"do you dance reggaeton?"

....a question I hear a lot from Chilenos... and it cracks me up. Maybe it's just because it sounds so weird, since most Chilenos lack the English vocabulary word "grind." And that makes it even funnier because "grinding" is not limited to reggaeton (at least to me). Where I grew up, people were grinding looooong before reggaeton made it big. Rap and hip hop anyone?

I guess this question comes up because Chilean guys are curious if I am willing to "get sexy" on the dance floor. Honestly, I have done my fair share of grinding in the US ... but NOT in Chile. Too much unnecessary attention ... and my red hair already does that well enough. Besides that, the people I have seen "grinding" here ... uff ... not even close to what am used to in the US. Chileans are TAME. If they saw what my high school's homecoming dances were like they would probably faint. (I'm not exaggerating... I'm talking used condoms on the floor after the dance type of dirrrty dancing).

In anycase, I'm always amused by this question.

Part 2 of this post - because I know it will come up - Yes, I LIKE reggaeton ... bite me. I like all kinds of music except for real US country music (I mean like the reaaally country stuff .. some pop country is ok. and folk music doesnt count as country - to me anyway) and techno (I like some electronic music, just not the techno stuff with the steady beat that makes your heart feel like it might explode to the point where being drugged out of your mind seems appealing). So besides those exceptions... this leaves quite a range of music - classic rock, hard rock, a little heavy metal, alternative (whatever that means), hip hop, R & B, rap, folk, bluegrass, jazz, classical, showtunes, soft rock, and reggaeton. I get a lot of crap for liking reggaeton in Chile - by gringos and chileans alike. I dont get too much grief in the states. Most latinos there are just pleasantly surprised that I like music that isn't in English. And most really gringo type americans don't know what it is, so it doesn't matter! My latino (non-Chilean) boyfriend tends to make a face when it comes to reggaeton. Mostly because he prefers music like this. (I also prefer this over reggaeton... but I still like reggaeton). However, when I go out with my boyfriend to dance, he doesn't seem to mind reggaeton at all!! Surprise, surprise (could it be the grinding thing? haha).

So, no need to inform me that "all reggaeton sounds the same," or that "reggaeton has dirty and disgusting lyrics." (This song also has some dirty lyrics, but lots of people love it!) These facts don't change the fact that I enjoy reggaeton on occasion. :o)