going all night, but not nearly as much as a serious Salsa DJ.Here are a few recommendations from our collection, a collection which is biased towards music suitable for Beginners and Improvers.
Lo Essenciel (DLG)
An excellent “Greatest Hits” album.There are a couple of club Merengue tracks, but it’s basically good quality Salsa with sections of rap that give a modern feel to it.The speed of the tracks varies from quite slow to pretty quick. Recommended.
Inglaterra (Alex Wilson)
Alex Wilson is a highly regarded jazz musician, who also has a thing for Latin rhythms.Albums prior to Inglaterra are either jazz or a Latin/jazz fusion (e.g R&B Latino), but this album is basically Salsa.Includes the very popular “Show Me”, plus the re-mixed Reggaeton version and a couple of other decent Salsa tracks.Not a bad buy at all.
Antidiotico (Orishas) Also El Kilo, Emigrante and A Lo Cubano
Orishas are a Cuban hip-hop band, based in France and this music is basically Latin hip-hop.Antidiotico is a “Best of” album and includes most of our favourite tracks.Of the other albums, there is more in the way of Salsa rhythms on the A Lo Cubano album than the later ones, but there are a number of tracks on each album that you can dance Salsa to.We love this music and only wish that mainstream hip-hop had anything like the same quality to it.
Tocame (Cubanito 20.02)
Also Soy Cubanito and the new one
La Formula
More Cuban Reggaeton/hip-hop, with a little more of a party feel than Orishas.You won’t find any Salsa rhythms, but the Reggaeton and hip-hop beats are fine for Salsa and the timing is easy to pick up.Unusually for Reggaeton, there are three slower tracks on Tocame which are fine for Beginners.
Street Signs (Ozomatli) Also Embrace the Chaos We don’t think much of Don’t Mess with the Dragon
Ozomatli are an LA based band.Their music is difficult to describe and varies from track to track, but there are elements of hip-hop, R&B, rock and some of the clearest Salsa rhythms you will hear anywhere.Tracks are a mixture of Spanish and English and none the worse for that.Check out the title track on the Street Signs album, which is hip-hop over a strong Salsa rhythm.The album also includes “Como Me Duele”, a slow track with a clear Salsa clave rhythm which is a Salsa Locura Beginners’ favourite.
The Very Best of Salsa
A two CD set, one Classic Disc and one Modern Disc.The music is genuine Salsa and there are some decent tracks on both albums, including the Yuri Buenaventura track “Salsa”, which is a regular play in Salsa clubs.It also has the advantage that you have a reasonable chance of getting hold of it in a high street music store.On the down side, most tracks are medium or fairly fast speed and Beginners may find themselves struggling to find more than a couple of tracks slow enough to practise to.
Salsa!
There's more than one CD with this title - ours has "Satisfaction" as the first track.Genuine Salsa music and unlike “The Very Best of Salsa”, quite a few slower tracks.Again, a reasonable chance of finding this in a high street music store.
Carnaval Internacional de la Salsa (3CD box set)
Unfortunately, only seems to be available in the USA, but if you can somehow get hold of a copy do so, as it’s very good value.It’s all genuine Salsa, mainly Romantica style, but virtually every track is a good dance track.
Salsa en la Calle Ocho 2003 (and other years)
An annual compilation album taken from a festival in Miami, or so we understand.The music is genuine Salsa of varying styles.We have the 2003 and 2005 albums and while we prefer the former, they're both respectable.Could prove difficult to get hold of though.
Island Life (Yerba Buena)
OK, difficult to describe as Salsa, but there are a few tracks you can certainly dance Salsa to, and most of all, it’s great fun!We love “Sugar Daddy”, but there are plenty of other good tracks.Watch the end of “Bla Bla Bla” if you have kids, as the language is a bit dodgy.Maybe not great for Beginners' practice.
Dirty Dancing 2
I know what you’re thinking, but this really grows on you!Not pure Salsa by any means, but there are quite a few tracks that are good for dancing.We bought it for the version of the Orishas track “Represent”, but “El Beso del Final” is a great slow track and shows that Christina Aguillera can really sing.It also has "Dance Like This", Wyclef Jean's original version of "Hips Don't Lie".Not to be confused with any of the soundtracks based on the original film.
Put a Little Salsa in Your Life (David Cedeno)
All tracks are in English, but be warned, the quality is variable.“Sealed With a Kiss” is the highlight.
I Like It Like That (Tito Nieves)
Again, all tracks are in English and again, a little hit and miss.The two club Merengue tracks (“Bang Bang” and “I Like it Like That”) and their extended re-mixes are excellent, while a couple of the Salsa tracks also make it onto some DJ’s "once in a while" playlists.
Urban Latino
A compilation of street Latin music.Not much that you could describe as genuine Salsa, but quite a few decent tracks that you can dance Salsa to.
La Linea – Future Latin Beats
Another compilation of street Latin music.We like the album, but Urban Latino has more tracks suitable for Salsa.
LatinGarden 2
An unusual, 2CD mix of Latin sounds, with Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Tango, Bosa Nova and more.Not recommended for Beginners' Salsa, but an interesting album if you like Latin music.Some good tracks for higher level dancers, including "La Pantera Mambo (Pink Panther)", one of the hottest Salsa dance tracks of recent times.
Barrio Fino (Daddy Yankee)
This Reggaeton album includes “Gasolina” and the Salsa version of “Sabor a Melao”, which are great fun for dancing.The main problem with it is that every track has the same speed and the same beat, which gets pretty repetitive.The Reggaeton beat is a bit too fast for many Beginners, but is very easy to follow, which at least partly compensates.
100% Reggaeton - Gasolina
There are apparently a number of versions of this album.We have the 2CD version and there are quite a few good Reggaeton tracks on it.As noted previously, the Reggaeton beat is really too fast for Beginners, but is at least easy to follow.
Ultimate Salsa (3CD box set)
Widely available at UK stores.Don’t buy it for the Salsa, which is limited and mostly pretty naff but there are some excellent Merengue tracks.
Finally, if you’re at a normal dance and want to impress your friends with your new found skills, but know that the DJ won’t have a Salsa track to his name, try asking for “Dance the Night Away” (The Mavericks), “Living the Vida Loca” (Ricky Martin), "La Isla Bonita" (Madonna), "Maybe I'm in Love" (Emma Bunton) or even “Mambo No. 5” (preferably not the Bob the Builder version).If the DJ is a bit more up to date than the ones we normally have to put up with, try the Salsa version of Lenny Kravitz’s “Thinking of You”, R Kelly’s “Burn It Up”, 50 Cent (ft. Beyonce)'s "In Da Club" or Shakira’s “Hips Don't Lie".Or just dance Salsa or Merengue anyway, it’s surprising how many tracks you can dance it to if you try!
