The "daring" in clothing multiply among Dominican singers

Already in the 60s Elvis Presley had made a difference in rock and roll, with a unique style in his way of dressing. In the 1980s Madonna and Michael Jackson also resorted to distinguishing themselves by what they wore on stage.

In the Dominican Republic, Johnny Ventura emerged, also in the 1960s, with a new style of merengue, a new concept of orchestra, and clothing very similar to that used by Presley.

"El Caballo Mayor" (who died on July 28) represented youth and naturally, youth sets trends. The artists understood that going up on stage was no longer just about having a good voice and better orchestration, the show had to have more than lights and a good performance. The image was an essential part of the artistic proposal.

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Rossy Díaz, a musicologist and connoisseur of artistic behavior in the country, remembers that it was at the beginning of the 90s with the arrival of Ilegales with the merenhouse and Proyecto Uno, which arrived with the influence of hip hop from the United States, that the merengueros began to leave the tuxedo aside and dress more in keeping with his music.

“In merengue, Toño Rosario's explosion was vital. When Toño began to sell himself as an artist, he understood that his work was more than just singing merengue, his figure, his style also became a show, "she explained.

He recalled that Elvys Presley let the world know how a person should dress on stage, “and all of that has a scenographic reason, with the shining lights, the glitter, the sequins, that type of fabric texture, because you are the artist and I remember that Toño even said: what is the point of me dressing like an ordinary person on stage”.

He added: "Even exponents of Christian music have already created a style with their clothing that characterizes it."

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For the sociologist Isabel Ángeles, the clothing of the artists, which, at this time, attract more attention and provoke more reaction than their musical work, is nothing more than a complement for many exponents who need that paraphernalia and with it distract the viewer .

“If we observe when we go to a classical music concert, all the musicians dress in black so as not to distract the public from what is being presented on stage, which is a concert of good music. We remember the great performers, balladeers, bolero singers, men and women dressed in full dress to go on stage. His costumes did not compete with his art, since the intention was that the public enjoy an exquisite musical performance. In these times, very few like Luis Miguel or Alejandro Fernández concentrate more on their performances than on what they wear on stage, ”Angels understands.

The sociologist herself recognizes that new musical genres and new performers of other known genres come to the market with their own style of dress. Generally methodologically designed to influence youth, which is what sets the trend.

“In these times the artist no longer has to go on stage and show off that great voice, and the businessmen know it. We know many exponents of modern music that are the result of marketing, because the clothing you wear on stage is as vital as the talent you can exhibit, ”she understands.

In this particular, Rossy Díaz says not to be so radical, because there are also cases like Lady Gaga who is an excellent pianist, composer and performer, and at the time, she resorted to attracting attention with her wardrobe, memorable styles such as the flesh suit , the egg suit or this kind of 'snow queen' suit with which she left her mouth open on stage.

Her style has been a source of inspiration for other artists, selling "aspirational" fashion and using it on magazine covers. Gaga is characterized by wearing underwear on the outside, architectural dresses and a lot of leather.

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Urban music brings its performers with bizarre, exaggerated clothing, sometimes outlandish and very typical of the style of each performer.

"We are living in a time when the visual concept of a singer is first created and then they focus on the artistic, on what he can sing or recite on stage," says Isabel Ángeles.

The urban rhythms are the expression of a youthful style of the time that represents in them the freedom to express themselves, before a society that has oppressed them economically and socially.

"Wearing many gold garments, with diamonds, wearing designer clothes and luxury vehicles, exhibiting a life of abundance is a demonstration of power, in a society that has labeled them," she says.

He adds: “Each one of these interpreters of urban music has a style when dressing, whether it is reflected in the clothes, the dyed hair, long or tied up in a bun, the tattoos, which are nothing more than a communicational code of these times” .