I think that ‘Patria y vida’ is the voice of Cubans that your government does not want to hear

Opinion of Steffano Dueñas, vocalist and guitarist of Les Rat

The rulers have to accept that music is a manifestation of what the people want to express; in this case, Homeland and life tells a reality that the Government of Cuba does not want to be known. It seems to me a very realistic song and attached to what happens on the island, where few really have a good time; it is the people who are most affected, the one who feels the impact of this radical socialism, in a notorious social and economic stagnation.

Latin Grammy 2021: ‘Patria y vida’ is the song of the year

It is an outrage that the freedom of expression that also lives in music is not respected, but what can be expected of a socialist government deeply rooted in communism for decades. It reminds me a bit of what happened with Rage Against the Machine, it was a very critical band of the US Government, which caused it many accusations, but not to the point of causing censorship, as these Cuban artists are experiencing. Yes there were alerts and calls for attention, but not jail for expressing what they feel through music.

At the time, Rubén Blades did it, also decorated in these Latin Grammys, telling real stories of what he lived as a Latino in the United States, with a very rich lyrical expression; Yotuel, Maykel, El funky and Gente de Zona do it with a more direct language.

It is excellent that it has won as the best song of the year, not always the winner on other occasions has been a song as complex as this, with such deep lyrics and concept, but for its rhythms and scope. This composition takes up the importance of the message of a theme. He deserves it, they are spreading a message of help to the rest of the world. (AND)