ABSTRACT
Danza Kuduro' had ascended to the status of a global phenomenon, following the path forged by past global dance hits the likes of the 'Macarena' in 1995-96 and the 'Lambada' in 1989-90. In launching into an analysis of 'Danza Kuduro', the first area of discussion is that of lyrical function and interpretation. Rhythm is a key component necessary for developing musical integrity in dance music of any kind. The use of a static bass in this fashion is very much a dance music convention and is one of the only direct similarities between the son clave and reggaeton dembow rhythmic patterns. Musical hooks, however, are also largely responsible for the construction of much of Danza Kuduro's form and harmony. The Kuduro is a traditional Angolan dance form that shares roots with traditional Angolan dance rhythms such as semba and kizomba, Western electronic dance music and Afro-Caribbean calypso and soca rhythms.
