English 101

5/24/01

Genre: Spanish Rock

 

Henry David Thoreau once said, " Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." This quote exemplifies the importance of individualism and culture. Culturally speaking, self-pride is vital for the development of the mind of the persona. Knowing who we are and who we were is a necessary tool required for the progression of our existence in our society today. Spanish Rock arose from the cry of the masses in search for that pride in ones culture. What was once denounced became the pride of the community. The process embedded itself in our subconscious creating an entire new breed of subcultures throughout the communities of America. Within these specific cultures, an array of philosophies and visions generated the minds of individuals who are today your children, your neighbors, and your family.

As human beings, it is in our nature to be accepted by our peers, to assimilate with others or in a culture where we live. This process known as assimilation begins at a young age. Identity and culture are preoccupations of the mind of the human being while trying to understand why one exists in this world. A factor of this concept would have to be music. Our American society relates music to culture, identity, and life itself. Our fashion trends, vocabulary, identity, and goals are influenced and expressed from listening to the diverse genres in music. With that said, from a cultural standpoint, what if you don't speak English? What if you're an outsider not belonging to the social elite of society? What do you do? Assimilating is a process that is extremely hard to comprehend since one's acceptance into a culture is dependant on fitting in to the adopted characteristics, traits, and norms by that group.

Growing up as a Mexican-American can be difficult at times. To put it in perspective: In America I may be labeled as an alien and not seen as an American. However; in Mexico, I am not seen as Mexican but as a "gringo" (white) and categorized as being only American. Who do I belong to? What do I belong to? The fact is that it is difficult to grow up as a Mexican-American in America than any other ethnicity due to its complications of identity and culture. Music has become part of culture that ultimately reflects on ones identity. The music playing in radio stations throughout the country are playing such music as Nelly, Dr. Dre, Sting, Limp Bizkit, and Britney Spears. In Spanish language music stations they are playing Los Rieleros, Vicente Fernandez, Conjunto Primavera. The first group of people and bands mentioned are targeted towards suburban middle class Anglo-Saxon children and adults with a message of love and fun. The fact is that Mexican-Americans can't relate to the message. For the most part, we are trying to figure out how to survive the inner city of America through education and business, while feeding our families; we are not preoccupied with love or simply what to do in the weekends.

The second group of bands and people are in fact targeted towards a Hispanic audience but to whom exactly? This music fits into the Ranchero Genre, which is a totally different style of music. In a sense it is more traditional. These bands romance raditional Mexican lyrics with ideals of the old mindset of Mexicans. In other words, my parents, grandparents and recent immigrants to America are the target of this genre. Not me or everyone else that is in my situation. We are Americans who were raised under Mexican ideals, morals, and principles with a different mindset. The older generation of Mexican Immigrant possess the more traditional mind set of Mexico moral and values.

A void existed in the music industry, one that had yet to capture the acculturated or assimilated Hispanics, and the people of our nation purchasing their artists' music. During the 1970's and early 80's in America, music was bland in the sense that it was targeted for only one audience, that of the English speaking one. Not until the late 1980's and 1990's did we begin to see a tremendous growth in music targeting young Spanish speaking youth, and adults known as Spanish Rock, or as we like to refer to it as, "Rock en Espanol." It's fascinating to notice this genre's trend in style and content evolution produced from its inception. In the beginning, bands such as Mana, Caifanes, Soda Stereo, Heroes del Silencio, Enanitos Verdes formed part of a genre that could be categorized under one message, one ideal, that of love and happiness. They possessed the same message as English music because they were imitating the lyrics and style of English bands. This reinforces the notion that Latin American countries consider the U.S. as the trendsetter. Therefore, they simply duplicate styles and expressions and translate them to Spanish. Artistic uniqueness didn't exist in the beginning of Spanish Rock. They all looked like Robert Smith of the Cure and performed like such bands of the 80's known as the Smiths, Culture Club, and Depeche Mode. Even though depth in the music didn't exist, Mexican-American youth bought into this genre due to the desire to identify with music. These were bands from Argentina, Mexico, and Spain who were speaking to their audience in their native tongue, Spanish. The message would mature very soon becoming socially aware and socially conscious.

Fulano de Tal, a band with Cuban descent living in Miami is a clear example of the social awareness adapted into the lyrics of the music found in Spanish Rock today. Their song "yo no soy gringo-I am not white" clearly identifies the problem of the Hispanic youth found in America today.

Que me estan diciendo What are they saying?

