Merengue Alegre
World
| Jun 2002
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2002-07-25
Reviewed 2002-07-25
JOAQUÍN DÍAZ – Merengue Alegre
Arhoolie, 2002
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Hot dancin’ music! Diaz lives in Canada but don’t worry, this is the real thing. It’s perico ripiao, a traditional accordion-based merengue style with fast tempos and happy melodies.
Merengue, according to the notes, was rough and ready working-class music until it was dressed up by an image-conscious government in the 1940’s (it’s that more urbane stuff that most people today think of as merengue). REAL merengue occupies a place in Dominican culture much like bluegrass has in Nashville – popular but marginalized.
Anyway, what you got here is accordion, tambora drum, guiro, bass. Every song has three parts: an intro, sung verses, and then improvisation. Guaranteed to shake yo’ booty! Try it!
ALL GREAT! Fo’s Favorites: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12
01. 6:20 – fast & cute, with mad 2nd half
02. 4:11 – fast, lyrical bounce; nice
03. 3:34 – fast, really catchy; hot drums
04. 4:48 – fast but calmer, good breaks
05. 3:05 – uptempo, tinkly, and fun
06. 4:55 – uptempo; aggressive vocals
07. 4:27 – medium solo: kind of sexy
08. 5:17 – fast, bouncy; cool perc break!
09. 4:29 – med/up, with some emotion
10. 3:45 – relaxed, very folksy
11. 4:27 – fast, driving, hot vox near end
12. 5:18 – upbeat bounce, quite pleasant
13. 4:45 – upbeat and very melodic
[Fo] - 7/25/02
Arhoolie, 2002
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Hot dancin’ music! Diaz lives in Canada but don’t worry, this is the real thing. It’s perico ripiao, a traditional accordion-based merengue style with fast tempos and happy melodies.
Merengue, according to the notes, was rough and ready working-class music until it was dressed up by an image-conscious government in the 1940’s (it’s that more urbane stuff that most people today think of as merengue). REAL merengue occupies a place in Dominican culture much like bluegrass has in Nashville – popular but marginalized.
Anyway, what you got here is accordion, tambora drum, guiro, bass. Every song has three parts: an intro, sung verses, and then improvisation. Guaranteed to shake yo’ booty! Try it!
ALL GREAT! Fo’s Favorites: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12
01. 6:20 – fast & cute, with mad 2nd half
02. 4:11 – fast, lyrical bounce; nice
03. 3:34 – fast, really catchy; hot drums
04. 4:48 – fast but calmer, good breaks
05. 3:05 – uptempo, tinkly, and fun
06. 4:55 – uptempo; aggressive vocals
07. 4:27 – medium solo: kind of sexy
08. 5:17 – fast, bouncy; cool perc break!
09. 4:29 – med/up, with some emotion
10. 3:45 – relaxed, very folksy
11. 4:27 – fast, driving, hot vox near end
12. 5:18 – upbeat bounce, quite pleasant
13. 4:45 – upbeat and very melodic
[Fo] - 7/25/02
Recent airplay
Palo Bonito
Morning Glory — May 01, 2004
Vamos a Bailar
At the Cafe Bohemian — Sep 24, 2002
Palo Bonito
Morning Glory — Sep 07, 2002
Vamos a Bailar
At the Cafe Bohemian — Aug 27, 2002
Palo Bonito
No Cover, No Minimum — Aug 20, 2002
Palo Bonito
Dollar Bin — Aug 12, 2002
Charting
2002-08-05 — 2002-10-07
Reggae/World
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Sep 29 | 1 |
| Sep 8 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Vamos a Bailar | ||
| 2. | Una Manana De Abril | ||
| 3. | Palo Bonito | ||
| 4. | Autentico Merengue | ||
| 5. | Bachata Sentimental | ||
| 6. | Cana Brava | ||
| 7. | Navidad Sin Mi Madre | ||
| 8. | Los Ritmos Oficiales | ||
| 9. | Merengue Alegre | ||
| 10. | Me La Pusieron Dificil | ||
| 11. | La Chiflera | ||
| 12. | Las Tres Muchachas De Don Pa | ||
| 13. | Homenaje a San Pedro |