Bachata is a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and rural marginal neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Its subjects are usually romantic; especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak and sadness. In fact, the original term used to name the genre used to be "amargue" ("bitterness," or "bitter music"), until the rather ambiguous (and mood-neutral) term bachata became popular.

Bachata grew out of - and is still closely related to - the pan Latin-American romantic style called bolero. Over time, it has been influenced by merengue - a fast paced danceable music also native to the Dominican Republic - and by a variety of Latin American guitar styles.

The music itself is played in 4/4. The most recognizable aspect of bachata instrumentation is the use of an amplified guitar (either electric or acoustic) whose sound has been doctored with a flanger, reverb, echo, or a combination of the three. The use of arpeggiated chords as the basis for the melody is almost standard. An additional guitar, usually mixed at a lower volume, may be used to provide a basic backbeat, although an electric bass guitar may be used instead. The use of bongo drums as to provide both syncopation and occasional percusive accents is also a feature of bachata; bongo solos during chorus breaks in bachata songs are rather common.

Bachata is a popular guitar music from the Dominican Republic.

Aventura - Solo Por Un Beso
Aventura - Los Infieles
by Flakko August 31, 2006
Get the bachata mug.
When a merengue band slows down, it's playing bachata, the other music of the Dominican Republic. Marked by the bright sound of cleanly plucked guitar, bachata moves at the same pace as Latin America's other romantic ballad form, the bolero. But bachata is very different. A music of the underclass, bachata was banned from mainstream radio for decades because of its tough, streetwise subject matter. Singers openly discussed crime and prostitution in their songs, and though their albums were top sellers, bachata records never appeared on official charts. In the 1990s, mainstream musicians began to experiment with the style, and bachata was rehabilitated.
Alex Bueno, Andy Andy, Anthony Santos, Aventura, Edilio Paredes, Eladio Romero Santos, Frank Reyes, Leonardo Paniagua, Monchy & Alexandra, Juan Manuel, Victor Victor, Los Toros Band, Xtreme, Marcy Place, Raulin Rodriguez, Bachata Heightz
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ October 4, 2009
Get the Bachata mug.
Amazing sex that will make you think of latin dancing, the kind with lots of hip movements and hair flips. Did you imagine sexy latin music in the background while you were having sex? It probably wasn’t sex then, it was bachata!
I had a great time with you tonight… would you like to come inside for some bachata?
by Salsaaadancer August 27, 2021
Get the Bachata mug.
A Spanish word pertaining to over 30's desperate and dateless balls or singles nights for people past there prime.
Sometimes used to describe where music has gone to die.
by Man ningbar March 3, 2010
Get the Bachata mug.
Normally used to describe the act of shooting at someone's feet, making him or her do movements trying to not get hurt. It looks like dancing bachata.
"This dude just came here like we were besties and started insulting me, I made him do bachata"
by diabloツ May 11, 2020
Get the Made him do Bachata mug.
A late night summons -- often made via telephone -- to arrange clandestine bachata dance liaisons on an ad hoc basis.
-OMG girl guess who called me out of the blue late last night wanting to come over my house?

-Who?

-It was jo! Girl I haven't talk to him in weeks, but I let him come over. It was a total bachata call, but it was fun! I learnt so many new steps!
by jo fara May 28, 2018
Get the bachata call mug.