No entiendo nada I can't understand

Solo hace un tiempo que vine de la Habana I just arrived from la Habana

Aqui en los estados Here in the states (US)

Requieren muchos datos They require so many documents

Para hacerme ciudadano no no To become a citizen, But wait

No puedo ser cubano Can't I be Cuban anymore?

Pero espera no soy gringo But wait, I am not white

Soy muy orgulloso de mi color latino I am very proud of my culture

Oye espera, no soy gringo Wait, I am not white

Pues el residente tiene que olvidar a su gente Why do the residents need to forget about their culture, their past, their people.

 

Hispanic youth are confused. We were raised by our parents and were taught to be proud of who you are, where you came from, and why you are here in the United States. Even though, our family, which is our source of knowledge and pride taught us these ideals, we are discriminated and critiqued in a negative perspective in the United States. This song fully captures this feeling of anxiety. We can't be who we are. We have to somehow fit into this mold of social norms formed by our society, which we do not belong to. Hispanic youth of America find themselves in a time of confusion yet progression. Our social identity is evolving into a figure of pride and essence. Oppression is being ignored and being attacked with the appropriate tools which is knowledge. This analysis requires a more extensive comprehension of why this is the case. It is vital to understand history in regards to the music and its people.

In order to understand Spanish Rock, one has to understand the dynamics of history and politics from its origins. After several years of imitation, Spanish Rock artists began to create what is truly known as Spanish Rock today. Mostly all Latin American countries found themselves in warfare in the early 1990's: Mexico found itself with the 60-year-old dictatorship of the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional), coupled with the uprising of a guerilla movement known as the EZLN (Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional); Argentina found itself in the hands of a dictator, Carlos Mennen; Columbia, fighting the war against drug trafficking, politics, and the guerilla uprising known as the ELN (Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional); Peru and their war against the terrorism of the guerilla movement known as Tupac Amaru and the dictatorship of Fujimori, its past president who fled to Japan in exile due to fraud and corruption accusations; and the United States and its struggle to end racism through the corruption of our legal system.  Understanding the turmoil in Latin America and the United States is essential to the comprehension of the resurgence of Spanish Rock as an art form of expression and a rallying cry for self self-expression. The bands began to write, sing, and perform socially influenced material that youth and adults could relate to because of its relevant content that spoke to issues and feelings they were experiencing. Spanish Rock became a network of organizations speaking on behalf of its fans either supporting guerilla warfare or supporting the end of corruption, inequality, and abuses in the world.

Spanish rock was born to fill the void. The mainstream bands were obviously in search for profit through songs with no connection to its audience, which preached love and happiness. What is interesting to understand is its influence on High School and College students. After America began to accept such bands as Bersuit, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Todos Tus Muertos, and Tijuana No, who were on a much bigger scale, yet remained with a socialist message; the local band scene began to infiltrate the streets of our nation. In Los Angeles, which today is known as the mecca of Spanish Rock, began to have local High School and College bands perform in small venues throughout the city. Spanish Rock no longer had one sound. Anywhere in the city you can find a venue that was hosting a Spanish Ska Band like 15 letras, Skarnales, and Quinto Sol and Spanish Punk bands like Calavera, Union 13, and Chenchas Berrinches. All bands had one message and one goal: to advocate its audience and help them understand in what kind of society they live in and the importance of social knowledge through current events. The reason why the local scene or as other people refer to it as the "underground scene" will never become mainstream is because they are linked to radical beliefs. Even though these bands many times have socialist or Marxist ideals, the response of Hispanic youth is admiration towards the music and the artistic expression of such bands.

Spanish Rock is the only type of music I really listen to and follow today. I can relate to the message, the audience, and the culture that is supporting and following this unique music genre. It was fascinating to witness this genre develop into what it is today. In Los Angeles, music venues for Spanish Rock were no longer having only a Spanish speaking audience but a big following of white audiences. It was beautiful to witness such unity through music, which I have never been able to witness with any English speaking bands and venues. Some of the music is many times too radical and the message can turn off other cultures, but if you can understand the magnitude of the music and the experience by witnessing a performance, it is a daunting and illuminating exodus into self-discovery and expression. Where once I couldn't understand the American culture, I can now see the beauty of America. The Freedom of expression through art and music is such only America can offer. We can finally say that America is what she sought out to become in 1776, a country of a diverse peoples accepting of all. When thinking of America and the acceptance of Spanish Rock, I can't stop but think of that profound quote by Henry David Thoreau stated in the beginning of this thesis. Spanish Rock has become that distinctive drummer in our nation, while America is finally tuning in to the beat of other cultures, which is in essence providing a strengthened harmonious pitch to its own.