Show Notes
At the end of the 1990s merengue ruled supreme on the radio and television in Puerto Rico. Elvis Crespo’s “Suavemente” is perhaps the most famous example — a bonafide hit that helped popularize the genre all over the world. But how did this Puerto Rican hit become the most recognizable merengue song in a genre pioneered by Dominican musicians? The road to merengue’s ubiquity in Puerto Rico was a long and complicated one. It coincides with the rise of Dominican migration to Puerto Rico and involves a cultural battle fought in nightclubs, “fiestas patronales,” and high school proms around the archipelago. Tensions around immigration and race that developed during that time remain today. Reporter Ezequiel Rodríguez Andino tells the story of merengue’s rise in Puerto Rico, the ripple effects of this “musical war,” and what it all tells us about the relationship between Puerto Rico and the people from its sister-island: the Dominican Republic. Learn more about the voices in this episode: • Alberto “Ringo” Martinez, director and co-founder of Patrulla 15 • Richie Viera, producer and owner of Viera Discos • Edgar Nevarez, trumpet player and arranger • Andres "Velcro" Ramos, DJ, producer, and MC • Watch Glorimarie Peña Alicea’s presentation “Yolas, memorias y transgresiones: La mujer y la migración indocumentada dominicana a Puerto Rico” Our cover of “No Tienes Corazón” by Patrulla 15 is by the artists DJ Velcro and Mireya Ramos (out this April). Listen to our Spotify playlist, featuring music from this episode – and this season. We’ll keep adding to it each week as new episodes come out. Special thanks this week to Marisol Andino, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Andy Lanset, Chiquita Brujita, Lia Camille Crockett, Amanda Alcántara, Fernanda Echávarri, Emanuel Dufrasne, Elmer Gonzalez, Francisco Perez, Andres “Cucho” Perez Camacho, Tatiana Díaz Ramos, Sujei Lugo Vazquez and Otoniel Nicolas. Additional music in this episode from Yasser Tejeda. Fact checking this season is by Istra Pacheco and María Soledad Dávila Calero. This season of La Brega is made possible by the Mellon Foundation. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on La Brega and all our podcasts: futuro.supportingcast.fm/la-brega-plus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from La Brega
In August, the Puerto Rican government issued preliminary approvals for Esencia, a controversial $2.7 billion project in Cabo Rojo. This proposed luxury complex includes a private beach club, golf courses, and upscale residences and hotels. But experts, from scientists to government agencies and environmental groups, have all warned that the development would displace locals and threaten wildlife in the area, an ecologically sensitive part of Puerto Rico. In this episode, the La Brega team takes us through this landscape as we hear the natural and wildlife sounds that could be lost if Esencia is built.
En agosto, el gobierno de Puerto Rico aprobó permisos preliminares para un controversial proyecto multimillonario en Cabo Rojo conocido como Esencia. El complejo exclusivo incluiría un club de playa privado, campos de golf, hoteles y residencias de lujo. Pero expertos —desde científicos a grupos ambientalistas y agencias gubernamentales— han advertido que el proyecto desplazaría a los locales y amenaza la flora y fauna de un área de alto valor ecológico. En este episodio, el equipo de La Brega nos lleva en un paseo sonoro por ese entorno para escuchar lo que podríamos perder si Esencia se construye.
La Brega is back, and we’re here to stay! After three seasons, the show has established itself as a town square where people come to hear stories, laugh, and dream together. We’ll continue bringing you fascinating stories about our history and identity, important reports about the latest issues in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, and exciting interviews with some of the most creative artists and thinkers of today. New episodes drop on Tuesdays, starting October 20th. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on La Brega and all our podcasts: futuro.supportingcast.fm/la-brega-plus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
¡La Brega está de vuelta y estamos aquí para quedarnos! Durante tres temporadas nos convertimos en una plaza pública donde nos juntamos a escuchar historias, reír y soñar juntos. Y ahora volvemos para seguir compartiendo historias fascinantes sobre la puertorriqueñidad, reportajes sobre los retos en Puerto Rico y el Caribe y conversaciones urgentes con artistas y pensadores. A partir del 20 octubre busca episodios nuevos los martes. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on La Brega and all our podcasts: futuro.supportingcast.fm/la-brega-plus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You’ve seen the Instagram posts and the headlines of Puerto Rican campeones in all kinds of arenas. For this special bonus episode we talk to Camila Lamerre Estevez, an athlete who competed on the Puerto Rican women’s ice hockey team. We share Camila’s story, how she turned into a young hockey star, and what she learned about Puerto Ricanness on the ice.