From the Roars of Hurricanes to the Chords of Standards: How We Used Popular Music in the Aftermath of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico

Abstract

In this article I describe and analyze how a community dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico and how we used music to deal with the aftermath of the consequences. Music, such as jazz standards and Puerto Rican songs, helped foster relationships between the members of the community, and was helpful in turning a couple of parking spaces into a nightclub. I also analyze the relationships between the hurricane, migration after the hurricane, and traditional Puerto Rican songs.