If anyone still doubted the power of bachata in the U.S. Latin market, they need look no further than this week’s Hot Latin Songs chart.
At No. 1 is rising romantic bachata crooner Prince Royce with “Darte un Beso,” the first single from his new album that’s due Oct. 8. And at No. 3 is his slightly older predecessor, Romeo Santos, with his new single “Propuesta Indecente.” In the middle is Marc Anthony with his indefatigable “Vivir Mi Vida,” which stayed at No. 1 for 16 consecutive weeks-a record for a salsa track — to be finally dethroned by Royce.
For the past two months, Anthony’s chart dominance has spurred all kinds of discussions on the relevance and staying power of salsa. But the appearance of Santos and Royce this month yet again highlights bachata’s overall dominance as the most visible genre on the U.S. Latin charts today, and as what many are calling “the new pop.”
“Bachata has been around for decades, but obviously it wasn’t anywhere near as popular as it is today,” says Santos, whose new set arrives in February. “Now for me to call it ‘the new pop’ wouldn’t be the right definition for the genre. In my opinion bachata is in its own lane. You have the traditional bachateros, who have been around for years and helped pave the way. On another hand, you have the bachateros that do fusion now known as urban bachata, which is a more modern type of bachata.”
Bachata is the traditional Dominican genre identified by its syncopated percussion and plucked, acoustic guitar. The modern version espoused by Santos and so many others today incorporates R&B and pop elements — the use of strings, for example — and a decidedly urban sensibility in sound and look. It’s been unstoppable on radio since Aventura, Santos’ former group, began charting in the late 2000s. Today, the sound is so entrenched that most major acts create bachata remixes to boost their standing, and a growing number of pop and tropical acts are fusing their sound with the genre.
Enrique Iglesias’ new single, “Loco,” is a pop/bachata duet with Santos, for example. The track enters the chart this week at No. 8.
Iglesias already experimented successfully with that genre mix with “Cuando Me Enamoro,” a romantic duet with bachata icon Juan Luis Guerra that spent 17 weeks at No. 1 in 2010.
“Bachata is music of the people, as am I,” says Iglesias, who’d been talking with Santos about a collaboration for the past year. (Aventura and Iglesias toured together several years ago.) “It’s a genre I love because I’m a die-hard romantic and that’s what bachata is; it’s a ballad with swing.”
The mix of danceability and romance certainly is a draw for both listeners and artists, and the natural tempo of the bachata beat — which is slightly slower than reggaetón or salsa — makes it more compatible with pop, leading several acts to mix the two.
Mexican pop star Thalía, for example, featured Royce on “Te Perdiste Mi Amor,” which spent 27 weeks on the Hot Latin Songs chart, peaking at No. 4 in May.
Rock band Maná redid its track “El Verdadero Amor Perdona” in a bachata version in 2011, also with Royce.
And currently in the top 10 of the Tropical Airplay chart, aside from Royce and Santos, is Leslie Grace with a bachata version of “Be My Baby” (at No. 7) and pop pianist Arthur Hanlon with a bachata version of “I’ll Be There” featuring Karlos Rosé. The tracks have been in the top 10 for eight and seven weeks, respectively.
“The fact that so many pop acts are recording bachata singles is a wonderful thing for our genre and for the bachata movement,” Royce says. “As a Dominican and an artist that sings bachata I couldn’t be prouder. There is space for everyone as long as you come with great music.”