Rubén Blades’ Desapariciones was one of those songs that helped set me on my path. I was in high school and was just coming into awareness of the nightmare abuses occurring all across Latin American (Spanish-language news more explicit about the human rights horrors than English-language news) but it was Desapariciones that truly sang open my eyes. The next year The Official Story dropped and and there was no turning back.

I always ask my friend what song sang open your eyes? What song sang you to awareness?

Where do the disappeared go?

Look in the water and in the bushes

And why is it that they disappear?

Why aren't we all the same?

And when do the disappeared ones return?

Every time our thoughts bring them back.

How do you talk to the disappeared?

With your emotions squeezing you inside

(translation - original lyrics in song)