Kupuwale Music Garden

Victor Jara was a beautiful musician, poet, stage director and activist from Chile. He came from a peasant family, and wrote songs of the struggles of people in Chile and around the world. He was brutally executed by the U.S.-backed Pinochet regime after weeks of torture in the very stadium where he often performed as a musician for peace. His hands were smashed before he was killed by machine gun fire...in these videos, his beautiful guitar playing really shows, which was apparently something the government couldn't stand. He inspires young people in Chile much as Che Guevarra does elsewhere.

El Derecho de Vivir en Paz (The Right to Live in Peace)

This song is about Viet Nam, the horrors of the war there, and the feelings of the people for Ho Chi Mihn and their land (Jara supported communism in general, but was not a hardliner -- he tended to express the feelings of the people, whatever they may be). Note: There is a video posted below of Soul Flower Union performing this song, in Japanese.

Te Recuerdo Amanda (I remember you, Amanda)

Amanda was Victor Jara's daughter. Her mother was British, and had to flee with her when he was captured. Obviously, this was made before all of that...sad, beautiful and kind of chicken skin...


Christy Moore performing "Victor Jara"

Christy Moore is an Irish baladeer. I believe that this song was actally written by Arlo Guthrie. It tells the story pretty well.

Lennon & Jara

This is an interesting & musically beautiful imaginary puppet theatre piece. Makes me wonder, would they actually have got along? I wonder. Anyway the vision is awesome. And I love the puppeteers singing in the end.