Spanish Honor Society Updates:

By Grace Colwell
​This week, Spanish Honor Society posted a new bulletin board this week on the Spanish counterculture movement “la Movida Madrilena” and the U.S. counterculture movement known as the Hippy Movement. They compared the style of clothing, the music, and the media. They both encouraged people to express themselves and were a crucial part in both countries’ histories. The main difference between them comes down to the population that made up the movement as the one in Spain consisted of an entire city while the one in the U.S. consisted of white, middle-class people. Stop by the world language department to see all of the research!

By Sabina Jungkeit
For its second bulletin board of the year, the Spanish Honor Society did a study on the repression of reproductive rights in Latin America. Although there are some places in Latin America, like in Columbia, where abortions are allowed on request, studies have shown that 97% of women in Latin America live under restrictive laws to their bodily autonomy. In many Latin American countries, abortions are banned, and in some countries, like El Salvador, people who recieve abortions can be legally prosecuted. Not only this, but some countries also have bans in place on certain contraceptives. Ultimately, these restrictions can lead to dangerous and life-threatening situations, such as unsafe abortions. The board presented a topic that, although sometimes difficult to talk about, is still deeply important to learn about, despite the moral challenges that it may present. The Spanish Honor Society remains dedicated to educating our community about topics within Spanish speaking countries, no matter how challenging they may be.
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​A Review of Hispanic Music from each Decade

By Alexis Grasdock
 El Triste, Jose Jose (70s)

• Release Date: 1970
• Origin: Mexico
• Genre: Latin Pop, Jazz
• Significance: El Triste catches the attention of the listener from start to finish, due to the rhetoric of the lyrics and its unique melody. Its high register highlights the vocal range and breath control of Jose Jose. In fact, the song and its interpretation was such a hit, that when it was performed at the Latin Song Festival, the audience demanded that José José had won it in spite of the judge’s decision.​

Suavamente, Elvis Crespo (80s)

• Release Date: 1999
• Origin: Puerto Rico
• Genre: Merengue
• Significance: Even 20 years after its creation, Suavamente is a staple at Latin Music Nightclubs. It has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide and peaked at 109 on the Billboard top 200.

La Negra Tiene Tumbao, Celia Cruz (90s)

• Release Date: 2001
• Origin: Cuba
• Genre: Salsa, Latin Pop
• Significance: La Negra Tiene Tumbao was nominated for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Music Video at the 3rd Latin Grammy Awards. The album which this song is from won Best Salsa Album and was nominated for Album of the Year.

Gasolina, Daddy Yankee (2000s)

• Release Date: 2010
• Origin: Puerto Rico
• Genre: Reggaeton
• Significance: Gasolina was the first song of its genre to be nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for record of the year. It also ranked #50 on the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and a year later became #1 on their 100 Greatest Reggaeton Songs of All Time list.

Despacito, Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee (2010s)

• Release Date: 2017
• Origin: Puerto Rico
• Genre: Reggaeton

Significance: Despacito is the most popular piece of latin pop in the history of Spanish music. It is the most viewed YouTube video of all time, with almost 8 billion views, and it is the most streamed song worldwide. Despacito also won the Latin Grammy Award for record of the year, and held the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s hot 100 for sixteen weeks.