Political Music From Artists in Argentina and Chile
From WolfWikis
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"You can't have a revolution without songs"-Salvador Allende
Since the 1950's Nueva cancion or, new song, has been a music genre from Latin American folk music that has brought about change for those who listen to the music, and those who write it. It uses the traditional instruments used by the Latin Americans and combines them with politicized lyrics. These lyrics are meant to reflect the cultural, economic, and political realities of the working and peasant classes within Latin America, including Argentina and Chile. These songs were used as weapons against the governmental systems in the countries that were unjust to its people. The songs supported the ideals of the revolution and gave home to the progressive movements of the time.
The artists of this time sought a musical reflection of their own lives, of the reality going on around them. The songs that they compose often bring about new ways of thinking for the people, drawing on the authentic experiences of life for all those that listen to the music.
Argentina
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/images/time/america/argentina.jpg
In Argentina during the election of 1946, Juan Peron took over. With the help of his wife, Eva Peron, the democratic government turned into Peronism. Peron boosted the economy of Argentina by industrializing the country. Peron started out doing good for the economy, helping the working population. He gave the working class paid vacations, free medical care, and more opportunities. Orphanges, schools, and homes for the ederly were built. He gained the support of the army by giving them modern equipment to work with, and by increasing their pay.
Peron though made sure that there was no opposition from the wealthy, or parts of the government that could overtake his rulings. He removed the justices of the Supreme Court and replaced with people who were easy to "brainwash". Peron did get rid of university fees, but in doing this he made sure that the universities were put under his dictation and forbidding all political activity on campus.
To assist Peron in his leading role, his wife, Eva Peron, helped him if not carried him throughout his presidency. Eva was the face of the operation, the people loved her. She started many programs for the poor and those who could not support themselves. Eva was the passionate one in the Peron operation. She suceeded in giving women more rights, including the right to vote. She preached to the women about how they should act and dress.
http://www.todotango.com/spanish/biblioteca/CRONICAS/images/La_Marcha_Eva_Peron.jpg
The change came about during the second election of Juan Peron. Peron's Congress started taking down anyone who showed any sign of disrespect to any leader in the government. Prison terms were handed out to those who disrespected or whom were found going against anything that Peron put to order.
Beginning in 1950, things started to change some for the Argentinian government. Due to their excess spending of money on buying up the industries taht when time came that they truely needed money, there was none to spare. In time Eva came down with cancer, after she died Juan was nothing in the Argentinian eyes. His reign slowly died out.
After Juan Peron passed away and his new wife took over, Isabel Peron, Isabel appointed her Brigade General Jorge Videla Commander-in-Chief. He was president from 1976-1981. His presidency ended after his prosecution of the large-scale human rights abuses which included torture ad murder of some leftists whether they were suspected of provin guilty.
Mercedes Sosa
http://www.easybuenosairescity.com/biografias/sosaframe.gif
Mercedes Sosa is an Argentinian singer who became a major part of nueva cancion. In the mid-60s with the help of her husband made her debut as a singer. After her first two albums, she began to travel the world promoting her songs and what those songs meant to her and the rest of the Argentinians. Her songs were rarely allowed onto the radios in Argentina because of the military authorities who found what she sang about to be an inconvenience to their cause. Mercedes kept pushing against their will. She came out with the record, "Hasta la Victoria" which uncluded many songs with social and many political statements.
Near the end of 1970 she released "Serenata para la tierra de uno" (Serenade for out Land). She kept on singing until the harassment of the government was to much for her to handle. At one of her concerts in the city of La Plata, her and 350 viewers were arrested.
She went away to exile in Madrid. There she carried on her activities as an artist. She recorded and traveled around the world, wining the world over with her talent and her integrity.
Merceded Sosa was the most succesful carrer that any Argentine artist has seen. She was not known just for her music but for the message that was within her music and the way she composed herself.
[[1]]
Solo le Pido a Dios
Solo le pido a Dios
Que el dolor no me sea indiferente,
Que la reseca
Muerta no me encuentre
Vacio y solo sin haber hecho lo suficiente.
Solo le pido a Dios
Que lo injusto no me sea indiferente,
Que no me abofeteen la otra mejilla
Despues que una garra me araño esta suerte.
Solo le pido a Dios
Que la guerra no me sea indiferente,
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.
<solo de Armonica>
Solo le pido a Dios
Que el engaño no me sea indiferente
Si un traidor puede mas que unos cuantos,
Que esos cantos no lo olviden facilmente.
Solo le pido a Dios
Que el futuro no me sea indiferente,
Desahuciado esta el que tiene que marchar
A vivir una cultura diferente.
Translation:
Single I request to him to God
That the pain is not to me indifferent,
That the parched one
Died it does not find me
Single Vacio and without to have done the sufficient thing.
Single I request to him to God
That the unjust thing is not to me indifferent,
That they do not slap the other cheek to me
Despues that a claw me ara?esta luck.
