Musical Highlight: Cumbia

 

Cumbia is the music of Argentina, and Latin America in general. It is like the Country music of Dubois (and the US, but Dubois in particular). To tell you the truth, before coming I had never heard any cumbia nor heard anything about it. It was as though it didn't exist! And now, after hearing non-stop (in the street, with friends, out dancing, EVERYWHERE), that it feels foreign to dance to most other music. Actually, I've already gone and forgotten how I used to dance. Anyway. It is a very, uhh, distinct type of music although I'm not really sure how to describe it. Instead, I've provided three music videos with different types of cumbia so you can listen to it for yourself.

 

The first one is an older, funky and fast beat classic cumbia song. The lyrics are funny as h-e double toothpick if you care to look up the translation...

These next two are by Damas Gratis and Pibes Chorros respectively. They are both classics and well-known to the Cumbia world although they are also rivals. Songs by them are known by almost everyone. If these songs come up while on the dance-floor, it is incredible. Everyone comes together for the few moments of the song to sing and dance together. Often the DJ will purposefully drown out parts of the song so that all you can here is the crowd singing along.

Finally, we have the cumbia pop hit stars, Nene Malo with "Como me Gusta la Noche" (How I Love the Night). I'll admit that I like cumbia, but at the same time, it can get on your nerves if you listen to it too often.  

 

~From Argentina With Love