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Reggaeton

Lately I've been hearing about how much of a hit Reggaeton is in Colombia. I listen to rap and hip hop in the U.S. so I find no criticism of the music and content itself, but lately I've had a thought on my mind about Colombian reaction to hip hop, or its Latin American equivalent, Reggaeton. So for those who have been in Colombia lately, particularly Medellin or Cali, I wanted to know what effect this music is having on Colombia. I last went to Medellin two years ago, and i found it pretty much in the same cultural state that it was ten years ago in that many aspects of its society were in sharp contrast with that of the US. Beyond the negative aspects of Medellin and the positive aspects of the US, Colombian culture had generally represented for me strong family ties that are not present in a fast-paced society like the one in DC, where I live. I also admire Colombian society for a youth that, from what I saw, was hospitable, outgoing, friendly, and could have a good time with their families. Here, most of my friends resent hanging out with their families and, unlike the Colombian teens I knew, had a tense social life that causes the kind of activities at Cancun spring break parties: random sex and drinking, etc. My question for all of you who have been fortunate enough to go to Colombia is whether Colombians, particularly the young, have been changed since the emergence of Reggaeton, which in content is no different than the music young people in the US listen to. Do Colombians speak that Reggaeton spanglish? Do they dress differently? What has changed culturally in Colombian society in the past years?

By pablorojas on Dec 7, 2004, 13:51 in Friendly Talkzone.

ColombianoX says on Dec 7, 2004, 14:35:

"Here, most of my friends resent hanging out with their families and, unlike the Colombian teens I knew"

This is one of the things I love most about my colombian culture and dislike most about US culture. I remember when I was in high school here in the US, those WASP kids couldn't wait to move away to college, whereas I was terrified of the idea. I used to think to myself "What's wrong with these gringos, it's almost as if they hated their parents!" Family for us colombians is very important. I always say "friends come and go, but family is forever".

"Do Colombians speak that Reggaeton spanglish?"

No, we colombians speak the best spanish in the world. This is Colombia we're talking about, not Puerto Rico (where raggaeton was born).

ColombianoX

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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pablorojas says on Dec 7, 2004, 14:54:

thanks, ColombianoX Good to know, because from what you hear in the states, it seems like Colombian culture has turned into that of Puerto Rico (where I went just recently) because of reggaeton. Puerto Rico has become basically just like the US. I hope Colombia does not turn into that with this influx of Us and Puerto Rican culture into our cities.

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ReinaDeLa Baile says on Dec 7, 2004, 15:03:

just my two cents! I haven't been to Colombia, but I have dated Colombianos - and of the age that listen to and dance to Reggaeton.

I cam tell you that my Colombian friend and I would talk a lot about our families and familt parties - I love those - with three generations dancing and babies and all sorts of activities.

As for clothes, all my young Colombian friends wear pretty nice but normal clothes - maybe ONE gold chain, no more. And they don't wear those gangsta jeans that fall off of your butt. I think the Dominicans dress more thug like Boricuas, but what do I know.

You asked about Spanish - I would also have to say that I understood everything I ever heard from the mouth of a Colombian. I have trouble with Cubans, but as others have said - Colombian Spanish is very pure. NOW WHY IS THAT? Seriously, does anyone know?

One more note - MOST of my Colombian friends are dark - lot of African influence, and they speak and act and dress just like the lighter skinned ones, just like the more Andean - Indian looking Colombianos.

For what it is worth.

And my Colombian friend (age 26) was very sad yesterday, because Christmas is coming, and they will only have a small party - just the 7 brothers and sisters, their spouses, 10-20 kids and 3 grandparents, that's all for Christmas.

Apparently, the usual family Christmas party was 40 people or more, easily, for days and nights, and so this feels very pared down and lonely to him!

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CasaSol says on Dec 7, 2004, 16:22:

Reggaeton is huge in Colombia I may not be its biggest fan since I view it as a watered-down derivative of Jamaican dancehall but reggaeton is huge with youth culture in Colombia. My friend's son has a reggaeton group, Golpe a Golpe that has just released their debut CD so look out for them. They are more talented than most and put a strong emphasis on strong songs instead of just pumping out beats. If you are in any area where younger people are driving their cars you will hear reggaeton blaring. Not always a pleasant sound but this is their music. They also watch the Miami TV program "The Roof" like it is a religion. Again, not my flavor but that's the way it is.

