The Power of Reggaeton
Nonardo Perea
HAVANA TIMES — On my last visit to Prague, we were given the chance to choose a subject to make a short like the one I’ve published alongside this article.
I chose reggaeton, of course. For a short time, I tried to focus on what was going on in Cuba and elsewhere around this musical phenomenon and its lyrics, which, in my opinion, nearly always belittle women in every aspect, generally-speaking.
Nothing else makes me as uncomfortable as listening to these kinds of songs, and I’m not against this kind of music, as long as they handle subjects with respect and don’t disgrace any woman the process, I’m fine with it.
It’s incredible to see how women themselves don’t even realize they are participating in this kind of degrading situation.It really saddens me to see how they are treated in music videos where they are physically and verbally attacked. Don’t they realize they are being used by men?
Another thing that really concerns me is to see with my own two eyes how the earth will swallow them up whole one day, to see how society is becoming more and more contaminated and they either don’t realize it, or they turn a blind eye to it in order to accept whatever comes their way, it doesn’t matter whether it’s good or bad.
Music blasting in our collective taxis and public buses, not caring whether passengers are willing to listen to all of this garbage that doesn’t contribute anything culturally, and worse still, it’s our young people who are mostly influenced by these songs loaded with banal and discriminatory lyrics.
They are the ones who copy, down to the T, all of the vulgar language some backyard reggaeton singers use, to then repeat this in their own everyday lives.
CAPSULA DE REGGUETON PARA VISIONAR from havanatimes on Vimeo.
Thank you Carla! I completely agree, Ken has taken the article way out of context and instead used this as a way to express his obviously racist, truly disgusting opinions(arangatang music?) the writer here is expressing how the music degrades woman, where does this come in? Clearly a stupid white male walking around with his white privilege, looking down at the Cubans.
I personally enjoy reggaeton, I love that I can hear music everywhere in Havana. But yes the lyrics are vulgar, the videos are worse. As if woman are only useful for shaking that asses and making the men in the video look like they “get girls”
Ken’s ignorant comment reminds me of a great book called ‘why im no longer speaking to white people about race’
-British, Nigerian. Married to a Cuban
And you are what happens when racism combines with ignorance. As a fellow Canadian, I am ashamed of you and for you.
you’re a fogey reggaeton adds energy and excitement to Cuba. I’m 71
60 years ago adults of that era said the same thing about Rock and Roll. Relax Nonardo. This too shall pass.
I hear you all the way . You Express my sentiments perfectly…When visiting Cuba often it is getting more and more difficult to find somewhere that is quiet and away from that arangatang music …so sad …
I really do not think it is music at all !We are in Mexico right now (Canadians ) where we hear nothing but really good music …tobad Cuba has become such a dumping ground of insanity .