HN 130: Beyond Despacito: Latin Music in America

Despacito is more than a “song of the summer” or the award-winning chart-topper covered by everyone from Justin Bieber to a group called 2Cellos. (There’s even a Sesame Street parody video!) This song by Luis Fonsi, featuring rapper Daddy Yankee, represents just one recent example of Latin America’s influence on music in the United States. In this seminar, learn more about Latin music styles, including reggaeton (the music genre that influenced Despacito), salsa, pop, and rock as well as the music and musicians from Latin America and the United States who have influenced or been influenced by these styles. In our study, we will consider the common history and cultures of the United States and countries in Latin America: from the traditions and history of indigenous peoples through European colonization and the slave trade to the digital age. You will also learn how to get more out of listening to music by acquiring an understanding of basic musical concepts.