Hace 2 años escribí un post un poco apasionado en que exponía la importancia de la integración para el empoderamiento de la cultura regional. Curiosamente tras ese tiempo se ha convertido en uno de los post más leidos.
Más allá del tiempo perdido (en toda la historia), es interesante ver como inconscientemente las conexiones que nos llevan nuestras herramientas de vida (el idioma, la tecnología, nuestra forma de vida) nos termina convocando bajo los mismos caminos. Es casi un hecho que las redes están rompiendo con los moldes muchas veces que los Estados quieren direccionar de lo que ellos entienden como cultura. Irónicamente en Latinoamérica esto es mucho más evidente por obvias razones. La única manera de evitarlo es con el aislamiento, el cual para bien o mal, a medida que los medios de comunicación sean más interactivos y más cercanos a la vida diaria de la persona serán más díficiles de amurallar.
Y es que la posibilidad de comunicación está entablada y relacionada con lo que cada uno trae bajo el brazo (desde su ciudad, vecindario, y vivencia). Dentro de nuestros maltrechados proceso de identidades nacionales aun no acabados, Latinoamérica ha terminado por demostrar que es una serie de sociedades iguales transversalmente. Minorías de un lado se parece a las mayorías del otro, y viceversa. Esa transposiciones pueden crear increibles vías de comunicación que puede potencialmente enriquecidas en la medidas que cada uno tenga que ofrecer y el otro esté dispuesto a conocer.
Es verdad, la globalización nos está devorando y uniformando, pero también se puede aprovechar de él, si tiene la visión necesaria y para construirla ya no basta gente de tu misma ciudad o país; ahora las comunidades superan las fronteras y tienes que acostumbrarte a ello. Las corporaciones le sacarán el jugo a ello pero también se puede crear una conciencia creativa, si sé es perspicaz.
Por ello aterrizándolo al rock hecho en la región, se puede hablar de rock hecho en México, en Argentina, en Bolivia, etc, pero es ridículo hablar de "rock nacional" y aterrizar un imaginario e intentar crear una idiosincracia que cada vez necesita de más piezas para poder armar su propia historia. Estamos entrelazados y conocer un solo lado de la escena, no te hace ni más importante ni el más "cool". Los que están esperando la medalla de la nación, ahí tienen la receta.
Es la oportunidad de poder romper las barreras y buscar que tan similares y diferentes somos y como esas interconexiones ya existentes se manifiestan en una nueva mirada. El re-descubrimiento de América por el americano, que se dio cuenta que ya es hora de superar los traumas de las guerras internas del siglo XIX y la Guerra Fría. Ahora, como consumidores tenemos la posibilidad de tener más acceso a propuestas que nos pueden encantar o detestar y que construyen un nuevo folklore, y en este neo-folclor habrán modas y cosas que duran para siempre. Ahora la palabra la tenemos nosotros y se va nutriendo a partir de nuestros aportes. La integración ya no es una necesidad, es un hecho; y si el mundo de la música quiere cerrar los ojos y negar que todo está pasando, le va a pasar la arrolladora de la asimetría del subdesarrollo, un juego donde todos los que queremos conocer más de la música estamos ganando pero a sabiendas que otros por ignorancia o necesidad se niegan a ser parte de ello. Llámalo hispano, latino o americano ¿Sugieres algún nombre?
Hay gente que cree que el exito mundial de Molotov fue solo una leyenda urbana. Sin embargo, este video prueba que pese a que su gran momento fue a finales de los 90s, siempre quedó un pequeño grupo de culto que los acompañó hasta más allá de la moda, y así fue que la lejana Rusia los recibió con los brazos abiertos cuando giraron por allá el 2010. El final de video reportaje está acompañado por unos borrachos coreando el famoso "Puto!! Puto!!" Obscenidad de exportación.
Deaths, censure and embarrassment as the element of surprise on media are the criteria for that list with no more intention than compilate them and write about it:
During the presentation of Enrique Iglesias in Vina del Mar in 2000, the Spanish decided to throw the statuette he won, la Gaviota de Plata. The small object, which because of its shape is sharp as a razor, was released to the public. The hostess Cecilia Bolocco asked to return the statue where a fan with a wound on his face approached him excited to pop singer.
