Critical Review #8: Quebradita

In her writing Simonett covered the Quebradita dance "craze" that swept through in the nineties. This "craze" swept mainly through the parts of Southern California and affected mostly those who were of Mexican decent.  Simonett discussed the style of the dancers of this culture along with the music of it and how they connected with the dancing. Also through her writings Simonett illustrated the importance of heritage and the social issues that the people were dealing with through the analysis of the lyrics of the songs that that danced to. 

Discussion Question: Do you think that if you were living in Southern California at the time that the Quebradita swept through that you would be a part of this craze even if you are not of mexican? What do you think the people of the cultures reaction would be if someone (perhaps like yourself) was to just randomly join in the scene? 

Critical Review #7: Duany

Duany discusses the history and background of Salsa music to give the reader something to think about. He illustrates how the Salsa genre was established and created through a couple of different musical styles from both Hispanic and African Cultures throughout the Caribbean . This being said he went to further show how not only was Salsa a combination of things and cultures, but that its distinguished culture was in fact a combination and was not all about the same things. Duany also stated that this combination of cultures is present within the lyrics of Salsa songs (the good songs at least), and can be heard through the lyrics. 

Discussion Question: Do you think that Salsa is more mainstream or commercialized now? And does this mean  you are disagreeing or agreeing with Duany?  

Critical Review #6: Dudrah (British Bhangra Music)

Dundrah discusses the British Bhangra throughout her article.  In the article Dundrah states that the term 'British Bhangra' "captures the music's fusion of traditional folk bhangra lyrics and beats with urban black British and pop sounds into a new distance genre of British bhangra dance and music." Bhangra was labeled as the start of the second generation of artists and musicians to experiment and create their own sound. In order to achieve this status they took sounds from traditionally Punjabi music, reggae, and other previous post-war British sound s (urban black sounds and other technology as well). Dundrah also points out the similarities between political issues at the time and the lyrics of the bhangra music and black music that was being played. Along with this is the idea that all of this is part of a diaspora. 

Discussion Question: In the article Dundrah brings up Firth and the argument about how "music has a social value being a way of affirming personal identity, a form of communication and an expression and means of understanding lived experience." Do you believe that this is true for the British bhangra artists? Artists in general? Or do you think that artists make up a lot of what they are writing? 

Critical Review #5: Back (black music, autonomy and the cultural intermezzo)

In the chapter Back discusses the development of Black leisure spaces during the post-war times in London. Back argues that racism that was shown all throughout London was keeping African Americans out of everyday clubs, places to dance and other leisure institutions. This then forced African Americans to create their own clubs, own dance places, and at the same time enhance their own style of music. Back also stated that when the African American music started to grown in popularity that the various cultures within the Black community the music was not all the same and had different twist to it depending on where it came from. Although the music was different at the clubs and places that the music from the cultures was played it was more similar to everyone music and it wasn't a single style that was forced upon everyone. 

Discussion Question: Do you think that it was hard for people to generate original music back when they weren't sure what was to actually come of it or whether or not people would discriminate against it just because the artists were black? Or do you think that it is the same or similar fear that people have today when producing music?