3 | 22/02/2021 – 7:45 (GMT-4)
A group of Cubans reacted indignantly to The tarzan of the tails, musical theme against cholera in Man Yes Kelvis Ochoa, considering that it mocks the needs of Cubans and trivializes the issue missing on the island.
Although it was released in November 2020 – a time from which it failed to exceed even 3 thousand views on YouTube- the song has appeared now to exemplify the look Ministry of Culture and Egrem fund a video that highlights the government’s view of anger; posture very different from virulence with which the regime reacted at his premiere Homeland and life, which urges the urgency of democratic change in Cuba.
“When you go to call ‘pay’ those who put their art or work to criticize what is not in Cuba, remember that this ‘anthem against cholera’ and other similar topics are sponsored (paid for) by the Ministry of Culture, the Institute of music and EGREM (public money from all of us) ”, wrote on Facebook José Raúl Gallego, who decided that, given the result and the scope, it is really“ poorly spent money ”.
“Creative anemia, indolent hypocrisy and forced happiness emanating from the liters of this song and video, are between comedians and pathetic”, wrote artist Julio Llópiz Casal, who added that it is a product that expands “the list of garbage with which the Cuban power distracts attention from the problems it has, created them and stubbornly refuses to solve them.”
“I just heard a song that I didn’t like at all. Virulo and Kelvis Ochoa, I think the queues really aren’t a mystery to Scotland Yard. These are the responsibility of mismanagement and the precariousness that the Cuban government condemns us to, “wrote activist Camila Lobón, who called the song a” caricature that establishes our economic and political misery as idiosyncratic. “
“It is terrible to trivialize the tragedy in the service of the power that causes it and at the height of their ages, they should not allow such clumsiness, if not hypocrisy. Because I doubt these musicians are queuing. If I do them, unless they are enlightened or masochistic, they would know that there is no humor in hours, days, months, years, of life and work wasted in poor nutrition and poor living, ”added Lobón .
“This song is a good example of a well-executed musical work that, at the same time, socializes a message that I interpret as reactionary., with games, fantasies and mockery of circumstances and those who suffer them (queues, things and citizens who did not invent them) and ignore and comply with the causes and those responsible (political and economic system) “, wrote Enrique Guzmán Karell .
Virulo and Kelvis are not beginners or naive. As artists and public figures, you should know that not everything lends itself to jokes and ridicule, and that right now this is a subject of great upset and popular impact, and that most people know or suspect why they are obliged to queue up, ”he added.
Guzmán Karell recalls that “There are problems or sensitivities that go beyond political positions and are of simple empathy, respect and common sense.”
“What’s funny about being forced to queue at dawn?” He asks, stressing that it is “well-executed art, but socially irresponsible,” which invites us to ask whether it is “conservative, reactionary, satisfying.” of power, opportunistic art, cowardice or interpretation ”.
The song also provoked reactions on Twitter, where a user described it as “degrading”, “a mockery of people” and asked the two singers to “give up the bush of dishonesty”.
Another thought that Virulo decided “the muses went on vacation”. Remember that Virulo was the author Don’t mess with Cuba, a song funded by the Ministry of Culture and released shortly after the evacuation of the attackers from San Isidro.
Since then, journalists, artists and Cubans in general have regretted and rejected on social media that a talented artist like Virulo would kneel so blatantly, creatively, in front of the Cuban government.
Otherwise, The tarzan of the tails – directed by Mildrey Ruiz and with comedian Telo González – refers to a reality that underlines the lack of Cubans living.
In the months when the coverage in Havana was in place due to the coronavirus, given the inability to queue at dawn due to the ban on driving from 7 at night to 5 at dawn, there have been reports of people queuing in trees to evade surveillance and being the first to resort to long queues to buy food.
It was also the case for some who chose sleep in the corridors of the buildings near the MLC stores, and so try to be the first to arrive.