Is Chicano Music Negatively Affecting Current Day Music?

The Chicano wave was a phenomenon that effected an entire nation of people, whether they be white, black or Mexican-American. It changed the way Mexican-American's portrayed themselves in the years of the 1950's-1970's as well as changed the way many people in the United States viewed Mexican Americans. It brought about a "wave" of music which incorporated a combination of aspects attributed to doo-wop, soul and other genres of music. Chicano recording artists portrayed a sense of pride for their home country, expressing feelings of oppression and dismay brought about by the Mexican-American Revolution. But was all that this "wave" brought about good? Chicano music told these stories much like the "Corridos" that were written in the 1800s. These corridos often exploited rebel leaders in Mexico [1]. This is said to have some sort of effect on the rivalries represented in current day music. Some of the songs written during this time period and even now vocalized the hardships that Mexican-American immigrants went through in the United States. They often depict people like the American government, or immigration officers as the bad guys and exploit them just as the Mexican rebel leaders were exploited in corridos. For example, in 1999 Carlos Santana released the song "Migra" in which he depicts immigration officers as people with hate in their eyes and disdain in their hearts. This is not a positive message to be sharing with society. 

To listen to the Carlos Santana's song "Migra" click here.

To see the lyrics in both Spanish and English click here.

Maybe lyrics like this are the roots of today's music. Current day artists are often blamed for spreading hateful, hurtful messages to the public. However, where did the idea of writing songs like this come from? Can we attribute these derogatory, hurtful songs to the Chicano wave? Maybe we can root it even further back to the 1800's when corridos became popular in Mexico. Music is a universal language that affects almost every person who listens. No matter where it starts, themes and popular topics will forever have an effect on music worldwide.