Five Argentinean Artists You Should Listen To

Whether you end up around the bonfire singing songs with Argentines, or if you are joining previas, pre parties, there are some Argentinean artists you should tune into if you would like to accompany the singsong. Here is a list to get you started the process of knowing the lyrics and getting argentinizada, or Argentinizied.

Mercedes Sosa

Mercedes Sosa, sometimes referred to as «the voice of Latin America» or the more affectionate «La Negrita» because of her long, black hair, started her artist career singing Argentine folk music. She was born into a Peronist family in San Miguel de Tucumán, in the northwestern Argentina in July 1935. At the age of 15 she was discovered when she won a competition arranged by a radio station. In the 60s, she and her first husband were important in the nueva canción movement, which often promoted human rights and democracy being socially committed. Sosa didn’t compose herself, but was a «unrivalled interpreter» of other artists works. Among her most known song are «Gracias a la vida», a song originally song by Chilean Violeta Parra. Others are «Zona de Promesas», «Solo le Pido a Dios» and «Alfonsina Y El Mar». She also song rock, tango and pop. During the last dictatorship in Argentina from 1976, Sosa received death threats, and after she was arrested at stage and then released, she had to exile and moved to Paris and then Madrid. Sosa became the «voice of the voiceless ones» for sining for the rights of the poor. When she died 74 years old in 2009, the former President Fernández de Kirchner ordered three days of national mourning.

Atahualpa Yupanqui

Self-appointed as a «singer of forgotten arts», Atahualpa Yupanqui, or Héctor Roberto Chavero, is a treasure for the Argentines folk music and local culture. Yupanqui is nothing less than considered the most important Argentine folk musician of the 20th century. He was born in a rural place close to the city of Pergamino, some 200 kilometers away from Buenos Aires. At nine, his family moved to Tucumán. He took his artist name in a bow to to Incan kings and the Andean language of Quechua, and traveled a lot in northwest of Argentina fascinated by the indigenous culture. Because he was a member of the Communist Party and was unwished during Juan Perón’s presidency and moved to Europe in 1949. Later on, he was invited to sing with Édith Piaf in Paris. «Luna Tucumana», «Los Ejes De Mi Carreta» and «Milonga Del Solitario» are among his most famous songs. He died in France at the age of 84.

Carlos Gardel

The tango singing legend Carlos Gardel is celebrated for being the very first great tango singer. Called «Zorzal Criollo» after the spring singing birds in Buenos Aires with a beautiful melody, Gardel was born in Toulouse in France in 1890. The family immigrated to Argentina and settled in the slaughterers neighborhood of Abasto when Gardel was 6. As a soft-voice seducer he became very popular interpreting melancholy tango ballads in nightclubs in the 20s and ‘30s. Just listed to «Por Una Cabeza», «Mi Buenos Aires Querido», «Volver» and «El Día Que Me Quieras». He was also an actor and participated in various films. He died in a tragic plane accident on tour in Colombia in 1935. Gardel became 44 years old. The birthday of Gardel has turned into a national tango day. León GiecoComposer, performer and interpreter called «The Argentine Bob Dylan». The 67 years old Raúl Alberto Antonio Gieco is acknowledged for mixing Argentinian rock and roll with folkloric genres. He is born in 1951 in Santa Fe Provience, and known for his lyrics calling for human rights. Gieco wrote the song «Solo le pido a Dios», having status as an Argentine anthem, which he performed with Mercedes Sosa. In 1981, he did a three year tour traveling 110 000 kilometers all over Argentina. He played in total for 420 000 people and recorded three albums based on material from the tour where he contacted local folklore musicians. The albums are called De Ushuaia a La Quiaca 1,2 and 3, and the beautiful song with the same name made together with musician, producer and songwriter Gustavo Santaolalla, was used in the movie the Motorcycle Diaries.

Luis Alberto Spinetta

Known to be the most famous rock start in Argentine history, Luis Alberto Spinetta is an artist nicknamed «El Flaco», the skinny one. Born in 1950 in Buenos Aires, he was a self-taught guitarist. He was the main leader of various bands, like Almendra, Pescado rabioso, Invisible, Spinetta Jade and Spinetta y los socio del desierto. As the «father of Argentine rock» Spinetta is considered a pioner of Spanish-language rock. He said his main influence came from The Beatles, while he felt most inspired to compose while feeling love. He’s song «Muchacha (ojos de papel) is aa Argentine classic, but has in later years been criticized for being «machista». He died 62 years old in 2012. The National Day of Music is in Argentina celebrated on his birthday.