Arquivo

In the traditional Musical Style of the Dominican Republic, La Bachata has been accepted as entertainment in brothels and revered as the sincerest expression of the poorer brackets of the population. Santo Domingo Blues takes us on a journey through this musical style that so displeased the Dominican elite for its social context, the double-entendre, and tales of women chasers and drunks. Singer and guitarrist Luis Vargas and other bachateros, musicians who adhere to this musical style, were obliged to perform at the back of restaurants and produce homemade recordings that were sold in the streets. After a great number of Dominicans immigrated to the U.S., Vargas and his companions began to perform in New York. Devastating love affairs and unrequited love were substituted by compositions with a strong urban appeal that reflected the life of Dominican immigrants in America. The documentary shows the path traveled by a musical form previously underrated and that became a reason for national pride.