Elvis Crespo struck by the Latin pop in the late 90's. However, return to media attention nearly 10 years later with a totally unrelated topic. On March 19, 2009, the singer of "Suavemente", was accused by a passenger to masturbate during the flight that would take them from Houston to Miami. The claims of the passenger Patricia Perea, 52, were due, according to the pilot told the Police, Elvis just 15 minutes to take off the plane was covered with a blanket and began to masturbate. As he did so inadvertently dropped the blanket, leaving his penis exposed. Upon landing, Elvis, was arrested, just as he took her statement, the passenger, and three crew members, the case was turned to the FBI, as a federal crime. And for a few weeks was the laughingstock of the press and the joke of many comedians.
At a concert held in 1994 to more than one hundred thousand spectators, the former member of The Smiths said "I'm feeling so comfortable that I smoke a joint (porrito)." Days later, a group of parents sought the prosecution of the artist to consider these expressions instigated by drug use. Thereafter, a trial would begin that would last more than 10 years, accused by apology. Although the judge ultimately decided to rule in favor of the musician, the complainants appealed and unsuccessfully tried to bring the case to the House of Buenos Aires. However, never daunted Calamaro and went on talking openly about drugs and singing about them as in the famous song "Crazy".
During MTV Latin Awards 2007, the tough audience had no compassion expressing what they thought about some artists. Even Maná, which was the big winner of the night, with a tribute that ended with Shakira when they were awarded as a MTV Legend a year earlier. But that was no reason enough for the audience for stop booing during all the show. MTV tried to minimize the issue in front of the cameras but the press reported the incident the next day and the same Alex Gonzalez threw the middle finger to people who did the booing. While it is not surprising that the public has that kind of reaction with any band, which itself is unusual is that it is to a band that are giving some recognition and is broadcast live worldwide.
The confrontation between Alejandro Sanz with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is something that started in 2004, when the Miami-based Spanish openly said he did not like Chavez and "To me, if I was given three million signatures to stop him from singing , immediately cease to sing" in support of the referendum that supported the opposition to prevent their re-election. The anti-Sanz fans would use to make a virtual request where they made that request to the singer. Likewise, the Venezuelan government considered that El Poliendo, where Sanz would play, was not adequate and banned it in favor of other shows. While Chavez wanted to extend a hand of friendship by saying that I could play at the Palace of Miraflores at will, Alejandro Sanz has continued his position publicly as wearing T-shirts at their concerts in the U.S. with "Chavez sucks!" and recently saying "I hate Chavez is a dictator who eliminates everything that does not like. People can think more to the left or right, but you should always be democracy."
Afro-Caribbean music has always had its "bad guys" and in 1962 two great musicians have trouble with the law: Ismael "Maelo" Rivera & Rafael Cortijo, when both were still part of his band Cortijo y su Combo. After being convicted of drug trafficking are sent to serve prison sentence in the rehabilitation program in Lexington, Kentucky. "Maelo" was confined for nearly four years. Although it was contrite when he left the event (as expressed in several of his songs), the situation gave him a sort of street credibility that other musicians after their kind would take the time for mere pose.
The relationship between Claudio Narea and Jorge Gonzalez Narea, members of Los Prisioneros, was not good for years, that led to his departure before the release of "Corazones" in 1990, and the second comeback was not a sign that things seemed to improve. Later that Narea was left the group again, decided to write a letter to the public where it had its truth: "My start (...) not respond to a voluntary and personal decision, but that Jorge Gonzalez has asked me to leave playing with the band. " Gonzalez tried to take everything into oblivion with the entry of new members as Alvaro and Gonzalo Yañez Henriquez. However, the chapter of discomfort between the two would not end there, when Narea launched in 2009, his book "My Life as Prisoner (Prisionero)' accusing George of having slept with his wife Claudia then.
During a presentation in November 2005, the Mexican singer Juan Gabriel suffers a nasty fall during a show in Houston, Texas. After losing consciousness he was taken to hospital where he was found to have fractures, it was decided to suspend all their concerts until the end of the year. The incident was captured on video and was widely disseminated by the newborn YouTube page.
Vico C always sang recognized values but always trying to escape his abuse of drugs. When it seemed he had passed that stage, was arrested in early 2002 for possession of cocaine and is where he decided to reveal his truth: "I had an accident in 1990. A motorcycle crush and was hospitalized for over a year. At that point I became very addicted to hard drugs, the pills, antidepressants ... and when I left there, I started taking cocaine. Then I followed a treatment with methadone, which I became addicted. And in 2002 fell prisoner in Orlando, Florida, for possession of cocaine. I came to jail with my wretched clear, I did not find anything in the cells. But the abuses that I lived in there made me a better man .. " From there, things seem to have improved for Vico.
