Tag Archives: Calle 13

Monday Morning Musica : Calle 13 Latinoamérica

  By Maegan La Mala | October 3, 2011 - 6:05 am |
Comments Off

As some readers may know, I have a love/hate relationship with Calle 13. Sometimes they are so on point with their message and yes they always can get you to move your culo, but sometimes they border on gross objectification and misogyny.

Just in time for Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, the Rican duo has released a new video for their single, Latinoamérica, off of their Entren Los Que Quieran album and as featured in their documentary Sin Mapa.

I found the editing beautiful and the video very moving as it shows both the diversity of Latin America but also some of the basic rituals and life milestones we all share.
I also appreciated the voices of of mujer legends of Latin American music, Susana Baca from Peru, Totó la Momposina from Colombia and Maria Rita from Brazil.

Enjoy.

Post to Twitter

Calle 13 Kicks It at Viña del Mar

  By Maegan La Mala | February 25, 2011 - 8:44 am |
8 Comments

Not having satellite television means missing out on the Festival de Viña del Mar en Chile. While some of the lesser known artists can be reminiscent of a bad American Idol audition video, when the stars come out on stage they really shine. Case in point Calle 13. And as much as I want to dislike some of their sexist messaging, there are times like two nights ago at la Quinta Vergara where they make you go hmm.

Not only did they call out homophobia, which has been in the headlines in Chile recently, including criticism at the Festival itself, but Residente, also had a message for the Mapuche written on his back. Now this last action, reminded me of Lady Gaga’s so called pro-DREAM act act where wearing a tee shirt = activism. But who knows if Residente’s body graffiti made people google Mapuche.

Plus, They performed with Inti-Illimani and the song Latinoamérica felt especially powerful in that place.

Check it…

Via / Digital Girl

Post to Twitter

Miercoles Musica : Baile de los Pobres de Calle 13

  By Maegan La Mala | February 16, 2011 - 1:37 pm |
5 Comments

I have a love/hate relationship with Calle 13. Some of their lyrics are hot but then they say some stuff that goes beyond dirty talk and seems sexist. Now they release a video for their song “Baile de los Pobres” . The video is supposed to be kind of a big deal because:

1: It has a naked guy in it (we’re featuring the edited version below)
2: The video was directed by Diego Luna.

The story isn’t anything out of the ordinary, star cross rich girl, poor boy lovers with a hell of lot of “exoticizing” going on which seems very not cool to me.

Que creen?

Post to Twitter

Martes Musica : Calle 13 ‘Entren Los Que Quieran’

  By Maegan La Mala | November 23, 2010 - 11:10 am |
7 Comments

Calle 13 has done it again, with the release of their 4th album, ‘Entren Los Que Quieran’, their last album with Sony as they remind us in the variety show themed intro, the dangerous duo bring their tongue in cheek , raw rhymes.

From the Intro:

“Directly from Puerto Rico, the most important colony in the word and the only place where the people pay more attention to Miss Universe than to education…”

At this point, most fans and others have already heard and seen “Calma Pueblo” but if you haven’t, it’s a loud strong reassurance that Residente and Visitante haven’t sold out but that they are the lyricists of the barrios.

If anyone thinks that (slightly) politicized lyrics aren’t worthy of culo shaking then I invite you to listen to El Baile de los Pobres which talks about some of differences between the rich and poor, needing to dance not among them. Here is where some of my criticisms of Calle 13 do come out though as the boys rely on many machista mentions of nalgas pero that said I had to crack up at the dirtiness/hillariousness of some of the lyrics (yes even with sexism). Check this line :

” I heard you were the Queen of all the Rosales but today I am going to lower you four social classes”

(more…)

Post to Twitter

Monday Morning Musica : Calle 13 & The Mars Volta

  By Maegan La Mala | July 19, 2010 - 6:42 am |
1 Comment

I was originally going to make all of this week’s morning musica posts related to Las Vegas given that I will be heading out there for Netroots Nation (more on that later) pero when I heard this jam via Remezcla, I decided to go with this. You really have to listen to the lyrics and apologies for my non-Spanish speaking peeps. Calma Pueblo which can be translated as “stay Calm Community/town/my people”, makes reference to the Puerto Rican governor’s mass firing of workers on the island, mass media misinformation, using corporate sponsorship, the Vatican as a mafia, and using music a voice of the people.

Post to Twitter

Miercoles Morning Musica : Grammy Award Winners Edition

  By Maegan la Mamita Mala | February 3, 2010 - 7:44 am |
Comments Off

la Mala sometimes sucks at this pop culture stuff. I didn’t watch half a minute of the Grammy Awards. Despite there being a completely separate Latin Grammy Awards competition and show, there were some Latino and Latin American musical winners on Sunday night.

So put your headphones on and listen….

Best Latin Jazz Album
Juntos Para Siempre
Bebo Valdés And Chucho Valdés
[Sony Music/Calle 54]

Best Latin Pop Album
Sin Frenos
La Quinta Estación
[Sony Music Latin]

(more…)

Post to Twitter

Puerto Rico Says Presente for Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado

  By Maegan la Mamita Mala | November 27, 2009 - 10:43 am |
8 Comments

The day after Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado was laid to rest, Puerto Ricans took to the streets in his memory and in search of justice. Also, the Puerto Rican Department of Justice agreed to investigate the brutal murder of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado as a hate crime, giving prosecutors and judges the ability to seek more severe punishment. More on that in a separate post later. Pero,having worked with families of those killed in hate crimes, it’s important for me to see that the family and the community that the person came from be centered in the struggles that follow. Here is Jorge Steven’s mother, who has released numerous courageous statements following her son’s death, his father, and his young brother.

(more…)

Post to Twitter

Calle 13′s Sin Mapa Out Today On DVD And Through iTunes

  By Maegan la Mamita Mala | July 28, 2009 - 6:26 am |
Comments Off

calle-13-sin-mapaSet for release by Sony Music Latin on DVD and through iTunes on July 28th, “Sin Mapa” (Without a Map) is Calle 13’s documentary experience of this journey of enlightenment through the less traveled mountains, rivers and villages of Peru, Colombia, Argentina and more in a quest to infuse their artistry with a broader global understanding. Sounds something like the Rican Motorcycle Diaries.

The documentary will make it’s big screen debut at the NY International Latino Film Festival on Wednesday.

Post to Twitter

Miercoles Morning Musica : Calle 13 Electro Movimiento

  By Maegan La Mala | January 28, 2009 - 6:30 am |
Comments Off

I haven’t been exactly impressed with Calle 13′s latest offerings and their newest released song/video hasn’t changed my mind. With florescent colors and hypersexual imagery, Electro Movimiento con Miami Band Afrobeta takes us to the Ochentas (except wasn’t Saturday Night Fever in the 70′s?).

Quizas I haven’t had enough coffee to appreciate.

Sorry for the ad you have to deal with in the beginning.

Calle 13 – Electro Movimiento

Post to Twitter