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Spanish music is often associated with traditional styles such as flamenco and classical guitar, but pop music is just as popular in Spain as anywhere else.
Although American and British music is played on Spanish radio, Spain and Latin America have plenty of home-grown talent too.
Be prepared to read about people's likes and dislikes regarding concerts, popular music and famous musicians or singers.
Here are some words for genres of music:
| la música clásica | classical music |
| la música electrónica | electronic/digital music |
| la música de los años ochenta | 80's music |
| la música latina | Latin music |
| la música pop | pop music |
| el jazz | jazz |
| el rap | rap |
| el rock | rock |
| la música folclórica | folk music |
| el flamenco | flamenco music and dance |
| la música tradicional | traditional music |
| el tango | tango music and dance |
| la salsa | salsa music and dance |
| la samba | samba music and dance |
| la música/danza irlandesa | Irish music/dance |
| la danza clásica | ballet |
| la música clásica |
| classical music |
| la música electrónica |
| electronic/digital music |
| la música de los años ochenta |
| 80's music |
| la música latina |
| Latin music |
| la música pop |
| pop music |
| el jazz |
| jazz |
| el rap |
| rap |
| el rock |
| rock |
| la música folclórica |
| folk music |
| el flamenco |
| flamenco music and dance |
| la música tradicional |
| traditional music |
| el tango |
| tango music and dance |
| la salsa |
| salsa music and dance |
| la samba |
| samba music and dance |
| la música/danza irlandesa |
| Irish music/dance |
| la danza clásica |
| ballet |
Other useful key words include la canción (song), el ritmo (rhythm), el sonido (sound) and la letra (lyrics).
Another popular type of music in Spanish and Latin American culture is reggaetón. Here is a magazine article about this type of music.
El reggaetón es una expresión musical reciente de las comunidades latinas. Se puede decir que es la versión latina del hip-hop. Tuvo su origen en Panamá, en los años ochenta, y la palabra 'reggaetón' se inventó en Puerto Rico, en los años noventa, cuando se estableció como un sonido diferente al reggae en español. Las canciones incluyen rimas tradicionales, pero la letra suele utilizar lenguaje gráfico. Sobre todo, los artistas de reggaetón promueven una imagen de poder utilizando el dinero, los coches, las joyas y las gafas de sol.
Question
Choose the four correct statements.
| A | Reggaetón is the Latin equivalent of hip-hop | |
| B | The music was invented in Puerto Rico in the '80s | |
| C | The word reggaetón was invented in Puerto Rico | |
| D | The songs use traditional lyrics | |
| E | The lyrics often use bad language | |
| F | Reggaetón artists like to project an image of power |
| A |
| Reggaetón is the Latin equivalent of hip-hop |
| B |
| The music was invented in Puerto Rico in the '80s |
| C |
| The word reggaetón was invented in Puerto Rico |
| D |
| The songs use traditional lyrics |
| E |
| The lyrics often use bad language |
| F |
| Reggaetón artists like to project an image of power |
| A | Reggaetón is the Latin equivalent of hip-hop | ✔ |
| B | The music was invented in Puerto Rico in the '80s | |
| C | The word reggaetón was invented in Puerto Rico | ✔ |
| D | The songs use traditional lyrics | |
| E | The lyrics often use bad language | ✔ |
| F | Reggaetón artists like to project an image of power | ✔ |
| A |
| Reggaetón is the Latin equivalent of hip-hop |
| ✔ |
| B |
| The music was invented in Puerto Rico in the '80s |
| C |
| The word reggaetón was invented in Puerto Rico |
| ✔ |
| D |
| The songs use traditional lyrics |
| E |
| The lyrics often use bad language |
| ✔ |
| F |
| Reggaetón artists like to project an image of power |
| ✔ |
A is correct because the text says es la versión latina del hip-hop (it's the Latin version of hip-hop.)
B is incorrect because the music originated from Panama in the '80s. The text says tiene su origen en Panamá en los años ochenta (it originates from Panama in the eighties.)
C is correct because the text tells us la palabra 'reggaetón' se inventó en Puerto Rico (the word reggaetón was invented in Puerto Rico.)
D is incorrect because the music uses traditional rhythms, not lyrics. The text says las canciones incluyen rimas tradicionales (the songs include traditional rhythms.)
E is correct because the text says la letra suele utilizar lenguaje gráfico (the lyrics usually use graphic language.)
F is correct because the text says los artistas de reggaetón promueven una imagen de poder utilizando el dinero, los coches, las joyas y las gafas de sol (reggaetón artists promote an image of power using money, cars, jewellery and sunglasses.)