While a economic, political and institutional crisis came to Argentina, Shakira went through an extraordinary moment in her career, which her dream of "crossover" became a world famous artist. As the second single from her album "Laundry service" to the Anglo market, the artist decides that Antonio De La Rua, her recently boyfriend was the Beau for the music video and thus declare it "officially" as his partner to the world. However, the reaction in Argentina, could not be worse, regarded an insult to the people while his father the President of the nation saw his country falling apart. The reactions were quick, some record stores refused to distribute materials to Shakira, and some people protested against the records kept still. Shakira had to face the Argentine media and apologize for their lack of sensitivity, even portrayed this chapter in his DVD tour to discuss with your tour manager about the possibility of including a concert in Buenos Aires. In the end, Shakira won over audiences again and still making a popular artist in the South American country.
Gorki Aguila is the most publicly anarchist musician who lives in Castro's Cuba. Leader of the group Porno Para Ricardo was arrested in August 2008 for "pre-criminal dangerousness." After four days, the trial court changed it to "civil disobedience" and was released on payment of a fine. Although the musician had previously been arrested for drug possession, this time the musician defended and held that the arrest was related to his lyrics and his contempt for the restrictions of expression that exist in that country. Cuban exile he has found the staff they need to report abuses against individual rights on the island: "In reality, the crime of Gorki's only one: to have the balls to denounce the abuses of tyranny against the people Cuban regime's illegitimacy and inheritance tax on Cuba. "
McCain was the Republican nominee for U.S. elections 2008 and during an event in August proselytizing that year in Phoenix, Arizona, Puerto Rican reggaeton star Daddy Yankee surprised by the decision to publicly support him because in his words "believes in his ideals and his proposals to lead this nation." The reactions were soon expected. Rapper Fat Joe called him a "sold-out" and in his native Puerto Rico, rapper SieteNueve dedicated a song accusing him of not knowing what was supporting the same party that had used their people as cannon fodder.
Argentina Radio "Rock & Pop" released "Señor Cobranza" of the then little known band Bersuit Vergarabat and the Federal Broadcasting Committee decreed that the song lacked the respect to the authorities. The songs could not broadcast the song or radios would pay millions in fines. And it ended up creating a "ripple effect" with a positive benefits for the band and the song spread throughout Latin America despite any censorship, supported by a low-budget video.
Fito Páez had proposed record an album to Joaquin Sabina but no one would know that would become the great hell in the lives of both: the schools of composition wouldn't fit and the fight of ego-centrist artists ended in enmity. Although initially tried to hide his displeasure to the press, when "Enemigos íntimos" was released in 1998, the discomfort began to manifest canceling many of the plans for promotion including a tour and a slip occurred when they disagree for the choice of a director for its second cut "Delirium Tremes". Musicians will attack for years accusing each other of different things from being irresponsible or liars. 10 years later, they reconciled again, when Sabina invited Fito playing in a concert in 2008.
"Caja de rítmos" was a TVE music program that aired on Saturday mornings where they appeared many new wave bands of Madrid. In April 1983 the program director Carlos Tena allows the broadcast of the music video for "Me gustar ser una zorra (traslated "I like being a bitch") of the group Las Vulpes, lyrics that talked about masturbation and other sex references. The next day, the opposition of the Government would make a fuss about the fact and the same Attorney General decides to intervene in the matter. The program of the State Channel was taken off the air and Carlos Tena disappeared from the map.
Between December 1987 and December 1988, the Argentine rock suffered the death of three local stars who were in the effervescence of their careers. Luca Prodan, the leader of Sumo, die of acute liver cirrhosis. Few months later, Miguel Abuelo, founder of Abuelos de la Nada, die after a fight against HIV disease, and later Virus' Federico Moura also die under similar circumstances. Although they had no relation amical, the facts would impact the people who works with them (as Ricardo Mollo, Andrés Calamaro and Gustavo Cerati) and define a stage of music in that country.
