Subject: What is on2
From: Dave G
Date: 24th Jun 2005, 11:21 am

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I don't think you should be writing that with such certainty as its well known that where the term Salsa came from is a little unclear and up for debate. I read an article from Latin music historian that showed that the Mexicans were using the word Salsa to describe the music before it hit NY and the likes of Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto and Johnny Pacheco.
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Where the term Salsa came from is indeed unclear and up for debate. What is not up for debate though (and can be stated with certainty) is that it was the New York record labels which popularised and marketed the term Salsa. That's why I say the term Salsa is a New York one - it's New York which took it to a worldwide audience.

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I disagree that the word Salsa belongs to Mambo although i agree that Salsa is a fusion of many folkloric music styles. As far as the dance is concerned is down to the knowledge of the teacher I believe, because for example Cumbia as you mentioned is still very much danced in Colombia as is the Pachanga for example. And I have also just returned from Cuba where the people there are very knowledgeable about their own folkloric dances, as you would expect, even though i got the impression they all preferred to listen and dance to Reggaeton which was a shame.
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I disagree that Salsa is a fusion of styles - it's more like an umbrella term for a variety of different styles. There isn't one Salsa style which fuses together a load of other roots, there are a variety of different dances (like Cumbia) which are collectively referred to as Salsa.

As for Reggaeton, it is not a shame that people in Cuba prefer to listen and dance to it. Times and music change, and that's where we've got up to with Latin music now.

 BEGIN QUOTE 
I disagree, NY Style is Mambo....fact! ... But I suppose we could accept the argument that Mambo music could come under the Salsa umbrella since Salsa music is a fusion of different folklore music styles.
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Whatever the minor points are that you are arguing over, my basic premise remains. The original poster claimed that NY style Salsa is only calling itself Salsa to jump on the Salsa bandwagon. The fact is that NY style was the first to popularise the term Salsa for this style of music and dancing and the other forms (like Cuban, Colombian, etc.) are the ones which have actually jumped on the Salsa bandwagon.

Now, you can debate minor side issues about who was the first person to actually say the word Salsa in connection with this music, but the core of what I'm saying is accurate and the original poster did have things the wrong way round.

dG