From the freedom songs of Argentinean singer Mercedes Sosa to Stravinsky's "la Marsaillaise" to Fred Rzewksi's "The People United will Never Be Defeated!," we bring you the sounds of rebellion from around the world.
Weigh in: what songs do you think characterize the victory of the few against the many?
Weigh in: what songs do you think characterize the victory of the few against the many?
Comments [4]
I am writing to express my extreme disappoint (indeed shock) at last night's so-called "Hanukkah Music" hour hosted by Marcia Young — a program that I looked forward to for several days. Not only did Ms. Young know very little about the holiday (the Jews did not rebel against the Greeks, but against the Hellenistic Syrians), but her decision to use this hour for a program of general "protest" music having nothing to do with the Jewish holiday was insensitive and in terribly poor taste. The program included such selections as "The Passion of St. Thomas More" (the story of a Christian martyr), "The Marseillaise," music from the American revolution, music from the French revolution, songs from the Argentine protests of 1970s, etc. Granted, part of the Hanukkah history includes the story of the Maccabees' rebellion, but the choice of this music was in no way relevant to the rich history of the Hanukkah celebration. Nor did any of her (minimal at best) comments about the holiday have any relevance. There is a surfeit of rich, wonderful music associated with the holiday from many countries across many centuries. Was there not a station manager or a director who had oversight of her choices? Or at least someone with some knowledge of the holiday who could have advised her?
We love your celebration of Chanukkah, and we love Mercedes Sosa, but the version played of El pueblo unido jamás será vencido must have been by Inti Illimani, and it has a very emotional impact for us Chileans.
Wikipedia says:
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido ("The people united will never be defeated") is a song written by Sergio Ortega. It was originally recorded by the Chilean group Quilapayún, and was used mostly during the Unidad Popular campaign and government times[1].
However, it was especially after Pinochet's September 1973 coup that the group Inti-Illimani (also from Chile) made it famous around the world.
During the course of time the song has been used in various protests around the world, most of which have nothing to do with the Chilean coup or Latin America. The lyrics have been adapted or translated into many languages.
The people united will never be defeated is a Chilean song, written for the Allende campaign in 1970
"Do You Hear The People Sing," from Les Misrables.
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