Ok, this was no surprise to almost nobody, but the fact generate unprecedented media coverage. More than the news itself that everyone was asking was what really motivated him to accept, would a boycott? Something to include? Lost feel relief in your life? The only answers that were taken were answered with unexpected news as his role as "Che Guevara" in a Broadway play.
If you can find ways to end a pop star career could ask to Italian Tiziano Ferro and his brutally honesty . In May 2006, during the Italian show "Che tempo che fa", Tiziano said "It is impossible to say that in Mexico are the most beautiful women in the world. With all respect, they have whiskers." The comment that seemed a mere joke by the way he said but in Mexico had many press impact and general public think highly offensive words. Ferro had to apologize publicly in various Mexican TV programs and despite the efforts of their label to keep it high in the country where buy more his records, he could never reverse the situation. In late 2010, declared openly gay which would make the situation much more playful for his detractors.
It was short but intense, even humorous. Usually, artists do damage in the Latin American TV because the TV knows who are the anarchist artists that can cause problems and they just not invite them. But in 1992, Mano Negra was invited to show "La TV ataca" by Mario Pergolini. During the interview, member Tomas Damal stand up and starts screaming in French "TV sucks" and decides to go against one of the chambers to a series of shrieks and uncontrolled behavior. Pergolini ignored and continued the interview, making the situation a mere joke. Good improvisation to one of the most unexpected of TV in Latin America.
The Mexican Festival of Avándaro marked the beginning of the repression against the rock in the 70's. Before an audience of 300 000 people (a hug number so far), had a live broadcast on local radio. When the singer Peace & Love, Ricardo Ochoa shouts "fuck your mother if not sing" and started playing a song named "Marijuana", conservatives shocked and radio cut immediatly the signal. Conservatives showed the Festival as a sign of decadence for the youth (in addition to a famous photo in a magazine where it appeared a topless girl between the crowd). The official story tried to cover up what happened in the days the Latin Rock history change forever.
A tabloid drama lived pop singer Kalimba, who have had a good reputation for being a nice pop of an ex-boy band became to be considered a criminal after he was accused of rape of a underage after a concert in Quintana Roo, Mexico in December 2010. The local prosecutor requested an arrest warrant against him and was arrested on January 20, 2011 by immigration authorities in El Paso, Texas. He was deported to Mexico and moved to the city of Chetumal where he was imprisoned in the penitentiary of the city. Though he was set free later because it was not found credible evidence to continue the case, the attorney appealed the case, and the Afro-Mexican singer came to be seen differently to the general public.
The sayings of Calle 13's Residente seem no big deal, except for politicians. Or at least that was demonstrated in both Puerto Rico and Colombia after his debut as host of the Latin MTV awards in 2009. His presentation incluedad T-shirts where it appears different messages about politics and collective memory. One of them insinuated that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is a paramilitar. The mayor of the city of Manila canceled a presentation in a local Festival and asked to do the same throughout the country. The fury of politicians only generated greater appeal for Calle 13 and became a phenomenon loved by opponents of President Alvaro Uribe.
Charly Garcia had many relapses because of his very known drug addiction problems in his entire life, but in July 2008, seemed to hit bottom when friends decide to interne at the Polyclinic of Cuyo in Mendoza, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He spent a week in intensive care until was taken to the Argerich Hospital in Buenos Aires. Overcome pneumonia, the doctors started a treatment to cure her psychomotor excitement box. Palito Ortega, one of his friends, decides to intervene in an enclosure giving housing away from the city where he completed his recovery. By October of that year, Charlie was different: a quiet guy, especially positive and stable. The following year he returns to the stage where the audience is waiting with total gibberish.
In 1981, Rubén Blades released "Tiburón", a song that openly criticized the U.S. government for its military intervention in Central America, something sui generis, considering that the song was released from New York. Reactions in Miami would be angry where he would be accused of communist and be ungrateful with a nation that opened him the doors. Radios not only vetoed the song but all her singles during the 80s, as a "punishment" for his political position (although the album where the song was not stop selling globally and give his first nomination for a Grammy). In the 90's, radio stations would play his songs again.
It shouldn't be more than a mere opinion in an interview, but when Fito Paez said "the fact that Ricardo Arjona fill more stadiums in Buenos Aires that Charly Garcia was a sign of decay and the annihilation of the securities" in March 2010, the Guatemalan singer rapidly answer buying a full-page ad in the Argentinean newspaper Clarin accusing Paez of being a dictator intellectualist and a poor copy of Charly García (in music) and Almodovar (in film). The public battle of egos eated a flurry of discussion among fans that threatened the credibility of another where even Charlie himself dared to participate. Although Arjona seemed willing to answer any additional comment by Páez, but the last one decided to put an end saying he chose his enemies and was not going to get carried away by the controversial media even if what happened was well recorded.
