Hugo Chávez, Alí Primera and Venezuela : The Politics of Music in Latin America

Unlike much of the literature on Venezuela in the Chávez period, this book shifts focus away from 'top down' perspectives to examine how Venezuelan folksinger Alí Primera (1942-1985) became intertwined with Venezuelan politics, both during his lifetime and posthumously. Alí’s ‘Necessary Songs’ offered cultural resources that enabled Chávez to connect with pre-existing patterns of grassroots activism in ways that resonated deeply with the poor and marginalised masses. Official support for Alí’s legacy led the songs to be used in new ways in the Chávez period, as Venezuelans actively engaged with them to redefine themselves in relation to the state and to reach new understandings of their place within a changed society. This book is essential reading not only for those interested in popular music and politics, but for all those seeking to better understand how Chávez was able to successfully identify himself so profoundly with the Venezuelan masses, and they with him. "Acknowledgements" -- "Contents" -- "List of Figures " -- "Chapter 1: Introduction" -- "Popular Music and Politics in Latin America" -- "The Nueva CanciÃ3n Movement in Latin America" -- "Understanding the Appeal of Chavismo8" -- "Popular Music and Collective Memory: A Dynamic Approach" -- "Populism and Popular Music in Latin America" -- "Revolutionary Governments and Popular Music in Latin America" -- "Nueva CanciÃ3n, Collective Memory and the Chávez Government" -- "Structure of the Book" -- "Notes" -- "Chapter 2: Latin American Nueva CanciÃ3n: The Leftist Revival of Folk Traditions" -- "Nueva CanciÃ3n and Local Circumstances" -- "Origins of Nueva CanciÃ3n" -- "The Music Industry and â#x80;#x98;Cultural Colonialismâ#x80;#x99;" -- "Argentinaâ#x80;#x99;s Institutional Ruling and Renewed Interest in Folk Music" -- "Violeta Parra and Atahualpa Yupanqui: Reviving and Reinterpreting Folk Music Traditions" -- "The Influence of Cuba" -- "La Peña de los Parra: A New Performance Style" -- "Consolidation of the Movement" -- "Rejection of â#x80;#x98;Protestâ#x80;#x99; Label and Emphasis on Renewal of Traditional Forms" -- "Nueva CanciÃ3n as â#x80;#x98;Cultural Voiceâ#x80;#x99; of the Left" -- "Dissemination and Audience Reception" -- "Nueva CanciÃ3n and State Repression" -- "Conclusions" -- "Notes" -- "Chapter 3: The Development of Nueva CanciÃ3n in Venezuela: Alí Primera and CanciÃ3n Necesaria" -- "Oil and Its Cultural, Political and Racial Impact" -- "The Beginnings of Venezuelan Nueva CanciÃ3n" -- "â#x80;#x98;Humanidadâ#x80;#x99;: Alíâ#x80;#x99;s First Nueva CanciÃ3n Composition" -- "The Late 1960s and Alíâ#x80;#x99;s Participation in the Carga sobre Caracas" -- "â#x80;#x98;Casas de cartÃ3nâ#x80;#x99;: Alí and the Representation of Poverty as the â#x80;#x98;Fruit of Capitalist Exploitationâ#x80;#x99;" -- "â#x80;#x98;Yankee Go Homeâ#x80;#x99;: Alí and the Denunciation of Foreign Exploitation of Venezuelaâ#x80;#x99;s Oil"