Bachata
Bachata is a romantic, dance-oriented genre originating from the Dominican Republic. It is characterized by syncopated 4/4 rhythms, melodic guitar arpeggios, and emotive, often melancholic lyrics. Evolving from bolero and son, it gained international prominence in the 1990s and has since integrated pop, R&B, and urban elements.
Origin: Dominican Republic, specifically the Cibao region, emerging from rural and urban working-class communities.
Era: Roots in 1930s-1940s Dominican folk; formalized in the 1960s; global mainstream expansion in the 1990s and 2000s.
