Mkohn...I don't know the real reason they call it "Mambo" as opposed to some other genres that share the name, but from experiences I know the word mambo has a certain connotation in Dominican culture. Its a bit hard to explain what mambo means per se, but it connotes what you would call "swing." Its like style and exuberance. Its to do something well and with style. And in the musical sense its real electric and could make you want to dance.
Still, you are right Merengue has changed and Mambo might not reflect traditional Dominican merengues, but it is popular at the moment and has been popular for some time now. I don't know if you know Spanish, or what your level of Spanish is, but there is a creativeness in the lyrics that is lost on some listeners. The rhymes and the vocabulary is completely "barrio" and it reflects barrio culture, to a degree (i.e the words they use and the slang terms). Yes, the song might glorify money and girls and etc etc, but I mean the content in many genres of music is questionable these days.
This style of music is fun and happy. The point, if you listen carefully, is to not worry about the daily problems you deal with. And as for references to carnal pleasures in merengue: that's what a variety of artists allude to in their music anyway. That's part of the sound, they just aren't as explicit about it.
And yes country music started their own awards, but look at the size of the US and the size of the American music industry. It'd be to difficult to copy and paste that format and have success here.
As for Squat, you must be a psychic because after one simple comment you can determine my geographical location? Riiiiiight!!! I live near Manoguayabo...Mambo blaring all day every day...On the bus home, that's what the bus driver plays. On the bus to work, that's all they play. At the colmado, at the gym, at the mechanic and everywhere I go, they play Mambo. Who says you don't have a choice? Don't like it? Leave. And just because you can't see the importance of something doesn't make it idiotic, it might just make you ignorant.
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