The music scene today is as diverse as it's ever been. There are countless overlapping genres and sub-genres fit for every musical taste. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to select one of those genres or sub-genres and map out its evolution in visual form (image or video). Here are some features you'll likely want to include to maximise your chances of winning a prize:
How the genre came to be
Its sub-genres
Its overlap with other genres
Genre-defining artists
The peak of that genre's popularity
Key dates for that genre
Whether you enter with video or image, make sure you do so via a connected account.
The Merengue Music is a popular Caribbean Rhythm 🥁 that came from Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 knowledge for many good Baseball ⚾️ players and others music like Bachata
There is a long Evolutive history of the Merengue music popular from Santo Domingo to NY
For more than a century, merengue has developed as one of the world's musical rhythms with the greatest evolution in terms of its form, style and adaptation to times, fusions and colors based on the accordion, güira, tambora and guitar.
This Tuesday marks the National Day of Merengue, a rhythm that is the fundamental basis for livening up government, municipal and corporate Christmas parties.
In fact, the major events to bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the New Year include extensive lineups of the main merengue groups.
In its evolution, the rhythm is led to forms of adaptation and has been mutating since the 20th century, impregnated with vitality and new nuances that ensure its validity in generations.
At every moment and time, musical geniuses have developed ways of connecting the rhythm to the times and youth, which has allowed it to preserve its stellar role and international dimension, to such an extent that on December 1, 2016, UNESCO declared it Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
TYPICAL
It all began as a way of making social and political complaints through popular singing, played with a bandoneon, guitar and drum, giving rise to the typical merengue, also known as folk merengue.
This rhythm was initially discriminated against because it was classified as low class, vulgar and because it was preferred in rural areas of the Northern Region. In this part, the figure of Tatico Henríquez stands out.
MERENGUE APAMBICHAO
With the North American intervention in the Dominican Republic (1916-1924) changes were introduced and the military adopted the Dominican musical genre in a form of dance derived from the typical merengue, but softer, although with the same instruments, highlighting the tambora and the güira.
SALON MERENGUE
The arrival of the dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo to power (1930-1961) brought the positive aspect of imposing merengue as the official rhythm and forcing high society to consume it, in addition to being played and danced in the clubs of the rich and sung at official government events.
At that time, “El Jefe” asked for more instruments to be mixed and the bongo (brought from Cuba) and wind instruments (saxophone, trumpets and trombone) were incorporated.
Luis Alberti was the first to instrument the salon merengue, played by a big band, an orchestra made up of more than 30 musicians and requiring large spaces. The Santa Cecilia Orchestra stood out at this time.
MERENGUE DE COMBO
After Trujillo's death in 1961, the salon merengue underwent a radical change and moved towards the combo, made up of 14 musicians and introduced faster rhythms, influenced by rock and roll, by the hand of Johnny Ventera and his Combo Show and Félix del Rosario and the Magos del Ritmo.
MERENGUE DE CUERDA
It can be inferred that this is the original way of making merengue based on guitar, since wind instruments did not exist until the arrival of the accordion.
But it was in the 70s, in the person of Eladio Romero Santo, that this subgenre took shape. From the 90s onwards it rose in level and popularity with bachata-leaning groups that introduced a very lively merengue and guitar base. Its main exponents are Anthony Santos, Raulín Rodríguez, Joe Veras and others.
ROMANTIC MERENGUE
At the end of the 70s and especially in the 80s, the period of total apogee of merengue arrives, called "the golden years", with romantic musical content, thanks to the adaptations of ballads and boleros.
At this time, orchestras and performers proliferated, but its main figures were Wilfrido Vargas, Bony Cepeda, Ramón Orlando Valoy and the arrangers Manuel Tejada and Bertico Sosa. The wide diffusion was thanks to the record labels Karen Récord, Kubaney, Ringo Récord and J&N Récord, since the sale of records was a flourishing business.
