El pueblo unido jamás será vencido

¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido! (Spanish pronunciation: [el pweβlo/unido xamˈas seˈɾa βeŋ/zido]) (English: The people united will never be defeated) is one of the most internationally renowned songs of the Nueva Cancion Chilena (New Chilean Song) movement. The music of the song was composed by Sergio Ortega and the text written by Quilapa‎yún. The song was composed and recorded in June, 1973. ^{[1] [2]}

History

The song was initially composed as an anthem for the popular unity government, reflecting the spirit behind the mass mobilization of working class people who had responded to Salvador Allende’s call for the socialist transformation of Chile. The song was interpreted and recorded by a number of music groups shortly after it was composed and performed publicly by Sergio Ortega and Quilapayún. New Chilean Song music ensembles such as Vientos del Pueblo, Inti-illimani among others, made successful recording of the song that filled the airways and the backgrounds of political rallies. After the U.S.-backed ^[3]September 11, 1973 Chilean coup the song became the anthem of the Chilean resistance against the Pinochet regime, both within Chile and among the community of Chilean exiles and their political allies abroad.

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 no direct connection to the Chilean coup or Latin America. The lyrics have been adapted or translated into many languages.

Various versions

• In a more militant version, the phrase El pueblo unido jamás será vencido is changed in the last verse to El pueblo armado jamás será aplastado — "The people armed will never be crushed".

• In Portugal, especially from 1974 to 1977, pro-democracy, populist, centrist and left-wing groups (especially communists) sung a song called Portugal Ressuscitado (Ressurrected Portugal), written by Ary dos Santos and sung by Fernando Tordo and an acompaning chorus. The song was recorded immediately after the Carnation Revolution^[4] with the famous encore Agora o Povo Unido nunca mais será vencido (Now the The People United will never more be defeated).^[5]. The song, though, had only very small similarities with the tune of the Chilean version during most of its structure except (ironically) during the similar encore, and no lyrical similarity besides the spirit of popular struggle and the similar catchphrase/slogan. The song and the slogan are still quite popular and part of Portuguese colective memory.^[6][7][8]

• In Iran, the melody was used for a revolutionary song with Persian lyrics, entitled "Barpakhiz" (in English "Stand up")^[9], by the Iranian leftist activists during the Revolution against the monarchy in 1979.

• In the Philippines, the song was loosely translated by the progressive band Patatag for their song "Awit ng Tagumpay" (which translates to "Song of Victory"). It is sung during demonstrations.^[10]

• In 1975 Frederic Rzewski composed 36 piano variations on this song.

• In 2002 Russian singer Garik Sukachev used the phrase in his song "Svobodu Anjele Davis" ("freedom for Angela Davis").

• In 2004 this song was paraphrased in Ukrainian and sung during the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. After the revolution this inspiration eventualy led to the creation of Razom Nas Bahato, Ukrayne's representative song at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.

• In 2007, during the Greek general elections, the song was used during the main campaign of the left party SY.RIZ.A. (Coalition of the Radical Left) and it figured on the party's televised message.

• In 2008, Thievery Corporation released "El pueblo unido" on the album Radio Retaliation, which is based on this quote.

External links

• Lyrics and translation of lyrics
• Lyrics example by Anti-Flag

References