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Music 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 get hold of 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. It’s perhaps not surprising then that you can dance Salsa to many different types of music, some of it genuine Salsa, some of it closely related and some of it some distance removed. Most Salsa is in Spanish of course, but there is some in English. 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. Some people have very firm views on Salsa music, perhaps feeling that only the traditional style of Salsa is proper Salsa, or that Salsa music must be in Spanish. Our view is rather more relaxed. If the music makes you want to get up and dance Salsa, then what more do you want? We also take the view that just because we like it, it doesn’t mean that everyone will, so we try to play a variety of styles. Having said that we have no strong preference, we find that some types of music are more suitable for less experienced dancers. While you’re learning, 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 many less experienced dancers 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 or an Improver trying to progress, what do you do about it? Well, first of all, at Salsa Locura we will try to play music at our 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. Getting Hold of Salsa Music Getting hold of good Salsa music can be difficult even for those who know the main artists and tracks being played in the clubs, let alone for Beginners. An easy option might seem to be to ask your instructor or local DJs to make copies of the music you like. Many will be reluctant to do that, partly because of copyright laws but also because it can take a heck a lot of time to prepare music for you, the other people in your class and all the people in the other classes they will also run that week! Most will be happy to give you the title and artist for tracks you like however, so that you can get hold of the track for yourself. The two main methods for getting hold of music are CDs and downloads. Buying Salsa music on CD in the 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, or 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, web sites 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. The problem even then is that you will be lucky to find more than two or three tracks on an album that you like. Some of the tracks may not be Salsa, some may be too fast and some you may simply not like. It can therefore take quite a bit of money to put together even 20 or 30 tracks that you actually like and enjoy dancing to, particularly when you take account of the turkeys you will inevitably buy in the early stages. Trust us, The modern way to get hold of music is, of course, as downloads over the internet. There is a fair amount of Salsa available on the big, legal sites, such as Napster and iTunes. If you’re prepared to put the time and effort in, you can also find sites where you can download Salsa music for free. Some are legitimate, those offering DJ and band promos for example, while some are not, even some that make a charge. There are also internet “radio stations” where you can listen to Salsa music and if you like the track, make a note of it and buy it from somewhere else. We are getting more and more of our music by downloading the tracks and burning to CD, rather than buying whole albums. 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. Previous versions of this page have listed albums but given that we’re leaning more towards downloading music these days, the recommendations below are for tracks and artists. You will find a lot of these tracks are “not really Salsa” and/or in English. It’s not that we have anything against traditional Salsa music, but as we noted earlier, it can be quite challenging for less experienced dancers. We’ve broken our recommendations into three categorise, “Slow Stuff for Practise”, “Comfortable Speed” and “Getting Quicker”. We have avoided recommending genuinely fast tracks so that even the tracks in the “Getting Quicker” category should not pose too much o a challenge for most dancers with a bit of experience. Slow Stuff for Practise Modern Way Rhythms Del Mundo/Kaiser Chiefs Thinking Of You (Salsa Mix) Lenny Kravitz Bag Lady (Cheeba Sac Radio Edit) Erykah Badu Use Me Alex Wilson Rude Boy Rihanna Flores Flex Como Me Duele Ozomatli Mi Media Mitad Rey Ruiz Mira Mi Piel Las Misma Gente La Soledad DLG No Morira (No Matter What) DLG No Me Ames Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Miente A Lo Cubano Cubanito 20.02 Quiereme Cubanito 20.02 Aida Cubanito 20.02 537 Cuba Orishas El Beso Del Final Christina Aguillera Mistica Orishas Hasta El Sol Du Hoy Edgar Joel Comfortable Speed Playa No More Crystal Sierra Lovely Day Rudy B Hotel California Mikael De Vante Sugar Daddy (Island Life album version) Yerba Buena In Da Club (salsa remix\ 50 Cent Marie Laveaux Cubanismo Infatuation Christina Aguilera Sealed With A Kiss David Cedeno Fragile Massimo Scalici No Woman No Cry Merengada My Heart Go La Bruja I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More Baby Tito Nieves Micaela Sonora Carruseles Vamos Pa La Disco Control Cubana Hoy Tenemos Sidestepper La Nica Klan Destino ft. Michel Mi Negra Combinacion Vuelve A Mi Latinos en la Casa Lo Mejor de Mi 3-2 Get Funky Juliana DLG Bailando Frankie Ruiz Un Monton De Estrellas Polo Montanez El Pito Asi Se Goza Isidro Infante Getting Quicker Feel (salsa remix) DJ PE/Robbie Williams Turn Me On (salsa Remix) Kevin Lyttle Get Busy (salsa remix) DJ Berna Jam/Sean Paul You Massimo Scalici Never Leave You EiroCuban Project You Rock My World (salsa remix) DJ Berna Jam/Michael Jackson Show Me Alex Wilson Ain’t Nobody Alex Wilson Get It Up EuroCuban Project Dance Like This Wyclef Jean Burn it Up R Kelly ft. Wysin and Yandell Lady Orquesta La Palabra Represent Cuba Orishas & Heather Hedley Via Al Delory Come and Get It Lady Ragga Digalo (salsa remix) D’Armando Salsa Con Candela Miguel Yamba Tim Pop Con Birdland (Yes) Los Van Van Dame Cinco Mambo Mania La Pantera Mambo LA 33 Abre Que Voy Miguel Enriquez Salsaton El Rubio Loco Salsa Con Reggaeton K-Narias Salsa Pas Tus Tacos Duho Mas Papaya Sidestepper Tremendo Boogaloo Bimbo Y Harold Aicha Africando Es La Musica Massimo Scalici Salsa! Yuri Buenaventura Blanco Y Negro Joe Arroyo La Bomba Karibean La Guarachers de Cuba Mercado Negro La Salsa Nunca Se Acaba Pedrito, Flako and DJ Mariachi Lloras Oscar D’Leon Nadie Baila Como Yo – Solo Mambo Mix Bobby Mantos [DJ Duste] Meriando La Cola Sexappeal Llego Croma Latina Mi Salsa Tiene Sandunga Elio Revé Mercando La Distancia Manolito Y Su Trabuco Mi Mulata Framkie Negron Sonerito La Salsa Mayor Por Y Para Maria Ricardo Lievya Y Sur Caribe Cuba Te Llama Mamborama La Gata Loco (remix) Mamborama Marie Te Amo! (Maria I Love You) Chicanos Boricua Boricua La Bruja Mi Gatita Negra La Bruja |
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