Nueva Trova is defined by its connection with the Cuban revolution, and by its lyrics, which tried to escape the banalities of life by concentrating on socialism, injustice, sexism, colonialism, racism and similar issues.
[1] Nueva Trova was one aspect of the Pan-Latin American "new song movement" which tended to use lyrics that were self-consciously literary, formal and schooled.
At about the same time, Puerto Ricans like Roy Brown, Andrés Jiménez, Antonio Cabán Vale and the group Haciendo Punto en Otro Son also became popular.
[4][5] Though inspired by American protest artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, Nueva Trova criticized the abuses of the United States government and its allies.
Other major influences include The Beatles, Chilean revivalist Violeta Parra, Uruguayan singer-songwriter Daniel Viglietti and the Catalan protest singer Joan Manuel Serrat.
Nevertheless Nueva Trova songs and albums of high musical and lyrical quality, such as Carlos Puebla's Hasta siempre, remain popular.