Ska-pGeneralWARNING: This article contains some explicit language, due to the lyrics of some of the songs of Ska-P. Ska-P is a ska band from Spain that could be categorized, politically, as an extreme leftist musical group. Despite its radical views, it remains one of the most popular ska bands in Spain. The group began 1994. It is comprised of:
IdealsIt is immediately apparent that Ska-P is very frank about its views by just listening to a few of their songs. Common threads that seem to run through many songs of Ska-P are the legalization of marijuana and the abolishment of bull fighting, which in turn ties in with vegetarianism. They oppose many traditional views, including Spanish ones. Here is a list of their most important songs and their subjects. Most Ska-p songs do not stray from the category of political or social commentary, except for a scant few. An estimate of 3-5 songs is guessed out of the 60 that cover something else. This list is by no means complete, and it should be noted that this list is only being created because of the political nature of Ska-P. 0,7 Remember, in European countries, number punctuation for things like decimals are different. Thus, 0.7 becomes 0,7. This is clearly an old song, as it deals with the revenue protests in much of Europe in the late 90s. In Europe, portions of the national revenue are take off to be given to other countries. The 0,7 movement was and still is huge. But besides the main point of alerting others of the issue, this song just generally deals with important, seemingly unsolvable issues in our world today, like materialism, hunger, etc. Abolicion One of the first early Ska-P songs to deal with bull fighting. It details the destruction of an animal (a bull), and how it is a fallacy. \nA La Mierda An interesting title, indeed--it essentially means "to hell with ___." In this case it could be them, they, it, you, but it becomes a sort of enigma when you listen to the song. This is a positive point to Ska-P's general reputation, as it denounces racists, nazis, and all their ilk. \nAmérica latina !!libre!! This song is an example of the hypocrisy of Ska-P. While it is good that they are concerned about the failure of Latin American countries due to dictators, they blame it all on "yankie (slang for US/American) dictators. This song unfortunately tarnishes Ska-P's reputation as anti-racist, among other things. While the US is clearly not blameless, Ska-P jumps the gun a bit in this song. \nAli El Magrebi Another early Ska-P song, along the lines of Lucrecia, in that it deals with foreigners and their inability to enter the country. \nBla, Bla, Bla This song tells it like is by denouncing politics in general. Or rather, politicians in general, who in turn affect the politics of the time. This song involves them criticizing the double-standards and hypocrisy of politicans today. Cannabis Perhaps the most important and well-known marijuana-related Ska-P song, Cannabis is the song constantly being played at concerts and requested. Cannabis begins with the lead singer (who of course, in all the songs represents the feelings of the group) detailing his routine on smoking marijuana. The chorus, translated, says, "Legalization! Cannabis; it's cheap, and good, too. Legalization! Cannabis; end the prohibition." During live performances, this song energizes the crowd unlike any other. On the recent Incontrolable DVD/CD set released by Ska-P, Pulpul can be seen or heard shouting intensely, "LE--GA--LI--ZA--CION!" Which is clearly 'legalization.' The song is jumpy and fun and true to Ska-P's style. \nComo Me Pongo Another drug-use song waging war against anti-smoking slogan ads. \nConsumo Gusto The title of this song is a very obvious pun in Spanish. The phrase "con sumo gusto" means "You are welcome." However, "consumo gusto" means "I like to consume/buy." The song criticizes our need to buy everything in our society, and how entire nations rely on the materialism of its citizens. \nEl Niño Soldado This song, meaning "The Child Soldier" in Spanish, is about the story of a child soldier who is forced to assassinate his father. This song is the quintessential example of Ska-P's frustration with war and violence. It shows, that no matter how tough they talk, Ska-P is still very much pacifistic. \nEl Olvidado Meaning "The Forgotten One," Ska-P sings about the homeless and their plight here. While it provides no solution, it poses many questions and laments on our (as a society) attitude towards the poor. A perfect line from the song (translated) is: "Below a concrete bridge...the cold penetrates my skin, as the night falls...among cardboard boxes; your indifference to me, is my humiliation..." \nEl Vals del Obrero While Ska-P hsa never explicitly stated its political views, it is quite clear their beliefs. "El Vals del Obrero," or "The Proletariat's Waltz," it could best be portrayed as. This song is, essentially, borderline socialism. