Bachata is a genre of Latin American music that originated in the Dominican Republic in the first half of the 20th century with European, Indigenous and African musical elements.
The first recorded compositions of Bachata were done by Jose Manuel Calderon from the Dominican Republic. The predecessors of Bachata are Bolero and Son (and later, from the mid 1980s, Merengue). The original term used to name the genre was amargue ("bitterness", "bitter music", or "blues music"), until the rather ambiguous (and mood-neutral) term bachata became popular. The form of dance, bachata, also developed with the music.
The first Dominican bachatas were recorded immediately after the death of Trujillo, whose 30-year dictatorship was accompanied by censorship. José Manuel Calderón is credited as having recorded the first bachata singles: ("Borracho de amor" and "Que será de mi (Condena)") released on 45 rpm in 1961.
After Trujillo's death, the floodgates were opened: following Calderon's historic bachata debut came more recordings by the likes of Rodobaldo Duartes, Rafael Encarnacion, Ramoncito Cabrera El Chivo Sin Ley, Corey Perro, Antonio Gómez Sacero, Luis Segura, Louis Loizides, Eladio Romero Santos, Ramón Cordero, and many more. The 1960s saw the birth of the Dominican music industry and of the bachata music which would dominate it.
While the bachatas being recorded in the 1960s had a distinctly Dominican flavor, they were regarded at the time as a variant of bolero, as the term bachata, which originally referred to an informal rustic party, had not yet come into use. This term was first applied to the music by those seeking to disparage it. The higher echelons of Dominican society felt that bachata music was an expression of cultural backwardness, and a campaign ensued to brand bachata in this negative light.
Morenita Mía
Ramon Cordero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No te desesperes y bríndame alegría
Siento simpatía, si es que no me engañas
Sol de la mañana, linda muchachita
Para ti solita, morena, yo tengo mi alma
Mujer preferida, dame el corazón
Que en esta canción te ofrezco mi vida
La luz encendida de mi amor te baña
Si tú me acompañas, linda morenita
Para ti solita, morena, yo tengo mi alma
Tú eres mi deseo, en mí no hay engaño
Yo me siento extraño, morena, cuando no te veo
Sabes que en ti creo, mi amor no se empaña
Ni el tiempo te daña, honrada dotrina
Mujer de mi vida, es tuya mi alma
Tú eres la ilusión de todos mis sueños
Quiero ser el dueño de tu corazón
La luz y pasión de tu amor me mata
Hermosa muchacha, linda morenita
Para ti solita, morena, yo tengo mi alma
Para ti solita, morena, yo tengo mi alma
The song "Morenita Mía" by Ramon Cordero is a romantic and passionate declaration of love to a woman whom the singer adores deeply. The opening lines, "Morenita mía, si es que tú me quieres / No te desesperes y bríndame alegría" ("My little brown one, if you love me / Don't despair, give me joy"), show that the singer is seeking reassurance and affection from his beloved. He also expresses his admiration for her beauty, comparing her to the morning sun and declaring that his soul belongs to her alone. The chorus repeats this sentiment, with the singer asking his beloved to give him her heart and promising to dedicate his life to her.
As the song continues, the singer emphasizes his devotion to his beloved, stating that he feels incomplete without her and that his love for her is unshakable. He also acknowledges that she is the source of his dreams and desires, and that he wants nothing more than to be the master of her heart. Throughout the song, the singer portrays his beloved as a precious and cherished woman and lays bare his deep affection and commitment to her.
Overall, "Morenita Mía" is a heartfelt tribute to the power of love and the beauty of human connection. The song's lyrics are infused with passion and longing, and its melody is both sultry and joyful, painting a vivid picture of the intense emotions that accompany true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Morenita mía, si es que tú me quieres
My little brown one, if you love me
No te desesperes y bríndame alegría
Don't despair, bring me joy
Siento simpatía, si es que no me engañas
I feel sympathy, if you're not deceiving me
Sol de la mañana, linda muchachita
Morning sun, beautiful young lady
Para ti solita, morena, yo tengo mi alma
For you alone, my little brown one, I have my soul
Mujer preferida, dame el corazón
Preferred woman, give me your heart
Que en esta canción te ofrezco mi vida
In this song, I offer you my life
La luz encendida de mi amor te baña
The light of my love shines on you
Si tú me acompañas, linda morenita
If you accompany me, lovely little brown one
Tú eres mi deseo, en mí no hay engaño
You are my desire, there is no deception in me
Yo me siento extraño, morena, cuando no te veo
I feel strange, brown girl, when I don't see you
Sabes que en ti creo, mi amor no se empaña
You know I believe in you, my love doesn't tarnish
Ni el tiempo te daña, honrada dotrina
Time doesn't harm you, honest doctrine
Mujer de mi vida, es tuya mi alma
Woman of my life, my soul belongs to you
Tú eres la ilusión de todos mis sueños
You are the illusion of all my dreams
Quiero ser el dueño de tu corazón
I want to be the owner of your heart
La luz y pasión de tu amor me mata
The light and passion of your love kills me
Hermosa muchacha, linda morenita
Beautiful girl, lovely little brown one
Para ti solita, morena, yo tengo mi alma
For you alone, my little brown one, I have my soul
Writer(s): Jose Ramon Cordero
Contributed by Eli N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.