In their obsession with responding to “Patria y Vida”, the Cuban authorities do not stop overwhelming the population with “songs” that, unlike Yotuel’s play, Gente de Zona, Descemer Bueno, Maykel Castillo (Osorbo) and El Funky , provoke rejection and ridicule.
How far will the regime go in its desire to undo criticism of a song that is now an anthem in Cuba? Apparently, so far, the government has no intention of skimping, even making fun of itself.
Aside from launching racist insults and all kinds of disqualifications against its interpreters, the government has to date released three pieces of music to ripost to “Patria y Vida”: “Patria o muerte por la vida”, “Convicción” and “Patria y amor “.
The first is already a success of nonsense: the matter of Raúl Torres became a virtual plebiscite around support for the regime on the YouTube channel of the official site CubadebateFour days after its premiere there and on official television, it exceeds 85,000 “I don’t like it” and only 6,300 “I like it”, with about 730,000 views.
“It was because of this kind of noise that they closed the US Embassy in Cuba,” Aldo Hernández said ironically in one of the more than 32,000 comments left on the forum. Satirical memes are rained on on the topic and the considerations in social networks about the content and video clip are very harsh.
The “ Homeland of Death for Life ” debacle even prompted Google to give it an unflattering title. In a simple search under the terms “the worst song of 2021”, based on the number of negative votes on YouTube, the most used search engine in the world returns exactly the theme produced by the Cuban government.
Also “Convicción” by Reinaldo Echemendía Estrada, director of the Folkloric Ballet of Camagüey, produced in the area and performed by local musicians, has also been strongly criticized.
“Homeland or Death is not dying, but announcing the realm for life that dying for the homeland,” is the lyrics of the song.
“How many songs are these people planning. Gentlemen, the paperwork has already been done,” said Yaniel Armando Navarrete Blanco on the YouTube channel forum of the Camagüey Provincial Directorate for Culture, where it was uploaded.
“How sad to see those people there. Fulfilling a task. It shows in their eyes that I see no enthusiasm or feeling in those artists, I see an execution of trade. I see a deep regret. Art must be provocative. , conveying life. ”It shouldn’t look like a morning newspaper. That looks like an open platform. Too bad, “wrote visual artist Wilmar Verdecia.
Finally, “Patria y Amor”, a video shared a week ago on his YouTube channel by the Casa de la Décima de Mayabeque and performed by children, caused the astonishment of internet users.
“You cannot fall lower and manipulate innocent children. Where are the parents who allow them to use their children for that? They have ruined their future,” Yaima Triana complained on the forum.
“My story is not a story of mercenaries paid for with pain coins. My story is written in the daily struggle, raising the flag of honor,” says the theme’s chorus, written by Lázaro Palenzuela, repeating the story of the regime to criminalize the interpreters of “Patria y Vida”. This is over 5,200 “I don’t like it” and it collects barely three hundred “I like it.”
“At this rate, the government is going to destroy our eardrums. And they will blame Yotuel!” Israel Saavedra joked in one of the forums.
On the other hand, “Homeland and life”, which has more than 3 million views on YouTube, adds more than 180,000 “I like it” and about 6,100 “I don’t like it.”
The song, which calls for political change in Cuba, will be played at full volume this Saturday in a motorcade that will tour Miami to support the movement it has spawned. And on the island, despite arrests, rejections and vandalism against those who write “Patria y Vida” on the facades of their houses or play it at full volume, the song is yet another weapon of war for those demanding change. .