Hola, ¿qué tal? Nico here again! In this post I want to tell you a bit about my personal music taste — especially when it comes to Argentinian music.
🎶 What Is “Rock Nacional”?
One of my absolute favorite genres is rock nacional — which basically means Argentinian rock. While you could just call it “rock argentino,” here in Argentina, we usually refer to it as rock nacional.
It’s a huge part of our culture — and if you’re into music from the ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s, you’re going to love it.
Let me introduce you to some of the legends 👇
🎤 My Favorite Artists in Argentinian Rock
⭐ Gustavo Cerati
Cerati is hands-down my favorite. He was the lead singer of Soda Stereo, one of the most iconic rock bands in Latin America.
His music is inspired by English and American rock from the ‘80s and ‘90s, and his solo career was just as brilliant as his time with the band.
If you don’t know Soda Stereo yet — you need to listen to them today. Almost every Argentinian knows all their songs. They’re that legendary.
⭐ Charly García
Another rock legend. Charly started with a band called Sui Generis — one of my all-time favorites. Their sound is softer and more relaxed but still full of depth.
🎧 In Argentina, we often say tema instead of canción (song).
For example:
“¿Cuál es tu tema favorito?” → “What’s your favorite song?”
What’s yours? Tell me in the comments!
⭐ Luis Alberto Spinetta
Spinetta is another iconic figure. Both Charly and Spinetta helped shape modern Argentinian music — they came from more traditional backgrounds and then pioneered the local rock scene.
🎸 Honorable Mention: Rata Blanca
Another band I love is Rata Blanca, an epic rock band from the ‘80s. Their music is more intense, more classic rock — and very popular in Argentina. Highly recommended!
💃 Let’s Talk About Folklore
Now switching genres…
One of the most beautiful and meaningful genres in Argentina is folklore — traditional music from the heart of the country.
I might even like it more than rock.
What is Argentine Folklore?
It’s music that comes from el interior del país — meaning everything outside the capital, especially northern provinces. It’s full of rhythm, emotion, and tradition.
If you’re just getting into this genre, here are some top artists to explore:
- Atahualpa Yupanqui
- Soledad Pastorutti
- El Chaqueño Palavecino
- Horacio Guaraní
- Jorge Rojas
This music is super copada — a slang term we use that means super cool.
If you want to go deeper, I highly recommend searching for folklore dancing. Just Google:
«danza folklore argentino» or «baile de folklore argentino»
You’ll see traditional costumes and dance styles that go with this music. It’s a big part of our culture.
🎼 What About Tango?
Yes — I also like tango.
Although I don’t listen to it every day, I still enjoy it from time to time (de vez en cuando). And if you want to get into tango, start with the biggest name of all:
Carlos Gardel
He’s the ultimate tango icon — not just in Argentina, but worldwide. Born in Europe (most likely France), Gardel became the face of Argentinian tango forever.
🎧 What Music Do You Like?
Now you know my favorite music styles from Argentina — but what about you?
➡ Do you listen to Argentine music?
➡ What genre do you enjoy most?
There’s so much variety here:
- Cumbia
- Cuarteto
- Rock Nacional
- Tango
- Rap
- Folklore
… and many more.
Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear what you’re listening to and what artists you’ve discovered.
📌 Ready to Learn More?
👉 Spanish Mindset Program: https://spanish-mindset.com/services/
📘 Grab the book: Mini Stories to Learn Spanish (on Amazon)
💬 Join my free Telegram group, ARGENTINA TRAVELERS.
📩 My YouTube Channel, Spanish with Nico.
Learn Argentinian Spanish: Slang & Culture | Spanish Mindset 