silvio rodriguez [Archive]

metalero

30th April 2006, 04:11

I am a huge fan of "nueva trova movement" singers, such as Noel Nicola, Vicente Feliu and Silvio Rodriguez. For all of you who haven't listened to Cuban Nueva Trova, there's an article in this thread (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=42238&hl=troubador) where you can understand his role in popular/revolutionary latin music.
About "Ojala", there are two explanations people tend to say: first, It is a lyrical diatribe against Pinochet, since Silvio wrote this song around the early 70's, date of the bloody coup led by the military in Chile, as well as for this part that goes "Ojala que el deseo, se vaya tras de ti, a tu viejo gobierno de difuntos y flores ", where Silvio supposely refers to the Chilean dictator. The second one, which was backed by the own Silvio in an interview, says the song is about a deep love he had in his adolenscence, but who unfortunately had to leave him to study at another city.
By the way, Silvio is perhaps the Cuban troubador who is most compromised with the Cuban revolution and the leftist music in Latinamerica, besides being a close friend with Fidel.

"...And in Cuba, the revolution was going strong, but Rodriguez, who would later become a congressman and use his fame to help promote the island’s politics, was frustrated with the U.S. rejection of its communist neighbor and despaired of U.S. sanctions aimed at weakening Castro’s rule. His vocal support for the Cuban government had, in anti-Castro circles, brought animosity into a life that largely had been filled with affection."
http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/7613/1/283

If you are interested in getting to know more about Silvio and the Cuban Nueva Trova, (and know how to read in spanish) check this web: www.trobacub.net

http://www.sld.cu/cencomed/crics/IMAGES/silvio%20grande.jpg