Nova Cançó

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La Nova Cançó (The New Song in Catalan) was a movement that promoted Catalan music during Francoism. This claimed for the normal usage of that language and denounced the injustices of the regime.

Its beginnings were in the second half of the 1960s, with a group suggested by Josep Benet i de Joan and Maurici Serrahima. This consisted of Jaume Armengol, Lluís Serrahima and Miquel Porter, who started composing Catalan songs. In 1959, after an article of Lluís Serrahima, published in Germinabit magazine and entitled "Ens calen cançons d’ara" (We need present songs), more authors and singers gathered around. After a very successful representation at the Centre Comarcal Lleidatà, the group Els Setze Jutges was born, founded by Remei Margarit and Josep Maria Espinàs. Delfí Abella and Francesc Pi de la Serra also joined soon.

The first records appeared in 1962, and trends started to diversify: musical bands, vocal groups, singer-songwriters, interpreters, etc.

A professional Catalonian artist, Salomé, and a Valencian revelation, Raimon, were awarded, in 1963, the first prize of the Vth Festival of the Mediterranean Music with the song "Se’n va anar" (Left).

Despite the restrictions and administrative hurdles in TV and radio broadcast, as well as in record industry, the New Song became increasingly popular, so many interpreters started to professionalize. At the same time, other currents such as folk-based ones apperead, with bands such as Grup de Folk and Esquirols.

Amongst others, we could point out Guillem d'Efak and Núria Feliu - Spanish critics award in 1966 -, or other new members of Els Setze Jutges. Some of them were even well known abroad.

As time happened, some bilingual singers appeared and other ideological positions emerged, which actually moved away from the initial ideas behind the movement.

Apart from Raimon, other former members of Els Setze Jutges continued their careers successfully, that's the case of Guillermina Motta, Francesc Pi de la Serra, Maria del Mar Bonet, Lluís Llach and, especially, Joan Manuel Serrat. Later on, we could also emphasize the Valencian Ovidi Montllor.

Because of its success, parallel movements were also born in Galiza, Basque Country and Castile.