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but it is interesting to note that the plight of the worker is a common ska and punk theme, at least among those who play old, "traditional" ska or are viewed as "real" ska/punk. Two lines from the song that characterize it well are the simple chorus, "RESISTENCIA!" and near the beginning of the song; "This is my place; these are my people; we are workers, a class we choose to be in...and thus, my proletariat brother, I sing you this song--we are the revolution." This song is another very popular one in concerts, having the whole crowd singing along to the jumpy tune. \nEres Un@ Más This song has a fun ska beat, but is the first example in this list of Ska-P's stance against religion. Their stance against religion is made clear within the first verse: "As soon as you're born, you are party of our society. Welcome to the world, buddy; Classify him with a license and identity; you're now just one more, you're now just one more; We'll put you in a school for your own good, we're going to prepare you; to commit the same errors that i commit, we're going to integrate you, you're now just one more..." The song goes on to explain how one will be manipulated and restricted by religion. \nEspaña Va Bien "España Va Bien," meaning "Spain is going fine," is a sarcastic song about the problems with corruption and stupidity within the government of Spain. Note: this is pre-Zapatero Spain. The song was made in 1998. Aznar was the president at the time. Another proletariat-sympathizing song, Ska-P blatantly calls the senate "a lie," and congress "a piece of shit." \nInsensibilidad' Ska-P is comprised of a group of people adamant on many topics. Another one of those happens to be vegetarianism. "Insensibilidad" criticizes the buying and caging of animals and the way animals are treated like lower-than-life creatures. \nIntifida "Intifada" is another extremely popular song advocating the commonly European view that the people to blame in the Israel-Palestine conflict are the Israelis. While it is not safe to assume either sides are completely wrong, neither are completely wrong. The common Western (or perhaps American is a better adjective) view on this conflict is to side with the Israelis. However, neither are blameless, and a hot topic in today's news (May 2004) is the bull-dozing of Palestinian homes by the Israeli military. Kasposos Ska-P cleverly alludes to religion, evangelists, fortune tellers, and the like in this song. They explain their distrust of the 'holy powers' in the hands of these 'healers.' They call them robbers, liars; wasting the time of the people who consult them. They claim that innocents go to jail while these pirates remain free. This song also contains such graphic descriptions as 'shitting on the chalice.' \nLa Estampida "La Estampida" is a simple song that criticizes bull fighting. It is important as one of Ska-P's later songs about bull-fighting that is no where near as scathing as "Vergüenza." \nKémalo "Kémalo" is another scathing critique of the general concept of using animals for anything. It depicts animal-eaters as killers who use animal skin for their own degenerate purposes. Animal rights is a big Ska-P topic. \nLa Mosca Cojonera The title of this song is difficult to translate, as the Spaniards tend to create words based on their general mood, and the meaning is simply understood. The best explanation that can be provided is, "The Ball-Biting Fly." This is, to some, a highly offensive song that attacks priests and religion, calling them lies and deception, among other things. In one music video, Pipi, who does the costumes in shows, comes out dressed as a bishop with an oversized, and highly sardonic dildo attached to the outside of his robe. \nLa Sesera No Va "La Sesera No Va," meaning "Your Brain Doesn't Work," or "You don't make sense," is another example of hypocrisy among the Ska-P songs. "La Sesera No Va" criticizes the US for its imperialism and control of the world. While this is a perfectly valid and often true complaint, they go on to say, "Columbus, what did you do? Why did you discover it?!" With all due respect, the world would be a lot different without the US. This can be a good and bad thing. This statement should not be interpreted in anyway as a condescending statement towards "lesser" countries, as some patriotic Americans seem to think. \nLucrecia "Lucrecia" scoops the fall and comes back on the rebound with anti-racism. It essentially asks the question, "what does it matter the color of someone's skin?" It sneaks in a little criticism of the laws on foreigners at the end, saying that Queen Sofia (who is of Greek descent) and rich Sheiks (a common occurrence in Spain). It is a slightly unfounded attack on Queen Sofia, but it is believed to be less insulting