It could be argued that the music industry has become a commodity, a means to simply make a profit. Looking at the pop charts or music videos only reinforces the idea that there has been an invasion of publicists, handlers, spin-doctors, and other deal-makers into the music industry. However, in the predominantly Latino neighborhoods of West New York and Union City, there is a type of music that acts as the lifeblood of that community. It binds, moves, and inspires the people. It also has the power to bring a smile to the face of a passerby.
It is Latin music, and it evokes a visceral reaction in the people who love it and call it theirs. In communities like West New York and Union City, where there may be as many as 10 different Latin countries represented in a small area, music is the common thread.
On a recent visit to the long stretch of Bergenline Avenue from the West New York-Guttenberg border to the southern end of Union City, music was heard everywhere. Even stores that did not sell music were playing Latin music on outdoor speakers. Said Danelly Guarin from the Son Latino music store, “Music is very important to our people. It’s the roots of the people. They bring the music with them from the old country.”
It seems that for a recent immigrant to this country, music acts as a bridge to wherever they came from.
According to Carolina Lopez from Tu Musica in Union City, “For Hispanics, music is very important. I guess people want to go back to their roots. People from Ecuador want to hear Ecuadorian music, Cubans want to hear Cuban music, and so on.”
And it’s not just the older generation that listens to the music of their homeland. Many teens born in the United States are rabid fans of all styles of Latin music, a direct influence of their parents. It is not unusual to see low-slung cars booming to the intricate rhythms of Merengue, Mambo, Salsa, or Bachata, where in other neighborhoods hip-hop might be the choice.
Explains Jaury Hoyos of Rincon Musical, which sells everything from CDs to drum kits, “The teens get into both sides [American and Latino music]. One day, they’ll come in and buy a rap CD. Then, the next day, they’ll come in and buy a Salsa CD. Many Latin kids live in both worlds – Latin and American.” Hoyos added, “I have customers that aren’t even from around here and don’t speak Spanish but they come in and buy Latin music. It makes people happy. It gets your troubles behind you.”
Hoyos also added that ever since Sept. 11, Latin music is more important and vital than ever. “Well, let me tell you,” he said, “it’s really important. It expresses how you feel, what you want. In these times, people are sad, and the music helps them hide for a little while.”
It can’t be stressed enough as to how infectious Latin music is. Listen to a tune and try to not tap a foot. It is almost impossible.
According to Caesar Bayona of Your Beat in Union City, “Ninety percent of the people around here are Spanish, so it’s what they love,” he said. Your Beat features a mix of many styles of music (Latin, rock, hip-hop) that reflects the “melting pot” nature of the neighborhood. When a reporter visited recently, Bayona was sampling different dance music CDs for a customer who was very intent on picking the “right” music.
Aside from having one of the best sound systems in town (18″ subwoofers hidden behind the CD racks), Bayona is well versed in the types of Latin music he sells. For example, “Bachata” music, according to Bayona, “is like Merengue but slowed down a lot.” This style originated in the Dominican Republic and has been popularized by many groups such as New York City’s “Aventura.”
Jaury Hoyos of Rincon Musical in West New York added, “Bachata started out as music you would listen to if you were sad. It is not like Salsa, which has very fast, intricate rhythms. But the young people have taken Bachata and put dance beats to it.”