MERENDISCO
The 80s also saw the emergence of variants with a mix of electronic sounds and avant-garde versions, giving rise to merendisco, more oriented to the atmosphere of a discotheque. Bonny Cepeda, Dionis Fernández and La Gran Manzana. This happened in the mid-80s.
MERENRAP
The influence of rap in this decade also influenced merengue, with figures and producers who were very steeped in North American musical culture, such as Super Frank, music producer of Karen Record and had a lot to do with the records and programming of Bienvenido Rodríguez's stations.
This gave way to the combination of traditional merengue with rap. “El jardines” by Wilfrdo Vargas is an icon.
MERENGUE A LO MACO
It varies from traditional classic merengue because its percussion rhythm is more bouncy, since the drum is played more strongly. Maestro Ramón Orlando is credited with coining the term in his song “Bomba caramboma”. It was popularized by the Rosario Brothers from the second half of the 80s and was fully adopted by the merengue players of Puerto Rico, who renamed it “merengue bomba”.
MERENGUE DE CALLE
This variant completely changed the morphology of romantic merengue, to popular proverbial content, with faster arrangements and choral interpretations. Pochy Familia and the Coco Band were the spearhead of this new musical concept of the late 80s and marked the path of the 90s and beyond.
TECNOMERENGUE
This subgenre varies in terms of its musical composition, with more electronic sounds and softer tones. Puerto Rican rapper Vico C began to introduce it, although he was not a great exponent, and he was followed by artists such as his compatriot Lisa M and in the Dominican Republic, Algoritmo, Triada and Yarumba. The 90s were the era of splendor.
MERENGUE HIP HOP
Proyecto Uno, led by Nelson Zapata and Ricky Echeverría, together with producer Pavel de Jesús, innovated with merengue hip hop, mixing rhythm and singing style with a lot of influence from rap and youth dances in the style of reggaeton, rap and trap. It revolutionized the rhythm on the international level, with a lot of roots in the city of New York.
MERENHOUSE
There is a thin line that separates this subgenre from hip hop and it tends to be confused.
This genre completely breaks the traditional schemes of the accordion, güira and tambora. Although the traditional sound is mixed with house, characterized by using parts of dance songs.
Its main exponents are Ilegales and Sandy y Papo.
MERENGUE DE MAMBO
A wave of artists took merengue to another level from the second half of the 90s, where accelerated arrangements were more important than the content of the lyrics. Although some exponents did not neglect the content of their lyrics, as is the case of José Virgilio Peña Suazo and his Banda Gorda. Other prominent exponents of this variant are Julián Oro Duro, Tulile and Omega.
TECHNOTYPICAL
This rhythm is typical of the regional music of the North of the Dominican Republic. It combines the traditional typical merengue with electronic instruments and modern rhythms with the accordion. Jovany Polanco, Krisppy, Banda Real and Urbanda know how to do it.
Merengue music evolution
URBAN MERENGUE
It is a very marked variant between street merengue, dembow and trap. Ala Jaza and Omega.
Thanks for the detailed explanation Braulio M Lara 🔹! I've been listening to merengue all morning now. It's so upbeat and lively, so I can see why you love it!
I’m Dominican the land of merengue , Salsa and Bachata but l hear music from everywhere and l try all the time to discover something new/good in Ireland , new Zealand, Africa , Mongolian or the past the 60’s and 70’s
You too Braulio! In that case, I think you might be a fan of our Just About Music World Tour, which I believe was published shortly before you joined the platform:
New wave of brittish heavy metal evove trough decades with a lot of many bands still called just “Iron Maden”
This particular genere evolves in terms of hair and age, the older he gets the more heart they have.
While remaining musically same and unbeatable, since the 80's, the same notes, the same chords, the same solos, the same fans, with, as a consequence of the passing time, they bring the children, the grandchildren, the great-grandchildren and so on...
Rap emerges from block parties in the Bronx, NY. DJs like Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa pioneer the genre with MCing, breakbeats, and turntablism.
