"We Are the Root of The Change,” by Raudel of the Patriotic Squadron

This video was made yesterday at a concert organized by the group OMNI-Zona Franca in Gaia house. There was very little light and the audio is bad, but the song of Raudel shines out above any technological problem.

I transcribed what I've managed to understand, any contribution from a reader with a better ear than me is welcome:



"We Are the Root of Change"

Ten months later I have to remember my position, given that we want the best for all and ensure a life with tolerance, balance and harmony for all the people of the nation and the diaspora, but also with a lot of progress, balance and spiritual evolution because there are many dreams and much faith.

The Squadron demonstrates:
I am Afro-descendant and Cuba is my country,
We are not a threat to anyone, pay attention:
We do not want violence and confrontation,
They insist that our message is counterrevolutionary,
This is called reality and commitment to the nation,
Love conquers fear, the word to (inaudible)
We remember the mind the voice, not the resignation:
Revolution is change, it is progress and it is transformation,
Do not hide the hopes of millions for no reason.
Conspiracy against the Squadron, why? In my view
Who knows knows the worst side of this nation
Neither bourgeoisie, nor family in Yuma, nor a good position
I live in the heart where people suffer and swallow the pain
I do not sing to them of politics, mistakes,
I have a critical awareness and this is my projection
And of course I worry, I live in the center of the cyclone,
The demands of the country are so many without enough investigation:
Inequality, deprivation, poor nutrition,
overcrowding, isolation, repression,
disoriented generation, misfortune, separation,
racism, destruction and a list with no definition.
But we they still see us as a provocation
Who justifies that the shelters weaken the nation?
We are the blood flowing from the open wound of the revolution
The flag of the soldiers (inaudible)

May you stay in the light that this is revealing,
Let’s go, We are the root of the change!
Much time thinking and no action,
What are we waiting for? We are the root of the change!
They can’t with us: the truth is in the people.
They know, We are the root of the change!
For the children and the elderly, for the blacks and the whites:
We are the root of the change!

I’m not lying when I say that this control was
Surely (inaudible)
For the safety in action
The orientation of which is not to call for the arrest
And in each presentation there is respect and reconciliation
I know it takes a ton of work to wake up
(Inaudible) as I was a fatal victim
Certain partial information, state ignorance
Isolation is deadly I can show it
I am unable to promote hatred, to manipulate anyone
Nor to launch the most (inaudible) testimony
I have family, friends (inaudible)
I am rooting for a change for prosperity, it is obvious
Because what most people think
What most people want
What most people think of this people I know
I have no fear that it happens
(Inaudible)
Take up space in every corner of my house
Tell everyone the Squadron is a threat
Stop them from being the image .. (Inaudible)
And silence on the lips (inaudible) undermines the soul
The truth may have relativity
But we do not believe it: We are the reality
The dawn of a new day will come from (inaudible) and music
It is a nation tired (inaudible)
After a declaration against heaven
I remain silent and ask the supreme
That for every tear shed
(Inaudible)

May you stay in the light that it is being revealed,
We are the root of the change!
Much time thinking and no action,
What are we waiting for? We are the root of the change!
They can’t with us: the truth is in the people,
They know it, We are the root of the change!
For the children and the elderly, for the blacks and the whites:
We are the root of the change!
Every child in every neighborhood in every town
With a fist held high, We are the root of the change!
Much time thinking without acting
What are we waiting for? We are the root of the change!
They can’t with us: the truth is in the people,
They know it, We are the root of the change!
For the children and the elderly, for the blacks and the whites:
We are the root of the change!

(Inaudible) ... Even my nation Cuba: Love, peace and faith. Love, peace and faith in the name of the highest of creation, we are all the root of the change. We all love this country. We all love it and freedom we want to have harmony, spiritual progress, economic and social development for our island. We all have responsibility and we are the root of the change.
Thank you.

La Aldea Concert at the Madriguera

The “revolutionary” artists first and the protestors last is how one could describe the Sunday concert at the La Madriguera.  But it was worth it to wait four hours to hear the last three:  El Clan, Silvito el Libre, and, finishing it off of course, Los Aldeanos.

Despite the technical glitches that plague underground concerts in Cuba, the suspicious failure of the microphone and the absurd images of the presentation—in this case while playing the theme of Aldo and the B, “Las Mikies,” a karate teacher giving lessons to a baby in the snow—to hear a little music with low level caesura was like spending a week in Varadero.

Sunday I had a disagreeable day, worried and alone… but it was worth it just to see the night come.

A little music

Photo: Claudio Fuentes Madan

When I was 18 I heard for the first time, on the Malecon and of course a capella, “The Cable” by the Cuban rapper Maykel Extremo. Now it has come into my hands through a flash drive and I find it very moving: I copied it, so as not to lose to anonymity the best summary of Cuban reality that I’ve heard in my lifetime.

I say I find catharsis in this blog but without a doubt he’s the one who was grounded in the truth; I post it here for you to enjoy.

Cable

Here is an excerpt of the rap translated into English. Please click over to the Spanish language site for all the lyrics.

It’s getting complicated, the flow is getting ugly
Se está complicando, poniéndose feo el picheo

Street walking for the bullies, dancing for the guitar plucking
Callejeo pa’los gua’o, changaneo pa’l punteo

The grain, the head taking out, the neck pulling out by the roots
Sacadera de beta, de chaveta, arrancadera de cuello

If the chain is good and if it is facing you
Si la cadena está buena y está a la careta

They hand you the oars, they stick the irons in you
Te pasan los remos, te meten los hierros

The houses: I pawn the motorcycle for you, you eat your girlfriend,
Las casas: te empeño la moto, cómete a la jeva,

Later, I take it out on the dogs
Después se lo saco a los perros

It doesn’t matter, the scorching of the stone the things I lose are forgotten
Total, de pedrusco el requeme se olvidan las cosas que pierdo,

I leave you the face for later, to throw it in your face with it
Te dejo la cara pa’luego, pa’echarte con ella

To enter into shamelessness when my stones run out
Pa’entrar en descaro cuando se me acaben las piedras

In Monte & Cienfuegos dicks of two canes and three canes
En pinchas de Monte y Cienfuegos de a dos cañas, y a tres cañas

And in Reina the lesbians get close to each other delightfully while fishing
Y en Reina por pesca se pegan sabroso las lesbias,

Transvestites, faggots and cocksuckers have turned 23rd regal
Trasvestis, maricones y pingueros tienen a 23 regia

Metals guard the ass, it is known
Los metales cuidan el culo, se sabe