José José is one of the singers of romantic music most important ever but he has suffered from various health problems throughout his career, he underwent several operations on his vocal cords as a result of excessive use of cortisol, alcohol and lack of rest after their concerts. José José had grave consequences of his problem with alcoholism, as his health was deteriorating during the 1990s. That it has kept away from the stage, where despite the efforts of some people never been able to sing again as in his younger years.
Many Latin American singers have performed his music in Havana. However, when you're an established artist in Miami, the story is different. The music industry and media as the city considered that play there is a betrayal. In 2009 Juanes wanted to set up his festival Paz Sin Fronteras on Revolution Square in Havana. However, the artists were originally be included (as Mana, Enrique Iglesias and Juan Luis Guerra) left immediatly to see the bad media publicity in Florida accused Juanes from supporting for Fidel Castro. Attended by more than 1.15 million people to the concert, become the third fillest concert in the western world history according to statistics. The final lineup was led by Miguel Bosé, Olga Tanon, Silvio Rodriguez and Orishas, among others.
The organizers of the Academy Awards decided the Uruguayan singer-songwriter should not interpret his song "Across the River" (form the film "The Motorcycle Diaries") because Jorge Drexler was not known enough for the United States (more accustomed to latin artists as Ricky Martin or Enrique Iglesias). Media in South America and Spain spoke of contempt of showbiz in the U.S. for certain types of Latin American artists. Actors like Gael García Bernal decided not attending the event as a protest because of it. During the TV broadcast show the song was performed by actor Antonio Banderas accompanied by guitarist Carlos Santana. As the winner of the category where Drexler was nominated, at the moment he received the prize instead of giving the classic acceptance speech he started to sing a capella, being recognized by the media as his own revenge.
During the regime of dictator Franco in Spain one of the great proclamations was the homogenization of the Hispanic in favor of national unity, which meant the repression of other languages such as Catalan. So when the then novel Joan Manuel Serrat was invited to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968. Because of its growing popularity, he thought that would be a good idea to challenge the government of his country singing in their native language. Following discussions with the authorities about being able to sing at least a piece of the song in that language, finally decides to step aside to realize that he has no options and would be replaced with a young lady called Massiel who win the competition. Serrat would be vetoed by his contempt (circulated version of your song recorded in Catalan) for much longer, until the return to popularity on radio in 1971 with "Mediterranean."
A very morbid soap opera (and thus, good hearing). In April 1998 the ex-showgirl of Gloria, Aline Hernandez, published the book "La Gloria por el Infierno." The book, which revealed abuses and humiliations that girls who worked with her and ex-husband Sergio Andrade suffered during years. In 1999, it's presented a complaint by charges of kidnapping, corruption, abuse and rape against Trevi and another people. The Office of Chihuahua decide to arrested her and Andrade and calls for support of Interpol to locate the whereabouts. After 10 months of being fugitives, Gloria Trevi, Sergio Andrade, and a staff member were arrested in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Mexican government requested the extradition to the South American country. After a series of incidents, it began a legal battle to prevent extradition to Mexico saying their lives were at risk. In prison, Trevi gets pregnant, apparently one of the prison guards. Finally, in 2004, she is freed because it was not found any evidence that links directly with the case, but the drama she lived was one of the most stressful moments for a very popular entertainer and was part of the tabloid headlines as long as it last.
10. Facundo Cabral assassinated days before his final retirement from music
Facundo Cabral would finished his career with a tour in Central America. After a concert in the city of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, he went to La Aurora International Airport with the concert promoter Henry Fariñas and his representative. Around 5:20 am on July 9, 2011, the car where they were was intercepted by three vehicles from several hit men armed with assault rifles shot at close range and immediately kill the singer and leaving wounded the employer. After investigation of local police, it was confirm that the target was Fariñas, because of troubles with organized crime -connections to drug trafficking, especially with the Sinaloa Cartel.
