<P> Nueva trova had its heyday in the 1970s, but was already declining before the fall of the Soviet Union . Examples of non-political styles in the nueva trova movement can be found, for example, Liuba María Hevia whose lyrics are focused on more traditional subjects such as love and solitude, sharing with the rest a highly poetical style . On the other side of the spectrum, Carlos Varela is famous in Cuba for his open criticism of some aspects of Castro's revolution . </P> <P> The nueva trova, initially so popular, suffered both inside Cuba, perhaps from a growing disenchantment with one - party rule, and externally, from the vivid contrast with the Buena Vista Social Club film and recordings . Audiences round the world have had their eyes opened to the extraordinary charm and musical quality of the older forms of Cuban music . By contrast, topical themes that seemed so relevant in the 1960s and 1970s now seem dry and passé . Even "Guantanamera" has been damaged by over-repetition in less skilled hands . All the same, those pieces of high musical and lyrical quality, among which Puebla's "Hasta siempre, Comandante" stands out, will probably last as long as Cuba lasts . </P> <P> Son remains the basis of most popular forms of modern Cuban music . Son is represented by long - standing groups like Septeto Nacional, which was re-established in 1985, Orquesta Aragón, Orquesta Ritmo Oriental and Orquesta Original de Manzanillo . Sierra Maestra, is famous for having sparked a revival in traditional son in the 1980s . Nueva trova still has influence, but the overtly political themes of the 1960s are well out of fashion . Meanwhile, Irakere fused traditional Cuban music with jazz, and groups like NG La Banda, Orishas and Son 14 continued to add new elements to son, especially hip hop and funk, to form timba music; this process was aided by the acquisition of imported electronic equipment . There are still many practitioners of traditional son montuno, such as Eliades Ochoa, who have recorded and toured widely as a result of interest in the son montuno after the Buena Vista Social Club success . Europe - based Cuban female singer - songwriter Addys Mercedes merged her roots of Son and Filin with elements of urban, rock and pop - music, reaching mainstream airplay charts in Germany . </P> <P> In the 1990s, increased interest in world music coincided with the post-Soviet Union periodo especial in Cuba, during which the economy began opening up to tourism . Orquesta Aragón, Charanga Habanera and Cándido Fabré y su Banda have been long - time players in the charanga scene, and helped form the popular timba scene of the late 1990s . The biggest award in modern Cuban music is the Beny Moré Award . </P>

What is the most popular music in cuba