This is a song I wrote about the IMMIGRATION wall. My band OLA FRESCA is playing it live here. It is a powerful, dark, and haunting song that rhythmically blends, Puerto Rican Plena, Brazilian Samba, and Cuban Comparsa.
(Check out the translation below the fold)
BANDERA
Now we have until 11:59PM MONDAY NIGHT to reach our Kickstarter Goal and fund our Studio recording of this song and 8 others! We are 74% there. A $10 download or more gets you the album and helps an Indie group of great Latin musicians in Brooklyn make this album! What do you say? KICKSTART a WAVE HERE!
In 2008 I pushed for change and helped the Latino community get out the vote with
a video of a song I wrote... I even got my then Republican mama to cast a vote for Obama! You remember that video ~ Respondele a Obama
In 2012 I did it again and helped get the vote out for a Forward agenda with ¡PA!LANTEELIXIR is my best by far!
I am Cuban American born and raised in the USA, I am approaching clave and this rhythmic music from the perspective of growing up in Miami and experiencing New Orleans and New York before Havana , and the writing benefits from this perspective! There are fun and powerful songs on ELIXIR about the immigration wall, coexistence, spring parties and more in dance inspiring arrangements that blend the best elements of Classic Salsa, Cuban son, timba, funk and more. Here is a live version of the Title Track! ELIXIR
A fun, mid tempo, classic salsa groove anthem, the title track is a statement about art and music having no boundaries and is already a crowd pleaser.....
Help a great collaborative independent Latin record come to life in Brooklyn, NY! Please make a pledge and join us today! You will be be very happy with the music you receive and you will have been a part of the effort to get it made. How exciting!
Muchas Gracias and Much Gratitude! Jose Conde
And here are the lyrics to BANDERA ;
(Since 2001 the remains of at least 2200 migrants have been recovered in AZ near the US/Mexico border…)
BANDERA
Man with his notion
Of property by divine stars (manifest destiny)
Over nature
Draws an illusion of barricades
Meticulously dividing his conquest
Until death arrives
And shows him it’s smile…..
Flag, Flag
I don’t want my flag to be a boundary
In the name of the nation
They raise a wall
Instead of moving forward
They turn and go backwards
Because where there is a motive
There will always be a way
And they are risking their lives in crossing
And running into cadavers (of those that came before)
Flag, Flag
I don’t want my flag to be a boundary