Poetry in Popular Music: A Living Art Between the Quotidian and the Transcendental

Abstract

This article examines the aesthetic and symbolic dimension of popular music as a form of living and collective poetry. The problem it addresses is the academic undervaluation of popular song compared to written poetry, despite sharing equivalent rhythmic structures and expressive functions. The objective is to demonstrate that popular music constitutes a poetic space where the emotional, ethical, and social converge, becoming a path to sensitive knowledge, constitutive of cultural identity. The conceptual framework draws on the contributions of Octavio Paz, who conceives of rhythm as poetic revelation, and Carlos Monsiváis, for whom popular song acts as an archive of collective memory. The research adopts an analytical-hermeneutic methodology, based on the textual and performative examination of lyrics and performance styles from various Latin American genres (tango, bolero, ranchera, nueva trova), it manages to capture universal emotions —love, nostalgia, betrayal, and resistance— that in their apparent simplicity mask a poetic complexity. Furthermore, the artist's interpretation, voice, and arrangements transform each song into a living poem. The concepts presented show that popular song integrates literary resources —symbol, image, narrative, and musicality— into communicative structures that transform everyday experience into aesthetic expression. The conclusion is that popular music democratizes poetry by moving it from elitist spaces to the community sphere, preserving its emotional and reflective power. It is proposed to recognize song as a vehicle for sensitive pedagogy and as a cultural heritage that articulates memory, beauty, and collective belonging.