Post by sgev1977 on Dec 21, 2020 5:03:48 GMT
This is probably a very random recommendation but I absolutely loved this new documentary series on Netflix about Latin American rock music. I read a few reviews and there are a few very valid criticism specially by Spanish speaking press and people. Some people are angry because their favorite band is not mentioned or because their most hated band is mentioned a lot. I agreed that they should had talked more about for example Caifanes in Mexico which was much more relevant in the country than just the one song they included in it. On the other hand, people hating on bands are silly. There are a few polemic acts that are included but their inclusion is fairly justified by the talking heads.
A more smart criticism is that it's mainly about male artists. I understand why. Rock is and always had been very sexist but I could think in a few female artists that were barely or not mentioned at all. Someone said that there was also 0 mention of afro Latin American artists and, well, the main issue is that it mostly centers on two countries: Mexico and Argentine. Gustavo Santaolalla, the producer of the series (and the music producer behind a lot of the acts included in this), claims in a few promotional interviews that Mexico is the equivalent to the USA and Argentine to the UK in Latin America rock scene so there is little space to other countries, especially to countries with a stronger Afro Latin American population than those two but meanwhile watching it and before reading those criticism, I thought they lost an opportunity of talking about a popular early band with an Afromexican leader in Los Rebeldes del Rock. It's mentioned by Alex Lora from the Tri as an influence and he and his band are main figures in the documentary so the opportunity was there . They also briefly show Afro-Colombian singer Goyo in the female segment at the end of the series. Also it's just about Spanish speaking bands so there are a few European bands from Spain but nothing from Brazil.
Anyway , the thing I really loved was the context. The directors link dictatorships, social movements,local tragedies and bad governments in Latin America to the urgency and rebellion of the rock bands. Even the most frivolous bands and acts are explained within their historical moment. In that sense it reminds me a little to Scorsese's No Direction Home which supposedly was about Bob Dylan but it was something else because it explained him within his times.
So you can feel the desperation of the Latin American youngsters durimg different decades because, according to the documentary, the musicians were really risking their lives and/or liberty doing rock music in their countries. There was a real risk! It wasn't just about scandalize the old generation but about confronting dangerous political systems. Real rock and roll!
A more smart criticism is that it's mainly about male artists. I understand why. Rock is and always had been very sexist but I could think in a few female artists that were barely or not mentioned at all. Someone said that there was also 0 mention of afro Latin American artists and, well, the main issue is that it mostly centers on two countries: Mexico and Argentine. Gustavo Santaolalla, the producer of the series (and the music producer behind a lot of the acts included in this), claims in a few promotional interviews that Mexico is the equivalent to the USA and Argentine to the UK in Latin America rock scene so there is little space to other countries, especially to countries with a stronger Afro Latin American population than those two but meanwhile watching it and before reading those criticism, I thought they lost an opportunity of talking about a popular early band with an Afromexican leader in Los Rebeldes del Rock. It's mentioned by Alex Lora from the Tri as an influence and he and his band are main figures in the documentary so the opportunity was there . They also briefly show Afro-Colombian singer Goyo in the female segment at the end of the series. Also it's just about Spanish speaking bands so there are a few European bands from Spain but nothing from Brazil.
Anyway , the thing I really loved was the context. The directors link dictatorships, social movements,local tragedies and bad governments in Latin America to the urgency and rebellion of the rock bands. Even the most frivolous bands and acts are explained within their historical moment. In that sense it reminds me a little to Scorsese's No Direction Home which supposedly was about Bob Dylan but it was something else because it explained him within his times.
So you can feel the desperation of the Latin American youngsters durimg different decades because, according to the documentary, the musicians were really risking their lives and/or liberty doing rock music in their countries. There was a real risk! It wasn't just about scandalize the old generation but about confronting dangerous political systems. Real rock and roll!