The Best of Reggae and Mexican Music

If you’re a fan of reggae or Mexican music, then this is the blog for you! Here you’ll find the best of both genres, with new music added regularly.

Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is derived from the word “raggedy”, which was used to describe the music of the time. Reggae is a Jamaican style of music that was influenced by other genres such as Mento, Ska, and Rocksteady. Reggae is typically characterized by a strong bass line, accents on the off-beat, and a syncopated rhythm.

Origins of Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, “Do the Reggay” was the first popular song to use the word “reggae”, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady. Reggae is based on a rhythmic style characterized by regular beats on off-beats (on guitar or drums).

Reggae in the 1960s

Reggae in the 1960s was strongly influenced by traditional mento and calypso music, as well as American jazz and rhythm and blues. By the end of the decade, ska had evolved into rocksteady, a slower and more soulful style that laid the foundation for reggae.

Reggae in the 1970s

In the late 1960s, Jamaica was in the midst of a social and economic crisis. Political unrest was common, and the country was facing a high level of unemployment. The situation was made worse by a severe drought that hit the island in 1968. These conditions led to an increase in crime, and many Jamaicans began to turn to reggae as a way to express their frustration with the government and their society.

The 1970s were a golden era for reggae music. Many of the genre’s most iconic artists, such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer, rose to prominence during this decade. Reggae became hugely popular both in Jamaica and abroad, helped by the rise of the Rastafari movement. As reggae began to cross over into the mainstream, it started to experiment with different sounds and styles, giving birth to genres like dub and rocksteady. The 1970s were truly a golden age for Jamaican music.

Reggae in the 1980s

Reggae in the 1980s saw the rise of many new artists and the continued success of others. One of the most popular reggae artists in the 1980s was Bob Marley, who achieved international stardom with his unique blend of reggae, ska, and rocksteady. Other popular reggae artists in the 1980s included Jimmy Cliff, Bounty Killer, and Shabba Ranks.

Reggae in the 1990s

It wasn’t until the early 1990s that reggae began to regain mainstream popularity, thanks in large part to two British bands, UB40 and The Clash, who had both included reggae tracks on their 1982 albums. In 1992, UB40’s cover of “Red, Red Wine” topped the U.S. pop charts, while The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” (which featured a reggae section) was a worldwide hit. That same year, another British band, Big Audio Dynamite, had a top-10 hit with their track “Rush”, which also featured a reggae section.

In 1993, Ziggy Marley had his first solo hit with the song “True to Myself”, while also winning a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album with his album Conscious Party. The following year saw the release of what is arguably the most famous reggae album of all time: Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Legend. The album was a posthumous collection of Marley’s greatest hits and it quickly became the best-selling reggae album of all time, eventually being certified diamond (10 million copies sold) by the RIAA.

Reggae continued to see mainstream success in the late 1990s and 2000s thanks to artists like Shaggy, who had several US No. 1 hits including “In The Summertime” and “It Wasn’t Me”; Sean Paul whose 2002 single “Get Busy” topped the US charts; and Ziggy Marley who won another Grammy in 2006 for his album Love Is My Religion.

Mexican Music

Mexican music is a popular genre that is enjoyed by many people around the world. It is a blend of many different styles of music including Mariachi, Norteño, Ranchera, and more. Mexican music is often very lively and upbeat, making it perfect for dancing. It can also be very romantic and sentimental.

Origins of Mexican Music

Mexican music is a rich tapestry of sounds and styles that reflect the country’s diverse history and culture. It is a fusion of indigenous, European and North American elements that has been influenced by everything from the country’s geography to its politics.

Mexican music can be divided into three main categories: traditional, popular and folk. Traditional Mexican music is a blend of indigenous and European influences. Popular Mexican music is a mix of traditional and international influences, while folk Mexican music is based on the country’s many regional traditions.

The roots of traditional Mexican music can be traced back to the country’s indigenous people, who developed a unique musical style that was influenced by the sounds and rhythms of nature. European settlers brought their own musical traditions to Mexico, which were further influenced by the North American sound after the United States annexed parts of Mexico in the 19th century.

Traditional Mexican music includes a wide variety of genres, such as mariachi, ranchera, son jarocho, huapango, jarana jarocha, sones de arpa grande and more. These genres are often played on traditional instruments like guitars, violins, trumpets and drums.

Popular Mexican music emerged in the early 20th century with the rise of Mexico’s film industry. This new form of entertainment became an important outlet for musicians to share their work with a wider audience. Popular Mexican music includes genres such as bolero, ranchera, mariachi, pop, rock and more.

Folk Mexican music is based on the regional traditions of Mexico’s many different ethnic groups. This type of music often features instruments like guitars, violins, trumpets and drums, as well as traditional dances like the jarabe tapatío (Mexican hat dance). Folk Mexican music includes genres such as Son Jarocho (Veracruz), Huapango (Puebla), Son Huasteco (Veracruz), Son Jaliscience (Jalisco) and more.

Mexican Music in the 1960s

In the 1960s, Mexican music underwent a revolution. Artists such as Javier Solís, Roberto Cantoral, and Jenny Rivera emerged, bringing new styles of Mexican music to the forefront. These artists blended traditional Mexican sounds with rock and roll, jazz, and other genres to create a new type of Mexican music. The result was a distinctly Mexican sound that was enjoyed by both Mexicans and non-Mexicans alike.

Mexican Music in the 1970s

The 1970s saw the rise of Mexican pop music, with artists such as Gloria Trevi, Pablo Lara, and Leonardo de Lozac becoming household names in the country. This was also the decade that saw the birth of Mexican rock, with bands like Botellita de Jerez and PedroInfante Jr. leading the way. Reggae also began to make its presence felt in Mexico, with groups like Mana and Calle 13 achieving international success.

Mexican Music in the 1980s

In the 1980s, Mexican music began to gain popularity in the United States, thanks to the popularity of reggae and other Jamaican-influenced genres. Reggae music, which had its origins in Jamaica, was brought to Mexico by way of the African diaspora, and quickly found a home among Mexican youth.

Reggae artists like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff became household names in Mexico, and their music helped to fuel the rise of Mexican reggae artists like Gondwana and Control Machete. Mexican reggae is characterized by its heavy use of dub production techniques, as well as its incorporation of traditional Mexican instrumentation and themes.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Mexican reggae continued to evolve, incorporating elements of hip hop, electronic music, and even traditional mariachi music. Today, Mexican reggae is one of the country’s most popular genres, enjoyed by Mexicans of all ages.

Mexican Music in the 1990s

In the 1990s, Mexican music underwent a radical transformation. The change was most apparent in the rise of two new genres: reggaeton and banda.

Reggaeton is a Jamaican-influenced style of music that originated in Puerto Rico in the early 1990s. Reggaeton’s main musical influences are hip hop, salsa, and reggae. The style is characterized by syncopated rhythms, heavy bass, and rhyming lyrics.

Banda is a traditional style of Mexican music that dates back to the 18th century. Banda is typically played by a large ensemble of brass instruments, including trumpets, trombones, and tubas. The style is characterized by festive horns and polka-style rhythms.

Both reggaeton and banda quickly gained popularity in Mexico in the 1990s. Reggaeton became popular among young people, while banda became the backdrop for many traditional Mexican celebrations.