Canto porque es necesario cantar: The New Song Movement in Chile, 1973-1983

The Latin American New Song movement does not fit the usual stereotypes of Latin American popular music. Songs such as Para el camino (above) cannot be placed into the common categories of salsa, ballads, Spanish-language versions of U.S. hit songs, or popularized traditional styles such as the ranchera and cumbia. Although the New Song movement is not as well known as the more typical styles, its greater social significance has had an impact in Latin America far beyond the musical realm. The roots of New Song can be found in the resurgence of interest in traditional folkloric music that took place in the Southern Cone from the late 1950s to the early 1960s . Since the 1960s, the New Song movement has spread throughout the rest of Latin America, becoming an important cultural expression that directly addresses current social tensions in the region