Single I request to him to God
That the war is not to me indifferent,
It is a great monster and it is above strong
All the poor innocence of people.
< single of Armonica >
Single I request to him to God
That enga?no is to me indifferent
If a traitor can but that a few,
That those songs do not forget it facilmente.
Single I request to him to God
That the future he is not to me indifferent,
Evicted this the one that it has to march
To live a different culture.
(is a response to the dirty war and the dictatorship Argenitina suffered in the 70's and the emigration that it caused)
Chile
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/images/time/america/chile.jpg
In the 60's the Chilean society was faced with party divisions in a polarized democracy.The musicians in Chile looked to bring unity to the nation under their party. The Nueva Cancion movement had an original goal to bring about the revival of the traditional Chilean music. They did this through the use of their Andean instruments and themes. The majority of music during this time was of the past, historical events or the traditional customs of which everyone can relate to.
Not only was the music that was performed during the Nueve Cancion used to unite people, but was also used for political means. Salvador Allende's Popular Unity campaign became a favorite for many artisits. Allende sought out artists to help him develop and shape his campaign, trying to conect withthe disenfranchised people of the nation through things like, education and arts. They worked to form one party so that all of Chile would be united. Due to the different life styles and social statuses, this was difficult.
Once in power, Allende and the Popular Unity dedicated their efforts to support the programmes of the new government. THey exposed and made fun of the elements of the right-wing oppositions. The right-wing opposition at this time had started to work together with the CIA to bring the economy to a halt. While this was going on they were plotting the overthrow of the popular government.
The presidency was a short one. in 1973 the government of Salvador Allende was overthrown during a coup d'état supported by the CIA and the Chilean military. Allende was killed in the National Palace. Many Chilean followers of Allende disappeared, tortured, or forced into exile. IN the Santiago Statium about 5,000 followers were kept, deprived of food and water, and brutally tortured and killed.
After this occured the Nueva Concion lived strong. Many people supported the cause of Allende, and those whom died that the Nueva Cancion movement was stronger then ever in Chile.
Victor Jara
http://www.folkworld.de/27/p/jara01.jpg
Victor had a lot of love for the hard working people in the small towns and villages in Chile. Many of the songs that he sings celebrates some asspect of their lives. The other portion of his songs help attack the injustice parts of society or even the political scandals that would come up. Victor was a part of Salvador Allende's Popular Unity party. He played an active role in Allende's campaign, he addressed union groups, schools, universities, and multiple congregations of working people. He was continuasly played at any events like, union meetings, rallies and, cultural benefits. He provided an artistic link between the people and the road to a new society. Because of his asociation with the party when the military captured the politcal prisoners, they also captured Victor. During his capturment they broke his hands so that he would not be able to play the guitar anymore. But that was not enough, they then killed him burtally with a machine gun as he was shot through the chest.
His songs were banned from playing on the radio, along with many others. After his death, Nueve Cancion grew in Chile. Victor Jara went down a hero for those in Chile and inspired more to come along and fight for a change.
His last poem was written in the stadium of which he was kiled. The scraps of paper were smuggled out by those who survived. He wrote: "Silence and screams are the end of my song." In his last message he asked: "They could kill him, but they couldn't kill his songs." And his wish is coming true, his songs are being carried on by others.
[[2]]
Te Recuerdo Amanda
Te recuerdo Amanda
la calle mojada
corriendo a la fabrica donde trabajaba Manuel
La sonrisa ancha, la lluvia en el pelo, no importaba nada ibas a encontrarte con el, con el, con el, con el, con el
Son cinco minutos la vida es eterna, en cinco minutos
Suena la sirena, de vuelta al trabajo y tu caminando lo iluminas todo los cinco minutos te hacen florecer
Te recuerdo Amanda la calle mojada corriendo a la fabrica donde trabajaba Manuel
La sonrisa ancha la lluvia en el pelo no importaba nada, ibas a encontrarte con el, con el, con el, con el, con el
Translation
I remember Amanda to you the wet street running to it makes it where Manuel worked
The wide smile, rain in the hair, it did not concern anything you went to encontrarte with, with, with, with, with
They are five minutes the life is eternal, in five minutes
It sounds the siren, of return to the work and your walking you illuminate everything the five minutes they make you bloom
I remember Amanda to you the wet street running to it makes it where Manuel worked
The wide smile rain in the hair it did not concern anything, you went to encontrarte with, with, with, with, with
(often joins the personal and politcal into one composition, this song joins a love story with the politicization of a worker who must go to the mountains and fight)
Annotated Bibliography
[[3]] This site helped me identify the Nueva Cancion.
[[4]] This site provided me with my information for Mercedes Sosa.
[[5]] This site provided me with a lot of information on the Nueva Cancion in Chile
[[6]] This site provided me with information on Victor Jara and the inpact he had.
[[7]] This site provides information on songs in Chile.
[[8]] This site helped me with Juan Peron.
[[9]] This site also had a lot of informationon Juan Peron.
[[10]] This site helped me with Juan Peron also, and the government he ran.