and more ironic. \nMcDolar "McDolar" is an all-too-true report on multi-million dollar corporations like McDonalds which will do anything to succeed, and in turn are so commercialised that the fake veil they pull over for their marketing is seen everywhere. Ska-P goes as far as to say that Ronald McDonald is a "bastard clown." They criticize its need to even expand to places like Somalia. \nMestizaje "Mestizaje" is another anti-racism song with a slight twist--a la Propaghandi (wiki link: propaghandi), it proposes the destruction of borders and the unification of the world, but with a distinct 'abolishment-of-racism" theme. \nMis Colegas "My Colleagues" is another story of a death due to drugs. But the story does not attribute the death to drugs, but rather to the laws and the policies that cause one to be arrested, jailed, or killed via drug use. This song evokes huge emotion among crowds in concerts, but in a more serious tone, unlike "Cannabis," which simply and blatantly admits the use of marijuana. Countless times, Ska-P suggests the legalization of drugs in the song. \nNo Te Pares "No Te Pares," "Don't Stop," is another borderline-socialism song that speaks of the fight for a new type of government. The quote-unquote "character" in the song (as it is not necessarily a story) is 'yet another' unemployed worker who must go through loads of red tape and a 'horrible' system in order to even struggle to survive.
Paramilitar
"Paramilitar," which is clearly Paramilitary (wiki link: Paramilitary), calls for the elimination of the Paramilitary in all instances. The Paramilitary is often found to have ties with important militaries, which subsequently causes massive scandals like that of the selling of weapons to Iran to supply Nicaraguan Contras with the money to defeat the leftist Sandinistas who tried to cause a coup d'état, known as the Iran-Contra_Affair.
\nReality Show
An all-too-necessary critique of reality shows and all the things they entail. It is interesting to note that this was written in 1994. Thought reality shows were a relatively new thing? Think again--all reality shows essentially owe their existence to Europe, which had had them for years before. "Operación Triunfo" was the original inspiration for American Idol.
\nRevistas Del Corazon
"Revistas Del Corazon" is along the lines of "Reality Show" in that it criticizes that form of intense media.
\nRomero El Madero
"Romero El Madero" strings a common thread among many punk and ska bands who feel that police power and corruption goes too far. It tells the tale of "Romero," who is a corrupt cop that beats his victims and abuses his authority daily. In moments of intense emotion during concerts, Pulpul can be heard screaming, in English, "Police--fuck off!"
\nSargento Bolilla
This is a very, very early Ska-P song, and like "Abolicion," it is evident in the style and almost amateurism of the songs, almost along the lines of Less Than Jake's early album Pezcore. It advocates being a conscientious objector, or more simply, not joining the military, calling sergeants and their kin "pot-bellied fools." While it is slightly misguided and foolish to claim that all sergeants are corrupt, Ska-P does promote a semi-popular idea of draft dodging (not necessarily even during a draft--that is the only term for not joining the military. In Spanish, it is 'insumisión').
\nSectas
"Sectas," or "Sects," almost seems like a sort of sequel to "Eres Un@ Más;" it incorporates all the same ideas, but more directly states some things. While "Eres Un@ Más" more so generally speaks on the cookie-cutter system in which there are roles we are expected to fill, "Sectas" more blatantly talks about religion and what it entails. In the first 4 lines we hear a chilling statement; "Welcome to Eden, you are now a child of God......forget the rest of your life and your morals..." Here, they darkly speak of the limitations religion poses.
\nSeguimos en Pie
...is yet another attack on religion, which is very reminiscent of reggae, and the word 'reggae' is even used in the song. It portrays those who follow any religion as blind, and almost conformist. They depict it like a long line to a cult, which is similar to the song, "Sectas."
\nSexo y Religion
Another extremely popular song, "Sex and Religion," hits it where it hurts. It promotes free sex without concern of religious-checks beforehand. It (the song)dreams of a world free of the necessity to tie everything to something immoral, and endorses the idea of consensual, purely physical, enjoyable sex, without the thought that one might go to Hell or that one is a "slut." Sex is a perfectly natural thing to do and humans should revel in it. The common view on people who think like this is that they are "sex-maniacs." Society seems to confuse, however, mindless, abusive, misogynist jocks and free-thinking individuals who simply embrace sex.
