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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Target. However, all opinions are my own.
When I was asked this week how I discovered music I did not know where to start. The Latin culture has been a part of me since infancy despite living in the states. I grew up speaking Spanish at home and English when I was out of the house. As I was growing up I always liked music because my mother had introduced it to us at an early age. Did you know that Latin music was not a big part of our lives? I mean my sister and I sang duets in Spanish but they were mostly Spanish Christian songs.
When did it all change?
College.
Yes, I became part of my Spanish club in college and headed up a talent competition. I knew I always liked Latin music. Every time we would visit our family in Mexico, I would hear the dance music blaring and I could not help but think of how I could and when I could dance. Ha! That did not quite happen until later.
Back to the talent competition. I headed up a merengue and salsa number and hired a dance teacher so that the 6 couples dancing in the group could convince the judges we had talent. We won in our category that year! Woohoo!
After that it all just stayed under wraps until I discovered Zumba. Oh yes. I loved aerobics and movement classes but after a while that all grew very monotonous. Zumba allowed me to discover new music while I worked out. So let me continue to say that I have been slightly obsessed with Zumba and the music that comes with it. I am not a club attender but I love to dance so why not do it while exercising and making a little of a fool of myself. Ha!
Every time I would attend a class and hear a song I would ask the instructor to share the artist so that I could compile my own list. I would add it into YouTube, Pandora, iTunes, and/or Playlist until I could find the artist. I have now been doing this for almost 9 years with the hope that one day I will become an instructor with a crazy compilation of music.
My favorite way, though, of finding new music is listening to my Zumba playlist on Pandora. I am constantly placing “thumbs up” on the songs I like so then I can work on making separate playlists. It is pure madness but this is what I do.
How does this work with an opera singer who performs with certain genres and styles? Well the Latin culture is spreading within the opera world. I was not able to attend while I was in Houston but a NEW opera has been making headway into the opera scene. I have two opera friends who have been making a name for themselves in the world’s very first mariachi opera. Is that not amazing? You have to watch this clip:
It is quite exciting to listen to Latin music in our daily lives because it educates and it also makes people move at the same time.
Who are some of my favorite Latin artists? I like Shakira and Pitbull at the moment.
What about you? How about telling me for a chance to win a gift card?
Who are some of my favorite Latin artists? I like Shakira and Pitbull at the moment.
What about you? How about telling me for a chance to win a gift card?
Giveaway
To celebrate Latin music, Target has also graciously offered one of my readers a $25 Gift card. Please follow the instructions to enter to win.