Ricolombia.com | The Guide to Colombian Culture, Crafts & Travel

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pablorojas says on Dec 7, 2004, 16:50:

thanks, ricolombia Thanks for the update. I just hope Colombia doesn't become like Puerto Rico has become, an exact replica of the United States, for better or for worse. I once thought Colombia was immune from the cultural globalization being experienced in Puerto Rico and, to a lesser extent, the Dominican Republic. We'll see if Colombian culture is replaced with the culture of youth in the US in the future. I also hope Colombian accents are not replaced with Spanglish, like the one spoken on "The Roof". I love rap and hip hop and I am also starting to like reggaeton, so I'll look out for Golpe a Golpe, but I would like to see reggaeton coming from Colombia that exudes Colombian culture rather than mimic other cultures. For those like me who have lived in the US for so long, Colombia has become a country to cherish and appreciate, especially because of its people, but, hearing about this reggaeton revolution, I worried that future generations of Colombians would be more and more like those in the US.

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kernow62 says on Dec 7, 2004, 19:27:

Do you ever listen to champeta?

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pablorojas says on Dec 8, 2004, 17:46:

champeta Yea champeta is pretty catchy, I must admit.

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WViamulatto says on Dec 29, 2004, 20:23:

How to dance all of the Colombian dances Yeah I saw Champeta above. how do you dance all of the different Colombian dances? My mother is African American, and my father is Colombian and I say to him Papa Como se bailan la Cumbia, and he says ay eso te va a confundir. Everybody I ask says that so could anybody tell me all the different Colombian musics, and tell me how to dance them. I know Cumbia and Vallenato are the same dance. But what about Champeta and others

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WViamulatto says on Dec 29, 2004, 21:30:

Also a question about the costeno dialect My mom wants my father to take her to Santa Marta, and Barranquilla. My father is from Manizales, and he taught his spanish. I heard coasteno spanish is a little different, but when I hear that I think that its the difference is very slight. How much different is that Costeno spanish from the Cordillera spanish? Do they eat their /s/ at the end confuse /l/ and /r/ like in Puerto Rico, do they sometimes change /n/ to /m/ or to they change /n/ to /ng/?

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Hunter says on Dec 30, 2004, 14:01:

WViamulatto You can't tell people how to dance them, you have to go and dance them, the only way to learn them correctly is at a dance school or private lessons.

One thing to note Cumbia and Vallenato are NOT the same dance, the moves for Vallenato are very basic, Cumbia has a lot more of them and far more complex than Vallenato.

Hunter

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skyblue says on Jan 1, 2005, 07:12:

poor neighborhoods To really learn how to dance Champeta, Cumbia, or even Villanato, you need to go to the poor neighborhoods on the coast. The first time that you see a young coulpe dance Champeta, you will think that they are having sex on the dance floor. It's really something to see! I'm as white as they come, but with the right dance partner (someone tallented, the right heigth, and patient), you will be amaized at how quickly you will learn and have the time of your life.
As for the language that they call coastenol, that is a hoarse of a different color. Coastenos will be able to speak so fast and chop their words up into little uncomprehendable sentances. Time and more time to practice listen is all that you can do.

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Miguel says on Jan 1, 2005, 07:35:

Skyblue You REALLY don't have to learn those dances en Abajo or in the other barrios in Atlantico. My wealthy girfriend who makes $200 usd per month moves as good as those kids in the hood. I will agree with you to a point on spoken Spanish, but again, I think you generalize a bit too much.
(plus you should not bust their balls for their speaking habits when you could use a little help with the spelling in your post)

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skyblue says on Jan 1, 2005, 23:48:

generalization Sorry for the generalizations. I never ment to offend anyone or insinuate that "rich" people have no sence of beat. I was only trying to say that I have had some great times with "those kids in the hood" dancing.
I'm sure that my dislexia has given me problems with my spelling over the years and it is probablly one of the reason that learning Spanish has been difficult for me. Maybe, we should think about having spell, gramer, and other types of checks on this site, or simplly learn to let the little shit go and enjoy the posts for what they are (someone elses oppinions).

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Miguel says on Jan 2, 2005, 02:06:

really good reply You make perfect sense Skyblue. Sorry to have busted your balls. The people here that generalize will always be subject to attack.

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