In the song, Ska-P says, "since the Inquisition, religion abuses its power and restricts all that you can call sex and liberty." It goes on to say that not even self-proclaimed conservatives follow the "rules" of God (not just the 10 commandments, this is simply one example). It also mentions that homosexuals should finally be given the chance and equality they deserve.
\nSimpatico Holgazan
"Simpatico Holgazan" makes the suggestion that the ancient office of king be replaced, as it still exists in Spain and many other countries. It simply states that the office of king is a useless thing and purely symoblic, while it can still bypass many things untouched.
This is however, ignoring Juan Carlos of Spain's legacy. Juan Carlos followed Francisco Franco's dictatorship in Spain. He had been 'trained' to employ Franco's policies and support his administration. However, for years he had been secretly coached by those vying for a democracy. After Franco's death, the military, on February 23rd, 1981, attempted another coup d'état in the "Cortes (General Courts)," which involved even some gunfire, after Juan Carlos claimed himself a ruling, non-governing monarch. The military announced this attack 'in the name of the king.' In an unprecedented, brave move, Juan Carlos publicly, on television, denounced what the military was doing and called for a complete democracy. In this sense, in a very symbolic and truly important maneuver, fascism (of the deliberate kind) disappeared from Spain.
Solamente Por Pensar
"Solamente Por Pensar," which can be translated as "Just to Think a Little," is about the youth Carlo Giuliani (wiki link: Carlo Giuliani) in Italy who was murdered by the (Ska-P named) 'fascist' Italian paramilitary. During mass protests of the new prime minister in 2001 by anti-globilizationists and anarchists, shots were fired and Carlo Giuliani was murdered with a shot to the head. The song tells the listeners to fight, to not settle down, and to call to attention this injustice. Pictures here.
This song was translated into Italian for a concert.
\nTío Sam
Another anti-American song. However, this one particularly, and justifiably targets the US Military, encompassing all of it by the age-old symbol of Uncle Sam. This is a fairly early critique of the Iraq War and criticizes the method in which the US Military goes about its business. This song would be featured on the Spanish CD, "¡No a la Guerra!" meaning "Say No to the War!"
\nVergüenza
"Vergüenza," meaning "Embarrassment," Is a very, very scathing rhetoric on bull fighting. It calls bull fighters clowns, calls the entire "sport" as a ridiculous, criminal endeavor, and in the chorus, calls the bull fighter 'the embarrasment of a nation,' and in a ghastly account, explains the pain a bull feels during the time it is stabbed and killed.
\nVillancico
In a more objective (while still biased, it does a good job of providing the idea from both sides) point of view, "Villancico," or "Villainy," condemns Christmas. While this, of course, maintains Ska-P's stance on religion, the idea is more based on the fact that Christmas now is just a giant distraction that no one takes seriously--while children starve, wars go on, and people die, those who are more fortunate simply celebrate and forget their problems and the world's. Some, for a day, will feel charitable, but that is the extent of their charity. They go on, with their atheistic views, to say that Jesus was a "normal guy; a pacifist, an intellectual; always beside the poor, defending their values, always opposing the oppression..." In the final portion of the song, they call Christmas "a lie." In a live concert, Pulpul screams, "¡¡Me caigo en la navidad!!" which literally means, "I shit all over Christmas!!" or more eloquently, "Fuck Christmas!!"
\nViolencia Machista
"Macho Violence" is a song that elicits great emotion, and like "Sectas" or "Seguimos en Pie," is a very dark song compared to many of its light-hearted (in the beat) yet still serious tunes. Here, Ska-P feels the plight of women abused everywhere. It tells the story of an essentially misogynist boyfriend who rapes and beats his girlfriend. Ska-P urges the woman to escape and get help.
\nWelcome To Hell
"Welcome to Hell" is very popular among Ska-P listeners. This song is consistent with Ska-P's general pacifism. Ska-P, here, condemns the death penalty, calling it a violation of human rights. Their reasoning is, two rights do not make a wrong and thus the frivolous use of the death penalty should be abolished.
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"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) |