9. Mercedes Sosa arrested for singing during Argentina's dictatorship.
Mercedes Sosa tried to stay in Argentina during the repressive dictatorship of Videla, until 1978, at a concert in La Plata, where she was arrested at the stage while she sang "Cuando tenga la tierra" with the audience. Mercedes was accused by civil disobedience for singing prohibited songs and was arrested during 18 hours where she have to hear her own songs for reprimand after being mistreated by the military. It would not be the only time that the military would intervene in her presentations, so she got to go into exile the following year to Paris.
8. The tragedy of Cro-Magnon.
One of the greatest catastrophes in modern history of Latin American music occurred at a concert in Buenos Aires on December 30, 2004, where the rock band Callejeros was performing. A fire after someone threw a flare into the plastic roof causing the death of 194 people and leave more than 1000 injured. Argentina Society began a search for responsibilities and limited the concerts. A social judgement was initiated and it change the way how work show business in Argentina for ever.
7. "Puto"'s Molotov.
The album "¿Dónde jugarán las niñas?" was itself a challenge to the conservative society in Mexico. The CD cover shows a schoolgirl taking off her panties, but it would be the song "Puto" that would cause a stir. Gay community felt offended and accused the band of promoting homophobia. In fact, in Spain, a pro-gay rights filed a lawsuit for the same reason. Gustavo Santaolalla, the producer of the album, defend publicly the song and say that it was a misunderstanding. However, the controversy had already created a phenomenon.
6. Charly García's launch to a pool from the ninth floor of a hotel.
No doubt if there has been a character who has a history of scandals is Charly García. But in 2002, tried to challenge himself when decide to jump from the ninth floor of a hotel into a pool according to him just to test the water. The public who witnessed what that was a suicide attempt, which he always denied it.
5. Selena's death.
Selena was the most important musical phenomenon for Latin music in the United States until his assassination on March 31, 1995, at the age of 23, by Yolanda Saldivar at a Corpus Christi motel. The tragic incident would have a coverage never before seen in the United States Anglo media about the Hispanic community, and eventually create a link of the Anglo music with the Latin. His posthumous album reach No. 1 on Billboard and Latin America will recognize it as an Icon of cumbia pop music.
4. Gustavo Cerati hospitalized.
One of the most unexpected chapter of the Latin music ocurred in May 15, 2010. Gustavo Cerati, after having completed a tour in South America, suffered a stroke due to a decompensation after his performance in Caracas, Venezuela. He was hospitalized in Centro Médico La Trinidad in Caracas under medical surveillance. Three days later, according to the Venezuelan media. It was a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Later he underwent surgery to the severity of symptoms, and one of the doctors who treated him said "never again be the same." On Monday June 7, 2010 he was transferred to Argentina with his family company, where he remains in the institute Fleni. On December 2, 2010 a statement was issued by ALCLA Clinic's medical director stating that, neurologically, Cerati is reacting to thermal stimuli. A story in process.
3. The last days of Hector Lavoe.
More than the death of "El Cantante" in 1993, the biggest tragic was the misery he lived after was diagnosed with HIV virus. Lavoe's life was plagued by tragic events, emotional turmoil, and pain.. Both his mother-in-law and father died, and his seventeen year old son Héctor, Jr. was accidentally shot by a friend. On June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the ninth floor of the Regency Hotel Condado in Puerto Rico. He survived the attempt, but from that day forward, he would never completely recover as AIDS began to ravage his body due to the use of intravenous drugs and shared needles. Héctor died on June 29, 1993, at a hospital in New York City. The cause of death was diagnosed as “a complication caused by AIDS." He was initially buried in a plot in Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. In June 2002, the bodies of both Lavoe and his son (who died in 1987) were exhumed per his family's request. They were reburied in his native Ponce, along with his widow Nilda who died a few weeks beforehand. Lavoe's remains are at the Cementerio Civil de Ponce (Ponce Civil Cemetery), at the northern end of Eduardo Ruberte Street in Barrio Segundo. In 2002, his remains were brought to his hometown of Ponce in Puerto Rico.
