MIAMI, United States. – Cuban producer Yadam González told Cuban newspaper details about the creation process of the emblematic theme “Patria y Vida”, which became an anthem of the largest protests against the island’s regime after January 1959.
González, who has won three Latin Grammy Awards, assured that there will not be a second part of “Patria y Vida”. He also said that the subject had arisen “spontaneously.”
“One day Yotuel and Bea [la cantante Beatriz Luengo] They came to my house with an idea already conceptualized. I took care of the music and provided the introduction: ‘you are my siren song…’”, the music producer explained.
According to González, the song became a hymn for the protests because it expressed the sentiments of the people. “What we had to say was true and it came from within. Artists who were in different places with different situations participated, each with the commitment to say what they felt about Cuba. ‘Patria y Vida’ is a before and after in my career and in my personal life, ”she assured.
“One of the most interesting things about ‘Patria y Vida’ is that it is a phenomenon that goes beyond the part business [negocio]. The most important recognition is that of the people, that of the people, we leave something in history, ”he added.
“Patria y Vida” also made its creators have to face the difficult reality that lives on the Island. “I realized that I am part of a society that has not understood that the freedom to be able to say what one feels, especially through art, it is something that should be respected and have a space for development”, González specified.
“Patria y vida” (performed by Yotuel, Gente de Zona, Descemer Bueno, El Funky and Maykel Osorbo) won the “Song of the Year” category at the 2021 edition of the Latin Grammys, where it was also selected as ” Best Urban Song”.
Along with its overwhelming success in Cuba, the song also quickly gained popularity in Miami. The phrase that gives the song its title not only became the motto of the Cuban exile, but also began to appear on cars, walls, T-shirts, etc.
“’Patria y Vida’ is one of the few songs in the contemporary Latin repertoire that not only jumped head-on to call for a change, but did so despite the fact that its performers had a lot to lose by doing so,” he told the agency. EFE Leila Cobo, executive director for Latin content and programming at the magazine bill board.
