Music and Us: Our New Playlist

 As we have learned in this class, music can be viewed as a reflection upon many things. These regions in specific, are deeply rooted within their culture. I chose to research Spain and the Netherlands because some of my close friends at this school are from there. I chose Mexico because I know the music there is very vibrant and I wanted to look into the more traditional side of it. K-Pop is growing popularity, in not only South Korea, but The U.S. as well, so I wanted to look into it. I was able to learn about more artists in that genre that I didn't know before. 

Spain – Traditional: Flamenco

Continent: Europe

While researching traditional Spanish music, I came across Flamenco. One of its oldest forms is known as the Soleá. It's a combination of song, dance, and instruments, mainly the guitar. This form of art is extremely passionate and expressive. It originated in a southern region of Spain called Andalusia. Between the 9th and 14th centuries, there were periods of migration from Northwest India to Spain. These migrants brought several musical instruments and an extensive list of songs and dances. These cultures intermingled for centuries, creating Flamenco. This style is typically characterized as being emotional, including death and despair. To counter that, it also contains songs consisting of humor, love, and less serious topics, like the countryside. 

Netherlands- Traditional: Dutch Folk

Continent: Europe

The initial purpose of Dutch Folk music was to celebrate and honor the culture and traditions in the Netherlands. Unlike Flamenco, Dutch Folk is characterized by being more simplistic. It consists of harmonies, melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics. It is known to tell stories. Some themes of these stories may be daily life activities, nature, love, etc. The goal of this style was to preserve heritage, and has been passed down from several generations. This music represents community, often played at family gatherings, festivals, and other unified celebrations. Some common instruments include the accordion, fiddle, and guitar. Some popular groups in this genre are the Dutch National Folk and Dance Orchestra, Rapalje, and Bots. 

Mexico- Traditional: Mariachi Music

Continent: North America

Mariachi Music is a vibrant and dynamic style, originating from the state of Jalisco. This genre commonly consists of violins, trumpets, guitars, and the guitarrón- "a very large, deep-bodied Mexican six-string acoustic bass guitar." This genre is often associated with festivals, weddings, and holidays, ranging from themes of love, heartbreak, patriotism, sorrow, etc. This genre is known to be performed by passionate singers with strong, dynamic vocals and undeniable rhythms. It is extremely important to the community, being embedded in their culture.

South Korea- Modern: K-Pop

Continent: Asia

Emerging in the 1990s, K-pop has had a unique journey. The early 2000s were a significant period of time for this style. K-pop rose to stardom, gaining more momentum. As of recently, many genres have been incorporated into this style of music. Some of them being hip-hop, EDM, and R&B. The eye-catching, synchronized choreography and lighting in music videos caught the attention of many viewers. Gaining more popularity, K-pop is not only a style or "genre of music, but a cultural movement." A few of the current artists are ATEEZ, ITZY, TWICE, BLACKPINK, BTS, etc. The music consists of high-energy, upbeat elements. 

I've gained a lot of insight throughout the course of this assignment, and got to learn more about the cultural expression through each region's music. Through reasearch, I've learned the emotional journey through Flamenco, storytelling through Dutch Folk, vibrant and passionate music through Mariachi music, and music videos and intense choreography in K-pop.