If you’ve followed news about Cuba this year, then you’re likely already well aware of the unbelievably viral protest song “Patria y Vida.” It’s shockingly brave, absolutely loaded with meaning, and worth making space for as we embark on this newsletter journey together. If you haven’t followed news about Cuba you may have heard the song (or heard of the song) more ambiently. Barack Obama put it on his list of favorite songs of 2021, it won Song of the Year at the Latin Grammys.
But back to the meaning. “Patria y Vida” is a protest song, that accuses the Cuban government of playing its people like dominoes for at least the past 62 years. The simple act of releasing it put the artists in danger: one of the songs co-writers, Maykel Osorbo, has been in prison in Cuba since May for his hand in writing it. The words “Patria y Vida” are a direct rebuke to Fidel Castro’s oft-repeated slogan “Patria o Muerte,” “Homeland or Death.” The song’s writers took that slogan and flipped it on its head: “Homeland and Life.” Back in April I wrote more extensively about the songs meaning, you can check that story out here.
This year, as protests swept across the island — the Cuban people angry about so much, including the lack of food and medicine, the political repression, the Covid response, the crumbling Revolution — they used “Patria y Vida” as a rallying cry and inspiration. The songs lyrics directly challenge the government which has demanded silence and obedience since Castro took over in 1959. “Se acabó, ya se venció tu tiempo, se rompió el silencio,” they sing again and again on the track. “It’s over, your time is up, and the silence has been broken.”
The song was recorded by Cuban artists in both Cuba and Miami, as was the music video, with artists on the island recording in hiding. In the video Cuban rapper Yotuel has the words “Patria y Vida” painted across his chest in white. Across the island, and the diasporic community, people wrote the slogan everywhere they could.
The story behind the song is now being turned into a documentary, with an expanded focus on how music has been a catalyst for social change throughout history. I could keep writing about “Patria y Vida” but perhaps the most impactful thing to do is for you to simply watch the video (there are subtitles in English). The images are from protests in Cuba and rallies in the United States, the people called out are some of the many the government has silenced. To me “Patria y Vida” is almost heartbreakingly brave. To love your country so much, you will sing for her freedom — even if you know it could mean the end of your own. Homeland and life.
Feliz Navidad. Feliz año nuevo. And I’ll see you in 2022.
Link recommendations: The world as we know it is ending, but Americans are expected to just keep working. / Devastating reporting about the tornadoes in Kentucky. / This fantastic obituary which went, deservedly, viral. / A profile of Kirsten Dunst, written by Rachel Syme (whose profiles I always enjoy).
Movie recommendation: I saw Pedro Almodóvar’s new film Parallel Mothers. It’s excellent. Political, moving, stylish, sexy, and built like a mystery. It also stars Penelope Cruz who wows me every time. I loved it. I learned the cinematographer is 82, which I also love. It comes out December 24 and here’s the trailer for your viewing pleasure.