Point of view: the pop protest was heard

Last Thursday, the governor of Puerto Rico announced his resignation. Ricardo Rosselló had no other choice after the conversation with a narrow group of advisers and entrepreneurs via the Telegram messaging service. There, they could read various misogynistic, homophobic and racist comments. In addition, mocking references to the victims of Hurricane Maria – who swept the archipelago in 2017 – testify to the corruption and guidelines of a dirty campaign against naysayers.

Until now, an additional political crisis at a time when such situations are no longer surprising. However, and against all odds, the impact of the theme on pop culture has been decisive for the situation to deteriorate. trendy topic in the whole world

Ricky Martin, one of the targets chosen by the Governor in his messages, was one of them. "It's such a macho macho that he's bading men because women are not up to it. It's a pure patriarchy, "the president typed at the time. Probably a phrase that he regrets for the rest of his life. Because it was the trigger for the singer to repudiate what happened, returns to Puerto Rico and directs a spontaneous movement that decays into the biggest political schism in the history of the island.

Martin tweeted for the first time on the subject on July 13 and asked the governor to resign. The resignation of Rosselló finally took place on the 25th. In the middle of the stage, the singer became one of the symbols of a demonstration that invaded the streets, but which also became amplified ( and a lot) through the networks. Residents Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, iLe, Wisin and Nicky Jam also actively participated in the events, which grew in intensity and impact over the days. Luis Fonsi and Marc Anthony, among others, also supported "the voice of the people" through their personal accounts.

In short, this constellation of Latin pop stars and urban music was the most particular condiment of a series of mobilizations amplified globally by the public character of their main characters. In a way, this is an unprecedented case in the political history of the continent (and the world), which is largely related to the remarkable adherence of the central names of the island's music, a true power in terms of sowing popstars

Only a few years ago, it would have been more realistic to think that these types of claims were more related to rock, because of its original nature and its anti-system nature, even in its softer versions, of type Live Aid and Live 8. But More of a popular revolt in the region comes from the hand of the artists commonly badociated with the pasatista and the strictly commercial one.

Local parallelism

The counterpoint of this movie scene comes precisely from the southern hemisphere. In the pre-election climate, the words of the singer of La Beriso, Rolo Sartorio, at the court of Velez still resonate here, while he preferred to silence his audience rather than letting him express himself against the Argentine president in exercise. At a time when the universe of rock – in global terms – raises more doubts than certainties, can you imagine a local parallel with what happened in Puerto Rico?

Benito Cerati raised the issue and accused his own father – and hero Hero Rocker – of his Twitter account. "I criticize my old man for being so politically lazy. To abstain was to make it go very far and everywhere, yes. But now, we see that these stuffy stuffy kets were following, "he said.

At the national level, it seems more likely that a spontaneous social movement like Puerto Rico has more connections with the prosperous world of the trap, where new cultural habits are being cooked today at the speed of light. Only Marilina Bertoldi, Sara Hebe and an important network of women artists seem to represent this spirit of discussion and questioning of social reality. But it no longer has the name of rock, but of feminism.

Beyond borders, it is clear from this brief but intense political incursion by some of the biggest stars of Latin music that, despite everything, there is still hope that music is not just business. .

Just watch the videos released by Martin in recent days or review one of Bad Bunny's most dramatic statements. "I'm going to pause my career, I do not have the heart or the mind to make music. I go to Puerto Rico, we have to go out every day on the street, we can not turn our backs on people, "he said.

It is true that the so-called "Chatgate" leaves no doubt. This is not an election of proselytism or a cause with divergent positions that divide the social pulse. Despite the hegemonic correction of the slogans against Rosselló, and even though the scale of the protests is covered by the scale that Ricky Martin and other personalities have achieved through their own digital marketing, a sense of urgency. Hope is perceived in the environment. very clear

That there are large-scale artists who are able to put aside their personal ambitions to bow to popular demands, is not nothing at a time when individuality is the norm. All the more so as the success of the advanced Puerto Rican comes to achieve its highest degree of strength.