2. The murder of Victor Jara.
During the coup led by Augusto Pinochet in 1973, hundreds of people were arrested for not complying with the measures imposed by the coup, including the singer. On the morning of September 12, Jara was taken, along with thousands of others, as a prisoner to the Chile Stadium. In the hours and days that followed, many of those detained in the stadium were tortured and killed there by the military forces. Jara was repeatedly beaten and tortured; the bones in his hands were broken as were his ribs. Fellow political prisoners have testified that his captors mockingly suggested that he play guitar for them as he lay on the ground with broken hands. Defiantly, he sang part of "Venceremos" (We Will Win), a song supporting the Popular Unity coalition. After further beatings, he was machine-gunned on September 16, his body dumped on a road on the outskirts of Santiago and then taken to a city morgue where they found 44 bullet shots on his body. Jara's wife Joan was allowed to come and retrieve his body from the site and was able to confirm the physical damage he had endured. After holding a funeral for her husband, Joan Jara fled the country in secret. His death caused a great commotion in the world of song and music in general, future dedications of songs by artists as diverse as The Clash, U2 and Silvio Rodriguez. His name became a symbol of the quest for justice to the victims during the military regimes.
1. The unexpected success of La Macarena
Nobody predicted ... but "Macarena", a one-hit-wonder of Spanish flamenco duo Los Del Rio would become one of the most successful in the music industry around the planet of all time. A theme originally composed in 1992 was remixed for the dancefloor techno parties and went directly the charts in Latin America. The song would spread to cities with sizable Latino communities in the United States, particularly Miami and New York City. United States played that song for almost 3 years on radios. In 1997, the song had sold 11 million copies. While having only a 25% take in royalties from the song, Los Del Río became immensely wealthy. In popular culture, the Macarena has spawned dozens of references throughout most media areas. In 1996, at the height of the dance craze, United States Vice-president Al Gore performed the "Al Gore version" during the Democratic National Convention, which consisted of him standing completely still while the music played, then asking the audience if they'd like to see it again. Despite the song's Spanish origin, the dance craze is often recognized as a distinctly American piece of culture. Despite the song being a one-hit wonder for Los Del Rio, it created an indelible impact on world culture. The biggest joke that had the music in Spanish has enthralled a generation that took it as a phenomenon that will never happen again...NEVER...!
A finales de octubre del 2006, comenzó este blog como una suerte de ventana -lejos de grandes proyectos y más como desembuche mental dispuesto a contaminarse de reacción colectiva, antes que nada- llamada Rock en las Américas, comenzada por quien le escribe, José Luis Mercado, para ofrecerles nuestra visión de la historia del rock hispanoamericano, compartir nuestras inquietudes y esperar que nos lean de la misma manera que escribimos. Años después, hemos pasado por varios momentos, con agradecimientos a miles de personas, algunas de ellas totalmente desconocidas a nosotros ya que nos leen o siguen pero no nos han escrito. A todos ellos va dedicado estos 10 momentos.
10. ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS EN EL LAMC: En el año 2009, Carlos Reyes nos incluyó en un listado de páginas recomendadas a visitar a los visitantes de aquella edición del Latin Alternative Music Confecer. Nuestro compañero Luis Ayala que andaba por Nueva York nos contaba con la sorpresa que se llevó al leernos que aparecíamos en la Guía de la Conferencia más importante de la escena alterlatina a nivel internacional, y desde ahí hemos empezados una interacción fluida con mucha gente de la industria que sigue hasta la actualidad.
9. EL COMPILADO DE ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS: Ante todo fue un experimento en vista a un gran número de artistas que nos mandaban su música, pero que lamentablemente la respuesta final no nos satisfizo como quisimos, ya que el trabajo de poder darle la forma deseada sin ser una mescolanza absurda de temas forzados por artistas que quieren que los incluyamos a como dé lugar. Un reto descargado unas 300 veces, y con un par de notas en algunos medios como el programa radial Panamerika. Lo sentimos, pero dudamos que lo volvamos a hacer.
8. ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS RADIO: Fue un proyecto que duró cerca de 8 meses entre finales del 2009 e inicios del 2010 y nos hubiera gustado que siguiera pero al no recabar el público mínimo fuimos sacados de Radionomy. 24 horas del días ofreciendo música internacional e hispanoamericana que no se oían en otro lado, toda junta vía online. Agradecimos al par de centenares que nos oyó incondicionalmente pero no fue suficiente.
7. ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS Y DIGITAL DREAM DOOR: Una de las cosas que nos encantaba era ofrecer listas para poner a la gente en debate y cuando tuvimos la oportunidad ofrecida por Lewis Carlock de tener una sección para su página, una de las más visitadas en el asunto de listas -sobre todo las de rock-. Aunque a diferencia de las listas que ofrecemos en esta página, las que aparecen allí están enfocadas más en el "pop culture", en algunos casos hemos servido como mediadores a partir de ofrecer las opiniones diversas que tienen los lectores (y que nos ayudaron a la elaboración de listas como la de "Best Musicians of Latin Rock"
6. ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS Y CLUB FONOGRAMA: Ambos blogs han tenido 2 visiones muy distintas de plasmar la música. Pero por algún momento, nuestra retroalimentación fue una de las cosas más enriquecidoras para el bien de nuestros proyectos. Carlos, un mexicano residente en EE.UU. frustrado de ciertos clichés de lo que oía en la radio tanto para el pop como para el rock de Iberoamérica; y, este servidor, más bien frustrado de la poca interconexión entre lo que se oía en cada país y el díficil acceso para ellos (porque hay que ser sincero que pese a la mejora en el tiempo aún falta mucho). Hasta ahora seguimos pendientes de lo que podemos aportar, aunque sea un granito de arena para el mundo de la blogósfera.
5. ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS EN EL TWITTER: Una de las cosas más fascinantes fue abrir nuestra cuenta de Twitter. Reconociendo nuestro amor por lo anticuado y un poco de fastidio por el temas de las redes sociales (nuestro Facebook ha esperado casi 5 años para ser abierto), terminamos convencidos y encantados al ver que fue una ventana real para conocer mucha gente y recibir otra que nos leía de tiempo y quería interactuar con nosotros. Casi 3000 seguidores, entre los que se encuentran desde melómanos hasta gente que trabaja en la industria, demuestra la necesidad de una página o una vía como la nuestra para enlazar el mundo del rock hispanoamericano. A eso, y sumar la distinta clase de interacción que hemos tenido con los artistas donde encontrabamos a una Julieta Venegas que nos preguntaba por comida con quinua, un Tego Calderón confesándonos que es fanático de los metaleros de Barón Rojo o un iracundo Residente de Calle 13 que nos quería poner a prueba como conocedores de rock.
4. ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS COMO EQUIPO: En todos los años de Rock en las Américas -desde antes que pasara a la red como blog- pasó mucha gente. Aunque los primeros miembros eramos de Lima, han pasado gente de otras nacionalidades como Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina, Puerto Rico (y muy pronto, tendremos un hermano de México). Algunos siguen escribiendo desde blog externos y otros fueron buenos pasajeros temporales a los que siempre estaremos agradecidos por su aporte a esta causa.
3. ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS VIA RADIO 10: Aunque hemos sido citados en diversos programas de radio durante años. Asimismo, este servidor tuvo un segmento en el programa Oxígeno en Viva 700 de Washington DC durante el 2007 y 2008. Sin embargo, nuestro gran regreso lo tuvimos cuando nos ofrecieron la posibilidad de ofrecer un setlist entero 2 veces por semana en Radio 10 88.1 FM en Panamá, radio que está apostando por tener en su programación rock de Hispanoamérica, lo cual ha sido un gran deleite y un placer para nosotros desde marzo de este año.
2. ROCK EN LAS AMERICAS Y LOS ARTISTAS: Si hay algo más placentero es poder tener el contacto con los propios artistas para poder ser una plataforma (sencilla pero real) para los mismos. Desde nuestra sección "Entrevista exclusiva" (donde incluimos desde actos que merecen mayor reconocimiento como Radioboxer de Miami, en Florida hasta artistas que están obteniendo grandes logros como Cienfue o Lido Pimienta). Asimismo, momentos como el texto escrito por Eduardo Parra de Los Jaivas o Rubén Blades han sido deleites de los que estamos más que agradecidos por haber compartido con nosotros.
1. LA LISTA DE LOS 250 DISCOS: Una de las razones para la que comenzamos el blog era para poder extender y recrear la lista de Los 250 albumes del rock iberoamericano, que era un proyecto ambicioso y cuya lista original había aparecido en Alborde, en Los Angeles, California. Nos tomó 2 años poderlo terminar como se quiso, y creo que ha sido un buen aporte para muchos que querían saber más del rock en Hispanoamérica y su historia. Estamos complacidos por la respuesta debida y esperamos haber contribuido en un enlace con nuestros puntos de vistas con Demon, IamFreakalot y David Delio, quienes contribuyeron con sus reseñas.