1980s:
Gang's "Rapper's Delight" (1979) marks commercial success. Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and Public Enemy bring rap into the mainstream, emphasizing beats and rhymes.
West Coast rap (N.W.A.) introduces gangsta rap; conscious rap with artists like KRS-One.
1990s:
East Coast (The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan) vs. West Coast (Tupac, Dr. Dre) rivalry.
Outkast, Goodie Mob start Southern rap's rise.
The Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest.
Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records, Death Row Records.
2000s:
Eminem, 50 Cent, and Jay-Z dominate charts.
Lil Jon, T.I., and Ludacris represent.
Kanye West, Common bring introspection.
2010s:
Atlanta's influence with artists like Future, Migos, Young Thug.
SoundCloud rap (XXXTentacion, Lil Uzi Vert) and the rise of mixtapes.
K-pop, Afrobeat begin fusing with hip-hop.
2020s+:
Artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar blend genres, with rap becoming a global phenomenon.
Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and Doja Cat push boundaries.
TikTok, social media influence music trends and artist discovery.
The birth of Worship Pop Western can be seen as a continuous evolution that begins with classic and ancient gospel, developing over the decades by blending musical traditions with new influences. Here’s a journey that traces this transformation:
1. Ancient Gospel (19th Century)
Gospel music emerged in African American communities in the United States during the slavery era as a form of spiritual expression. Characterized by powerful choral melodies and engaging rhythms, gospel was a means of expressing hope, faith, and resistance. Artists like Thomas A. Dorsey and Sister Rosetta Tharpe helped define the genre, with lyrics focused on salvation, God, and redemption. African American churches were the heart of this musical tradition, which deeply influenced Christian music as a whole.
2. Traditional Gospel (20th Century)
Throughout the 20th century, traditional gospel continued to thrive and evolve. The genre began to merge with other musical styles like jazz, blues, and soul. Gospel singers such as Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke brought the genre to new heights, with powerful voices and complex arrangements. During this period, gospel began to spread beyond African American churches, gaining a broader audience and influencing popular music.
3. Contemporary Gospel (1980s and 1990s)
With the arrival of the 1980s and 1990s, gospel continued its evolution by pushing the boundaries of traditional music. Contemporary gospel started incorporating elements of pop, rock, R&B, and even electronic music. Artists like Andraé Crouch, Kirk Franklin, and Yolanda Adams brought gospel into a new era, blending modern melodies with themes of worship and faith. Churches began using electronic instruments and amplification, bringing gospel music into modern church settings as well as television and film productions.
4. Contemporary Worship (2000s)
In the new millennium, Christian worship music evolved further, leading to the rise of contemporary worship. Artists like Chris Tomlin,
Matt Redman, Hillsong Worship, and Bethel Music defined a new type of worship that blends pop with liturgical elements, yet with a more modern musical style. The sound is often characterized by catchy melodies, elegant arrangements, and deep lyrics that invite individuals to have a personal and collective worship experience. Contemporary worship began to root itself in churches worldwide, becoming a cornerstone of Christian music.
5. Worship Pop Western (2010s and Beyond)
Worship Pop Western emerges as a fusion of modern pop sounds with traditional Christian worship. With artists like Lauren Daigle, TobyMac, Elevation Worship, and Casting Crowns, this genre has gained popularity among young people and new generations of believers. The music is heavily influenced by contemporary pop and Western sounds, with lyrics speaking of faith, hope, and divine love. The musical productions have become more sophisticated, featuring electronic instruments, synths, electronic drums, and radio-friendly arrangements. The songs are becoming more accessible to a wider audience, not just in churches but also in mainstream media.
Today’s Worship Pop Western, while rooted in gospel traditions, has taken on a new form, designed to reach even those who may not attend church. The combination of modern melodies, worship lyrics, and pop production has created a sound that speaks to the current generation, transmitting a message of faith in a musical language that is easily recognizable and accessible globally.
