Ofus - Miami Rock Band - South Florida Music - Shot by Bianca
As a musical genre, alternative rock has spread to many parts of the world. It is a form of musical expression that has emerged from various different subgenres. Basically “Alternative” is a generic term for underground music that has emerged into the mainstream and evolved in the wake of the UK Punk Rock of the early 1980’s. Obviously every country that this form of music has evolved in will have influenced the message that the alternative rock band is trying to get across. Contrary to pop music, which is generally considered to be quite “twee”, alternative rock addresses topics that are of a more social concern; topics such as environmental awareness, drug and other kinds of abuse, depression and even politics. As a form of musical expression, alternative rock in South America, has caught on, as it has in Japan, the US, Canada, Europe, Iceland and believe it or not even in the Phillippines.
However it appears that as far as alternative rock in South America is concerned, Argentina seems to the primary base for this sound. It is also very popular in Mexico, and although they are also Spanish Speaking in Mexico, this is central and not South America.
Many alternative rock bands were active in Argentina in the 1990’s, as the musical genre peaked. Today there are also many of these bands. They refer to the genre as Nuevo Rock Argentino, and bands such as Jaime sin Tierra, Peligrosos Gorriones, El Otro Yo and Babasónicos are extremely popular, although they have not broken into mainstream music in a big way. Although Babasónicos has become one of the most popular bands in Argentina and is popular throughout South America.
One Mexican alternative rock band has enjoyed success in the US, Mexico, Central and South America, and Jaguares has completed a successful tour. They have also released new alternative rock material that is popular in South America.
Other alternative rock bands in South America include well in The Prisioneros, La Ley, Libido, and Soda Stereo. Basically these bands have pretty much the same outlook on this genre of music as alternative rock bands in other parts of the world. They speak through their songs to many generations of Spanish speaking South Americans. Artistic authenticity is tantamount, the music is far less mainstream and although during the first part of this century the music genre has moved beyond is 1980’s roots, we still see alternative rock in South America displaying individuality. Most commercial radio stations ignore this genre and many alternative rock bands to not enjoy commercial success. But we do have to bear in mind that commercial success is generally contrary to the ethics of alternative rock bands, and they actually retreat from the limelight, rather than expose themselves to it.
The term alternative rock can be conflicting, essentially we have a music genre that offers “choices to consumers” or it is severely iconoclastic. Meaning it is strongly “anti-mainstream”, and therefore not suitable for the more mainstream music consumers.
