Songs about immigration

You all know I am a Spanish nerd, but I am also a music nerd too. Before I taught full time (and back when print media was still a thing,)  I wrote for music magazines in St. Louis and Illinois.

Every week I listen to two podcasts created by NPR, All Songs Considered and Alt Latino.

Over April break Alt Latino had an episode about songs about immigration. You can listen to the 24 min. episode here, (you can also scroll down and just listen to a song or two).

Listen then answer the Hot Tamale Activities below (email your response to bordner@cityhigh.org)

• Pick a song and describe it in detail. What is the story? Where is the artist from? What instruments do you hear? You can also fill our this document.
• Summarize one or more of the songs/stories. Why did the immigrant select that song?
• Is there a song or person you could relate to? Did one of the songs/people remind you of someone you know? Who? Why?
• Which of the stories of immigration did you find most powerful? Why? (For me, it was the musician in the band who cannot travel with his band because he does not have documentation.)
• If you had to pick a song to tell your story, what song would you select? Why?
• How has listening to the songs/stories changed how/what you think about immigration? 

There are also more songs and videos about immigration here. You can watch and summarize the the videos, find the lyrics on the internet. The 2nd and 3rd songs are hip hop songs about immigration.