While the bachatas being recorded in the 1960s had a distinctly Dominican flavor, they were regarded at the time as a variant of bolero, as the term "bachata", which originally referred to an informal rustic party, had not yet come into use. This term was first applied to the music by those seeking to disparage it. The higher echelons of Dominican society felt that bachata music was an expression of cultural backwardness, and a campaign ensued to brand bachata in this negative light. Bachata was not always legal, but to enjoy this kind of music it was considered "vulgar and sensual" and the higher class did not want to ruin the reputation so they did not dance nor listen. If one did dance bachata or listen to bachata it was considered lowly. Since bachata was illegal, it was not very popular but that has changed throughout the years since many famous artists have traveled and made this kind of music more heard and more popular but yet it is not as popular as the national dance merengue. Bachata music was seen as having sexualized lyrics because the musicians that wrote this kind of music did not have any musical or academic schooling which lead to the dancing being sexual as well.