Nueva canción (Spanish for 'new song') was a movement in Latin American music that emerged in the mid-1960s, taking root in South America, especially Chile and other Andean countries. It combined traditional Latin American folk music idioms with progressive and often politicized lyrics.

Common issues in nueva canción are poverty, empowerment, Unidad Popular, imperialism, and democracy. Unlike nueva trova, nueva canción has tended to have a hostile relationship with governments. Some artists were tortured and executed by their governments (Víctor Jara) while others were forced to flee (Inti-Illimani). Notably, recently Chile has recognized how the movement popularized their country's unique musical traditions, and now in fact supports Inti-Illimani.

Most songs feature the guitar, and often the quena, zampoña, charango or cajón. The lyrics are typically in Spanish, with some indigenous or local words mixed in.

Nueva canción largely draws upon Andean music, Musica negra, and Spanish music.

Argentine Musicians

• Mercedes Sosa

Chilean Musicians

• Ángel Parra
• Héctor Pavez
• Horacio Salinas
• Isabel Parra
• Sergio Ortega
• Víctor Jara
• Violeta Parra
• Inti-Illimani
• Quilapayún

Similiar Latin-American Musical Movements

• Nueva trova (Cuba)
• Tropicalismo (Brazil)

See Also

• Roots revival